20090623 Openness Spreads to Other Fields Like Dendrochronology and Water Quality

From s5h.net

The "Doctor Who" Model of Open Source

"Open source projects are generally fine when there's a long-term leader like Linus; but what happens when nobody is able or willing to run things for extended periods? Peter Murray-Rust explains how the open chemistry group known as the Blue Obelisk has evolved what he calls the 'Doctor Who Model of Open Source': 'You'll recall that every few years something fatal happens to the Doctor and you think he is going to die and there will never be another series. Then he regenerates. The new Doctor has a different personality, a different philosophy (though always on the side of good). It is never clear how long any Doctor will remain unregenerated or who will come after him. And this is a common theme in the Blue Obelisk.' Could other open source projects learn from this experience as long-term leaders start to move on?"

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/06/19/1326254/The-Doctor-Who-Model-of-Open-Source Open Source Dendrochronology

They practice open source data transparency on the net, which means that arguably amateur dendrochronology is at this time more scientific than the professional variety.

http://scienceblogs.com/aardvarchaeology/2009/06/open_source_dendrochronology.php Open source Water Quality Management System with Zope

The Water Quality Management System (WQMS) has been developed by South African authorities on the open source application server Zope and will shortly be in use by all 160 South African local governments. This award winning project, which bears the potential of being shared with neighboring nations, is a new example of open source software being an enabler for innovation and social progress.

http://www.zeapartners.org/articles/water-quality-management001