Just as an electronic network can provide many of the assets of an actual research institute, its weblogging facility provides an easily accessed substitute for those corridor conversations and discussions of techniques, data or teaching strategies that abound in such institutions.

The factors that contribute to a dynamic blogging culture within a network are not fully understood- at least not by me! I believe that potential bloggers can be intimidated by self doubts about their technical competence and by a mistaken concept that blogs must be carefully crafted and polished when it is their informality and immediacy that encourages responses and dialogue. Also as with actual discussion sessions, there can be an initial inertia which tends to make potential discussants reluctant to join in until an animator has broken the ice.

To achieve its objectives, http://www.mother-child.org must foster a dynamic culture of scientist-to-scientist dialogue. Probably, it is the under 30’s who will lead the way; they have grown up with computers, are unfazed by concerns about the technology or the formality of their postings. In addition, it will be necessary for several committed participants from developed and developing world centers to assume the role of animators taking the time to post blogs and get the ball rolling.

In advocating the view that the future of our network depends on our capacity to foster an actively blogging culture, I am asking for your comments and for any suggestions you may have for overcoming inertia and generating blog frenzy.