Bassecoulard, E; Lelu, A; Zitt, M "Mapping nanosciences by citation flows: A preliminary analysis" Scientometrics 70(3): 859-880, March 2007.

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Addresses: bassecou at nantes.inra.fr 

TITLE:          Mapping nanosciences by citation flows: A preliminary
                analysis (Article, English)

AUTHOR:         Bassecoulard, E; Lelu, A; Zitt, M

SOURCE:         SCIENTOMETRICS 70 (3). MAR 2007. p.859-880 SPRINGER,
                DORDRECHT

SEARCH TERM(S):  CRONIN B  rauth; GARFIELD E  rauth; MARSHAKOVA IV  rauth;
                 SMALL H  rauth; SCIENTOMETR*  rwork;
                 KESSLER MM         AM DOC                 14:10    1963;
                 CITATION  item_title; CITATION*  item_title

KEYWORDS+:       MODERN SCIENCE; NANOTECHNOLOGY; INTERDISCIPLINARITY;
                COCITATION; COLLABORATION; INDICATORS; PATTERNS

ABSTRACT:       This article presents a citation-based mapping exercise
in the nanosciences field and a first sketch of citation transactions (a 
measure of cognitive dependences). Nanosciences are considered to be one of 
the "convergent" components shaping the future of science and technology. 
Recurrent questions about the structure of the field concern its diversity 
and multi- or inter-disciplinarity. Observations made from various points 
of view confirm a strong differentiation of the field, which is scattered 
in multiple galaxies with moderate level of exchanges.
The multi-disciplinarity of themes and super-themes detected by mapping 
also appears moderate, most of the super-themes being based on physics and 
chemistry in various proportions. Structural analysis of the list of 
references in articles suggests that the moderate multi-disciplinarity 
observed at the aggregate level partly stems from an actual inter- 
disciplinarity at the article level.

AUTHOR ADDRESS: E Bassecoulard, INRA, BP 71627, F-44316 Nantes 3, France