Presented at the 57th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 31th to June 4th 2009
Introduction
Wikipedia is a web resource that is described as “the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.” The low barrier for participation is both one of the best and worst features of the site. The drawbacks of easy participation are the sometimes opinionated, uninformed or simply malicious editors whereas the advantages are fast content creation that is easily accessible and often self-correcting.
Hypothesis: Wikipedia is the most popular source of on-line mass spectrometry information and has the potential to be a source of good information if a sufficiently large number of mass spectromerists become editors.
What is Wikipedia?
Founded less than a decade ago, Wikipedia is now one of the most popular websites and the most popular reference site.
Founded in 20011
2.9 M English language articles (13 M total)2
7th most popular website (#1 Reference)3
Used by 9% of global Internet users3
684 M visits annually4
Wikipedia Growth Plot
Mass Spectrometry on Wikipedia
~ 200 pages in the category “Mass Spectrometry”
WikiProject Mass spectrometry
Wikimedia Commons category “Mass Spectrometry”
Top 10 Google Hits for the term Mass Spectrometry:
Wikipedia
Michigan State University
American Society for Mass Spectrometry
University of Arizona
Scripps Research Institute
Colby College
Wikimedia Commons
SpectroscopyNow
iMass.com
Virginia Tech
The Wikipedia entry is hit #1 and Wikimedia Commons (diagrams and photographs) is hit #7. ASMS is hit #3 with university courses filling most of the other top spots.
Becoming a Wikipedia Editor
Because Wikipedia is such an important source of mass spectrometry information, participation by the mass spectrometry community should by encouraged both in an organized and ad hoc manner. It should be noted that there are significant barriers to scientists desiring to become Wikipedia editors, but there are also many useful resources.
Barriers
Wiki document markup
Wikipedia protocols
Article layout
Interacting with non-science editors
Reconciling scientific and Wikipedia review
Resources
Tutorials and documentation on Wikipedia
WikiProjects
WikiProject Mass Spectrometry
WIkiProject Chemistry
WikiProject Physics
WikiProject Molecular and Cellular Biology
Portals
Chemistry Portal
Physics Portal
Molecular and Cellular Biology Portal
Reference markup tools
Current Wikipedia Editors
Recommendations
Develop a formal policy on Wikipedia content
National organizations (ASMS, BSMS, ANZSMS, etc.)
International Mass Spectrometry Foundation
Coordinate with relevant committees
Education, History, Standards, etc.
Encourage participation
Evaluate content
References