Human Brain Project ruffles European research feathers

'The European Commission must take a very careful look at both the science and the management of the HBP before it is renewed', the group said in an open letter. 'We strongly question whether the goals and implementation of the HBP are adequate to form the nucleus of the collaborative effort in Europe that will further our understanding of the brain'. Needless to say, the HBP disagrees, but recognises there is uncertainty in what it is trying to achieve. 'It pushes all of us beyond what we are used to and are comfortable with. This is an essential state change that is needed to leverage everyone's data and synthesize all our knowledge. If we do not begin such an effort, neuroscience will not be in a position to shape and exploit emerging supercomputing and big data technologies. The European Commission was forward thinking to accept our proposal, and the spirit of the Flagship initiatives is to go far beyond what we would normally do'. So there. Maybe it's the size of the HBP's budget of €1.2billion has engendered a bit of envy. Then again, maybe it's because the HBP is approaching the challenge of understanding the brain from a technological standpoint, rather than from a scientific perspective. Either way, there appears to be a lot of ruffled feathers that need to be smoothed. Both camps are pursuing the same target: understanding the brain and how it works. Nobody knows just what the challenge entails, except that it's big. Nobody knows when the brain might finally be understood – if ever. But what if we can begin to understand part of the brain's workings and to translate that into new computing approaches? What might that enable and how might that help those pursuing the more traditional approach to unlocking those secrets? Instead of arguing, perhaps both sides should see where they have common ground and move on with the biggest project that mankind can imagine.