Science Storms the Cloud. Issue 2 (5th May 2021) - Gentemann, C. L.
Abstract: The core tools of science (data, software, and computers) are undergoing a rapid and historic evolution, changing what questions scientists ask and how they find answers. Earth science data are being transformed into new formats optimized for cloud storage that enable rapid analysis of multi‐petabyte data sets. Data sets are moving from archive centers to vast cloud data storage, adjacent to massive server farms. Open source cloud‐based data science platforms, accessed through a web‐browser window, are enabling advanced, collaborative, interdisciplinary science to be performed wherever scientists can connect to the internet. Specialized software and hardware for machine learning and artificial intelligence are being integrated into data science platforms, making them more accessible to average scientists. Increasing amounts of data and computational power in the cloud are unlocking new approaches for data‐driven discovery. For the first time, it is truly feasible for scientists to bring their analysis to data in the cloud without specialized cloud computing knowledge. This shift in paradigm has the potential to lower the threshold for entry, expand the science community, and increase opportunities for collaboration while promoting scientific innovation, transparency, and reproducibility. Yet, we have all witnessed promising new tools which seem harmless and beneficial at the outset become damaging or limiting. What do we need to consider as this new way of doing science is evolving? Plain Language Summary: For a long time, scientists have downloaded data and analyzed it on their computer. This made collaborating hard because other people did not have access to the same data, software, and computer. It also gave scientists at big institutions with fast internet and lots of computers an advantage. Now, data are being put on the cloud, scientists are sharing their software, and anyone can access a computer on the cloud through their web browser. This makes it easier to collaborate because everyone can access the same data, software, and computer. Also, more people can access powerful computers and do science. This is a different way of doing science and there are potential drawbacks. We need to be careful that this new way of doing science actually advances science and includes more people so that we get better answers, faster. Key Points: Science stands at the cusp of a new, open science, cloud‐enabled era Advances in data, software, and computing are enabling transformational, interdisciplinary science, changing the realm of possible questions Deliberately designed open science communities can advance science and inclusivity simultaneously