About The WERC
Seeing the whole picture
Inspired by an ancient parable, we build tools and communities so researchers never have to work from a single piece of the puzzle.
The blind men and the elephant
An ancient story from Buddhist, Hindu and Jain texts: a group of blind men meet an elephant for the first time. Each touches a different part — and each walks away sure they know what an elephant is.
Trunk
Like a thick snake
“This being is like a thick snake.”
Leg
Like a tree trunk
“This being is a pillar shape, just like a tree trunk.”
Ear
Like a big fan
“No! This being is like a big fan.”
Tusk
Like a spear
“Ouch! You are wrong, this being is like a spear.”
Side
Like a wall
“This being is like a wall.”
Tail
Like a rope
“You are all wrong, it is like a rope.”
They argue. Each is partly right — and none can see the full picture. Only by sharing perspectives could they hope to understand the true nature of the elephant.
What it means to us
Research teams often focus on one part of a complex problem — valuable work, but fragmented when findings never meet. Without collaboration and shared tools, understanding stays incomplete.
To truly see the whole elephant, researchers need tools to connect, collaborate and see the bigger picture.
Our mission
At The WERC we help the world uncover the whole elephant — by building an engaged community of institutions, researchers and participants, and the platforms, tools and equipment that make research happen.
Together we will reveal the whole elephant.
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