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The dynamics of beamline configurations and user communities : Quantitative studies of Big Science publications

Söderström, Kristofer Rolf LU orcid (2023) In Lund Studies in Arts and Cultural Sciences 31.
Abstract
This thesis examines the role of beamlines with publication metadata from the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF a large scientific facility offering diverse conditions for scientific research. As a user-oriented Big Science facility, the ESRF channels extremely brilliant light into different experimental areas called beamlines that house specific instruments that cater to the needs of diverse user communities. These beamlines are conceptualized as spaces where diverse scientific communities interact, share, and produce knowledge, drawing mainly from Derek de Solla Price’s concept of instrumentalities and the works of Susan Leigh Star, Geoffrey C. Bowker, and Karen Ruhleder on infrastructure theory and boundary objects.... (More)
This thesis examines the role of beamlines with publication metadata from the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF a large scientific facility offering diverse conditions for scientific research. As a user-oriented Big Science facility, the ESRF channels extremely brilliant light into different experimental areas called beamlines that house specific instruments that cater to the needs of diverse user communities. These beamlines are conceptualized as spaces where diverse scientific communities interact, share, and produce knowledge, drawing mainly from Derek de Solla Price’s concept of instrumentalities and the works of Susan Leigh Star, Geoffrey C. Bowker, and Karen Ruhleder on infrastructure theory and boundary objects.

With the beamline as the unit of analysis, emphasising its scientific, technical, and social configurations, diverse computational techniques are applied to bibliometric metadata in four individual research articles to analyse and understand the relationship between the configuration of the beamline and their user communities. The four articles employ computational and bibliometric techniques to map the disciplinary, collaborative, geographical, and process dynamics surrounding ESRF’s beamlines. The results reveal that beamlines foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among user communities. Furthermore, beamlines serve as collaborative hubs in user facilities like the ESRF, offering a space for diverse user communities to engage with in-house scientists (beamline scientists and/or technicians). While some beamlines cater to specific scientific domains, others are—or become—adaptable across disciplines.

The study emphasises that beamlines are not solely individual instruments but integral parts of a larger infrastructure for interdisciplinary research. Their technological configuration remains pivotal in shaping access and collaboration patterns amongst user communities, thus enabling specialised and interdisciplinary research. Furthermore, their evolution, including automation and remote access, have expanded the reach of beamlines. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Danell, Rickard, Umeå universitet
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
metadata, bibliometrics, beamlines, user community
in
Lund Studies in Arts and Cultural Sciences
volume
31
pages
186 pages
publisher
Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences, Lund University
defense location
B152, LUX, Helgonavägen 3, Lund.
defense date
2023-12-08 13:00:00
ISSN
2001–7510
2001–7529
ISBN
978-91-987325-4-2
978-91-987325-5-9
project
The role of contemporary Big Science facilities in the dynamics and productivity of science
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c6563561-4ff0-4471-8e80-e400de60787c
date added to LUP
2023-11-09 14:11:01
date last changed
2023-11-14 03:05:56
@phdthesis{c6563561-4ff0-4471-8e80-e400de60787c,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the role of beamlines with publication metadata from the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF a large scientific facility offering diverse conditions for scientific research. As a user-oriented Big Science facility, the ESRF channels extremely brilliant light into different experimental areas called beamlines that house specific instruments that cater to the needs of diverse user communities. These beamlines are conceptualized as spaces where diverse scientific communities interact, share, and produce knowledge, drawing mainly from Derek de Solla Price’s concept of instrumentalities and the works of Susan Leigh Star, Geoffrey C. Bowker, and Karen Ruhleder on infrastructure theory and boundary objects. <br/><br/>With the beamline as the unit of analysis, emphasising its scientific, technical, and social configurations, diverse computational techniques are applied to bibliometric metadata in four individual research articles to analyse and understand the relationship between the configuration of the beamline and their user communities. The four articles employ computational and bibliometric techniques to map the disciplinary, collaborative, geographical, and process dynamics surrounding ESRF’s beamlines. The results reveal that beamlines foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among user communities. Furthermore, beamlines serve as collaborative hubs in user facilities like the ESRF, offering a space for diverse user communities to engage with in-house scientists (beamline scientists and/or technicians). While some beamlines cater to specific scientific domains, others are—or become—adaptable across disciplines. <br/><br/>The study emphasises that beamlines are not solely individual instruments but integral parts of a larger infrastructure for interdisciplinary research. Their technological configuration remains pivotal in shaping access and collaboration patterns amongst user communities, thus enabling specialised and interdisciplinary research. Furthermore, their evolution, including automation and remote access, have expanded the reach of beamlines.}},
  author       = {{Söderström, Kristofer Rolf}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-987325-4-2}},
  issn         = {{2001–7510}},
  keywords     = {{metadata; bibliometrics; beamlines; user community}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  publisher    = {{Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund Studies in Arts and Cultural Sciences}},
  title        = {{The dynamics of beamline configurations and user communities : Quantitative studies of Big Science publications}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/164662018/e-nailing_ex_kristofer.pdf}},
  volume       = {{31}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}