engleski

Science Networking: Role of Online Encyclopaedias

Encyclopaedias and other reference works have always been an important tool for the dissemination of scientifically verified and consolidated information and as such they have formed an important part of the didactic infrastructure. Their role is even more underlined with the emergence of online open access encyclopaedias, as they enable a systemic orientation within the ever-increasing amount of data and information, thus becoming means to deal with information overload. This paper will discuss the role of online encylopaedias as a specific component of the scientific infrastructure. The hypothesis is that online encyclopaedias, thanks to their role in synthesis, networking and generation of knowledge, could be applied to the history of science research, to which multilayered, interdisciplinary approach is obligatory. An epistemic and historiographic evaluation of this new methodological approach will be given, with special emphasis on innovations introduced by digital technologies. Due to the knowledge organisation and comprehensiveness, the encyclopaedia itself acts as a semantic network, which by connecting already known facts together enables new insights. Thanks to the properties of the digital media, online encyclopaedias could achieve even higher levels of internal and external knowledge networking by linking to the digital data from various sources (eg. libraries, museums, archives, social networks). Several encyclopaedias that are concerned with the history of science will be analysed, with the special emphasis on the recently initiated open access Croatian encyclopaedia of technology. It will serve as a platform for knowledge networking and sharing, thus enabling the exchange of information on the development of technology at international level, as well as the positioning of Croatian technology in the global context.

reference work ; online encyclopaedia ; scientific infrastructure ; Croatian encyclopaedia of technology

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