VerbaAlpina can be described as a web-based space-oriented research environment. This format is determined by the current framework which is quite different from traditional science communication. In all disciplines working with empirical data in a 'classical' way, three successive phases can be distinguished:
  1. The scientist is looking for informants.
  2. The informants provide the scientist with raw data.
  3. The scientist disseminates a specific set of elicited data, selected and modeled in light of theoretical assumptions, to an essentially scientific audience.
Communication in these three phases passes unidirectionally and aims at self-contained, tangible publications, i.e. printed books.
The three steps of traditional sciene communication
♦ data collection, ♦ theory and methodology, ♦ media publication

While media play a fundamental role, they are strictly limited in that they are only relevant for publication in the form of print during the third phase. These results are only accessible where the paper publications are physically available, i.e., mainly in a few, mostly public libraries. In the chart, the media component is symbolized by the blue highlighting of the field.

The new media revolutionised the framework for science communication, since all steps of academic work require highly technical mediality, which fundamentally makes them communicative acts. This is why the entire following chart is highlighted blue. The organization and bundeling of the steps into three necessarily successive phases can be overcome. The outlined unidirectionality of the flow of information as well as the binding nature of the role (INFORMANT, AUTHOR, READER) is eliminated. In principle, one and the same person can participate in the communication in fast changing functions. With regard to the communicants, the function INFORMANT is completely transformed, since the treatment of the supplied data remains transparent and can be followed continuously. The INFORMANT thus becomes the READER of his own DATA, completely independent of whether he/she understands the scientific intention at all. At the same time, the possibility of commenting on it as AUTHOR is opened up to him. Under these conditions, the status of data itself changes just as radically, since it is stored in principally dynamic databases whose scope and structure remain subject to change. As such, the communication between the people who are involved and may be switching roles becomes a fundamental form of cooperation. It should be clearly stated, however, that the use of web technology does not automatically optimize research collaboration. Rather, it is necessary to comply with certain rules that have been succinctly formulated within the so-called FAIR principles. They also imply the strict abandonment of the print publication's copyright (©) in favour of more appropriate licensing.

Science communication (♦ ) under the conditions of the internet

p>In that sense, VerbaAlpina was created as a research environment with different yet closely intertwined areas. For the operationalisation of the FAIR principles, VerbaAlpina still relies on institutional coverage –such project work is usually temporary and, as such, precarious. Research data management is thus carried out on the basis of procedures that were developed in cooperation with the Ludwig-Maximilians University’s library.