If a scientific topic is like a slice of pizza, would you rather eat it yourself, or share it with others?
I recently read from Seth Godin something insightful. He says,
An idea shared is more powerful than one that’s hidden. A technology standard outperforms a proprietary one. A community is stronger than divided individuals ever could be.
This is (or should be) the framework of every scientific community. I think the reason why science is so fragmented is the craving for the entire pizza slice, hiding it from others, instead of sharing it with them.
Some think alone go faster, but together, we go farther. What is at our reach is the courage to give the first step, share our ideas, data, methods and thrive together.
While many seek credit for what they do, miss the opportunity of sharing this credit with others. Yes, when we share, the credit isn’t sliced like a pizza, but multiplied like a crop. Every sharing is a seed that generates more and better science. The reason is simple. We’re more than individuals when we become a community.