[MassChestnutOrchards] Feedback needed: MA/RI Chapter Data Permissions (Database Project)

[Fred Hebard]

Kendra,

There also is the case of well-intentioned people with TACF/chapter's  
best interests at heart who make mistakes in analyses and then pursue  
the implications of those analyses, relentlessly.

Fred

On Jan 26, 2010, at 9:49 AM, Kendra Gurney wrote:

> Hi John –
>
>
>
> The biggest reason I could really see for restricting open-access  
> to data is in the instance of someone trying to discredit our  
> program or work in some way.  I would certainly hope this would not  
> be a common occurrence, however we do occasionally encounter people  
> that find fault with one aspect of our work or another.  For  
> example, what about the possibility of someone concerned about the  
> use of Round-Up?  With open-access they could easily document how  
> much we use in our orchards, and use those data to paint us in a  
> bad light.  Or what about someone looking at our ratings data to  
> show that blight-resistance is not guaranteed, regardless of  
> whether or not they understand our breeding program?  These may be  
> extreme, and hopefully paranoid, possibilities, but I think it is  
> worth considering that not everyone wishing to access and export  
> data will have TACF’s, and our chapters’, best interest at heart.   
> It is easy enough to manipulate data, usually by omitting pertinent  
> details, in order to cast research in a negative light.
>
>
>
> I think it is easy for us to assume that only good could come from  
> open access – we have a really great mission – but it would be a  
> shame if that assumption came back to bite us.  The Terms of Use  
> agreement for the database would certainly ask that any use of the  
> system be in-line with TACF’s mission, but not everyone out there  
> is as honest as we might hope.  I’m very proud of all of our  
> chapters and would hate to see any negative consequences come from  
> this project.
>
>
>
> Sorry to be so pessimistic, but it is worth considering the  
> possible implications of open-access – both positive and negative.   
> I think it will be up to each chapter to decide if the positives  
> outweigh the negatives for their data.
>
>
>
> Best –
>
>
>
> Kendra
>
>
>
> ----
>
> Kendra Gurney
>
> 802.999.8706 (cell)
>
>
>
> From: masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org  
> [mailto:masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org] On Behalf Of  
> Mirick, John O.
> Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 11:58 AM
> To: masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org
> Subject: Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] Feedback needed: MA/RI Chapter  
> Data Permissions (Database Project)
>
>
>
> At the risk of being too provocative, can anyone articulate a  
> reason to RESTRICT use of our data?  For publication or otherwise?   
> (I appreciate that I’m approaching this issue as a layperson,  
> rather than as a graduate student or faculty member.)  But if  
> someone in a university program wants to review our data and write  
> a paper, say on the growth rate of BC3 crosses in glacial till in  
> Zone 4 in Massachusetts as compared to sandy soil in Zone 5, or on  
> survival rate of germinated seeds with irrigation systems as  
> compared to occasional watering by hand, or on the incidence of  
> deer browse and the success of counter-measures, isn’t it in the  
> interests of re-introducing the chestnuts to have as many such  
> studies as possible out there?
>
>
>
> Absent a contrary direction from National, or a really compelling   
> reason for restriction, I would allow access and use to all,  
> including access and use for publication.
>
>
>
> John
>
>
>
> From: masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org  
> [mailto:masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org] On Behalf Of  
> Yvonne Federowicz
> Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 11:39 AM
> To: masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org
> Subject: Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] Feedback needed: MA/RI Chapter  
> Data Permissions (Database Project)
>
>
>
> Are folks saying that they think everyone should have standing  
> permission to publish using our data?  (That wasn’t exactly what  
> our meeting Motion implied, from my perspective.)
>
> Thanks. Yvonne
>
>
> On 1/25/10 11:14 AM, "Guy Shepard" <tsuga35 at aol.com> wrote:
>
> I go along with Mike, let anyone use it until national says  
> something, we are helping american forests.
> Guy
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Federowicz, Yvonne Marie <Yvonne_Federowicz at brown.edu>
> To: masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org
> Sent: Mon, Jan 25, 2010 9:38 am
> Subject: [MassChestnutOrchards] Feedback needed: MA/RI Chapter Data  
> Permissions (Database Project)
>
>
> Hello - the  group of TACF national & chapter people working on the  
> database
> would like feedback re. this Motion that MA/RI came up with in our  
> January
> meeting.
>
> I know we aren't in a Board meeting so we can't have an ideal  
> discussion of
> this, but they would like feedback so your considered ideas are  
> very welcome.
>
> They would like to know:
>
> (1.)  Who in our chapter would approve use of the MA/RI data;
>
> (2.) Does everyone need permission from the group in (1.)  to  
> publish using this
> data?
>       This could include:
>        a.) TACF national staff
>        b.) MA/RI board members, chapter members
>        c.) Outside (academic/research) persons
>        d.) Anyone else you can think of here?
>
> We could also give certain people or groups "standing permission";  
> I think that
> at the least,  we probably would give MA/RI Board members such  
> permission,
> otherwise Charlotte couldn't even make lists from the data for  
> presentation,
> without us taking a vote. (we discussed this some)
>
> *************
> * Motion:
> * 01/1010
> *************
>
> * We strongly feel that it is important for our data (both  
> summaries and raw) to
> be viewably (read access) open to chapters and TACF members and  
> staff. However
> people will need permission to use our data to publish.
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