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Global multi-level analysis of the 'scientific food web'
Amin Mazloumian1, Dirk Helbing, Sergi Lozano
1ETH Zürich, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
Scientific Reports
|February 5, 2013
Summary
A new network index reveals global scientific knowledge flows. Despite increasing publications, Asia
Area of Science:
- Bibliometrics and scientometrics
- Network analysis
- Global science studies
Background:
- Traditional metrics like publication counts and citation rates offer limited insight into the dynamics of scientific knowledge production and diffusion.
- Understanding the complex 'ecosystem of science' requires more nuanced analytical approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel network-based index for analyzing scientific knowledge production and consumption.
- To conduct a comprehensive global analysis of scholarly knowledge flows.
- To identify global sources and sinks of scientific ideas.
Main Methods:
- Development of a network-based index analyzing excess scientific production and consumption.
- Quantification of knowledge flows between continents, countries, and cities from 2000 to 2009.
- Network citation analysis to map the 'scientific food web'.
Main Results:
- The network-based index provides a more differentiated view of the global science ecosystem.
- Identification of distinct global sources and sinks of scientific knowledge production.
- Analysis reveals Asia's increasing dependence on knowledge consumption despite rising publication and citation rates.
Conclusions:
- The developed knowledge flow index effectively maps the global 'scientific food web'.
- Findings highlight the evolving landscape of global scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange.
- Asia's growing scientific output is accompanied by a heightened reliance on external knowledge sources.
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