Abstract: Disclosed is a scientific collaboration apparatus that in one general aspect includes a user-configurable workspace and a communication interface operative to communicate with a computer network. The invention also features a scientific information processing tool library that includes a selection interface responsive to a user selection of ones of a plurality of scientific information processing tools that include: one or more scientific data management tools, which are operative to manage scientific data annotated with research identifying meta-data, and one or more scientific data communication tools, which are operative to communicate the research identifying meta-data with communication tools in other user-configurable workspaces via the communication interface. A workspace design interface is provided as well, and it is responsive to user input to assemble a series of the scientific information processing tools from the scientific information processing tool library in the user-configurable workspace.

Abstract: A search system and method are disclosed. In one general aspect the method features fingerprinting digitally stored documents and queries based on one or more topic models. Similarities between document and query fingerprints can be detected to search for documents. Topic summaries can also be derived from the documents and queries based on the topic models.

Abstract: A search system and method are disclosed. In one general aspect the method features fingerprinting digitally stored documents and queries based on one or more topic models. Similarities between document and query fingerprints can be detected to search for documents. Topic summaries can also be derived from the documents and queries based on the topic models.