If science is a narrative, then sometimes you have to read between the lines.<\/p>\n
\nConsider, as case in point, the humble Acknowledgements Section of your average peer-reviewed journal article. I have always been fascinated by this little afterthought of a missive, consigned to the end after all the “important stuff” and, unlike the rest of the text, probably dashed off at the last possible second. On the surface, it’s a rather relaxing and positive little place: the authors thank X, Y and Z for providing key reagents, and members of their laboratory for helpful comments, and colleagues for proofing the manuscript, and funding bodies for providing the dosh to make it all possible. Here is where a bit of human warmth is finally allowed to permeate the barren tundra of scholarly wisdom; you can picture sepia-tinted senior common rooms glowing with amiability and good sportsmanship, tea being poured and biscuits being passed around (and no one ever helping themselves to more than their fair share).<\/p>\n
\nBut alas, interactions amongst scientists aren’t always so collegial. In fact, one’s peers can be downright petty, obstructive and sometimes even malign. In consigning only goodness to the Acknowledgements section, we’re missing out on a brilliant opportunity to tell the story of our work in all of its entirely. In this spirit, I hereby propose introducing a new section to the standard scientific manuscript: the Disacknowledgements Section. This would honor all the people who obstructed<\/em> the research; the cast of characters – shall we refer to them as anti-<\/em>authors – without whom the work would have proceeded much more briskly and less painfully. <\/p>\n \nBelow, I highlight a few personal favourites from my own scientific career. (Although I’ve tweaked details here and there to obscure identities, the fundamentals of the examples are all true.) Feel free to chime in with your own – I can assure you it’s quite cathartic.<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If science is a narrative, then sometimes you have to read between the lines. Consider, as case in point, the humble Acknowledgements Section of your average peer-reviewed journal article. I have always been fascinated by this little afterthought of a … Continue reading \n