Zakir Thomas"Audacity of Hope"

Friday, March 26, 2010
Audacity of Hope
Connect to Decode onsite phase is just two weeks away! I cant wait to meet the heroes who have been so far contributing online. The work done so far is impressive. But to me more impressive is the process of collaboration and the lessons learned in organising such hugely collaborative programme. You have demonstrated that OSDD can handle huge volumes of data.
More than that, you have announced before hand that the results will be made available in the open to the world on 11 April 2010. How many science projects do this? Of course, Space programme does it. The rocket has to blast off on the designated day at the appointed time. But how many science projects?
When we were discussing Connect to Decode, Dr. Sukanya Dutta asked: why are you all stretching yourself? 'Nobody works to a deadline in Science!' Well my reply to her was if we are to do what everyone does, then why OSDD? Yes, that is what sets OSDD apart. We do things differently. We do not tread the beaten path. It is a new way indeed.
Yes, your hard work demonstrates that OSDD is a new way of doing science!
Announce that the result of a project will be available on a date, even as the project is ongoing? Isn’t this the audacity of hope?!

With Regards
Zakir Thomas
Project Director, Open Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) &
Head DG's Technical Cell,
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research