Closing the computational biology 'knowledge gap': Spanish Wikipedia as a case study

Area of Science:

• Computational Biology
• Bioinformatics Education
• Open Educational Resources

Background:

• English-language Wikipedia is a key resource for computational biology.
• A significant knowledge gap exists between English and non-English Wikipedia content.
• Language barriers disadvantage non-native English speakers in computational biology education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess computational biology coverage in Spanish-language Wikipedia.
• To evaluate the impact of a student editing competition on knowledge gap reduction.
• To provide recommendations for improving non-English Wikipedia resources.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative and qualitative data collection before and after an event.
• Analysis of computational biology article quality and quantity in Spanish Wikipedia.
• Case study of a Spanish-focused student editing competition.

Main Results:

• A student editing competition improved and expanded computational biology content in Spanish Wikipedia.
• Such events effectively narrow the knowledge gap between English and non-English resources.
• The study provides a model for improving multilingual open educational resources.

Conclusions:

• Targeted educational events can significantly enhance non-English Wikipedia content.
• Reducing language barriers in computational biology benefits global learners.
• Prioritizing initiatives for other languages is crucial for equitable access to information.