[$] The importance of free software to science

Free software plays a critical role in science, both in research and indisseminating it. Aspects of software freedom are directly relevant tosimulation, analysis, document preparation and preservation, security,reproducibility, and usability. Free software brings practical and specificadvantages, beyond just its ideological roots, to science, whileproprietary software comes with equally specific risks. As a practicingscientist, I would like to help others-scientists or not-see the benefitsfrom free software in science.