-> Today, the Internet is an important working environment for all scientists and researchers. They also increasingly use Web 2.0, mainly on an experimental basis. There are also research-specific services with special features for closed groups. By now, some of these platforms have more than a million members worldwide.
-> Web 2.0 has the potential to change science and research: the relationship with the public is redefined; written micro-communication is intensified; web activities affect the standing of the scientists.
-> Using Web 2.0 services intensively leads to par- tial loss of control over information input and a possible information overload for the individual.
Author: Michael Nentwich