ResearchGate, Facebook for scientists.
Calling itself “Facebook for scientists,” Researchgate is the creation of German virologists Ijad Madisch and Soeren Hofmayer. Launched in May 2008, the network is already boasting over 800,000 scientists and expects to “reach 1 million within the next eight to 10 weeks.”
Scientists sign up with a profile that reveals their research field, publications and awards. They are able to communicate — and even have virtual conferences — within one of more than 3,000 groups that can be as specialized as “p53″ (a protein that protects a cell from cancer) or as broad as “methodology.”
That way, a virologist in the United States can post a question that a bacteriologist in India might answer, possibly leading to collaboration or a quicker scientific breakthrough.
Users can search for journals within the community and post new articles on their own micro-blogging site. They can post their own failures so that others don’t repeat them, Madisch said.
Finally, a social network designed to advance humanity.
