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The Impact of Electronic Communications on the Science Communication Process — investigating crystallographers in South Africa

J. Gretchen Smith

Department of Information and Library Science at the University of Cape Town, gretchen.smith{at}telkomsa.net

The author adopts the premise that effective communication of scientific and technological information is pivotal to the success of technological innovation and sustained economic growth and that this applies particularly to South Africa. Many factors are, however, currently impacting on the information communication process, not least of which are the burgeoning information industry, globalization, and rapid technological advances. This factor motivated the author to investigate the impact of electronic modes of communication and this article is based on the research project. The community of scientists engaged in crystallographic research in South Africa was selected as the study population. It clearly emerged from the study that the significant increase in the use of electronic modes and systems, while not affecting the inherent structure of the communication process, did create a far wider range of modes of communication and did have a positive influence on the ease of communication and collaboration. This was particularly manifested as far as cooperation with the international research community was concerned. It was also clear that this impact varied according to the scientists' work environment.

Key Words: electronic communication • scientific communication • crystallographers • South Africa

IFLA Journal, Vol. 33, No. 2, 145-159 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0340035207080518
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