In the last few years, there has been increasing attention paid to virtual research infrastructures by both universities and grant awarding institutions like the National Science Foundation (NSF). For example, a recent
call for proposals by the NSF includes virtual infrastructures. A virtual research infrastructure is one that exists primarily on the web, as opposed to a brick and mortar infrastructure, i.e., a physics or chemistry lab.
Virtual research infrastructures will have a significant impact on the world of research due to their favorable cost comparisons with their brick and mortar counterparts. In addition, they can scale up to serve many more people, whereas a physical facility is limited to a small number of people based on physical space restrictions. In fact, it strikes me that
MyNetResearch.com can be used as a platform for a virtual research infrastructures that would likely cost thousands of dollars vs. hundreds of thousands it would cost to build or refurbish a research center.
Are there any limitations or other advantages of virtual research infrastructures that come to mind? Do you think the idea will spread?
