What Xi Jinping's Third Term Means for Science
At the Chinese Communist Party's 20th congress, Xi laid out his vision for science and innovation to drive the country's growth.
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Supporting and Connecting Policymaking in the EU Member States With Scientific Research
Supporting and Connecting Policymaking in the EU Member States With Scientific Research
Scientific knowledge can help policymakers understand, identify and assess policy options. A new EU document identifies the rationale behind building capacity of science-for-policy ecosystems, as well as the challenges encountered at the science-policy interface.
Applying Quantified Indicators in Central Asian Science: Can Metrics Improve the Regional Research Performance? - Scientometrics
Applying Quantified Indicators in Central Asian Science: Can Metrics Improve the Regional Research Performance? - Scientometrics
This study discusses the implications of research metrics as applied to the transition countries based on the framework of ten principles of the Leiden Manifesto. They can guide Central Asian policymakers in creating systems for a more objective evaluation of research performance based on globally recognized indicators.
Research Infrastructures Are About to Get Vocal About the Energy Crisis
The impact of the war in Ukraine is reverberating through research infrastructures, with rising energy costs and shortages of equipment manufactured abroad hitting these important shared facilities and forcing some to temporarily close their doors.
Do the Science on Sustainability Now
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are not a priority for research in high-income countries. That must change.
US and EU Officials Agree to Boost R&D Ties in Cancer, Climate, Aviation
US and EU officials agreed to expand R&D collaboration on cancer, climate change, green aviation and other fields, signaling a further warming of transatlantic science relations.
Do Introductory Courses Disproportionately Drive Minoritized Students out of STEM Pathways?
Do Introductory Courses Disproportionately Drive Minoritized Students out of STEM Pathways?
This study found that the association between low performance in an introductory STEM class and failure to obtain a STEM degree is stronger for underrepresented minority (URM) students than for other students, even after controlling for academic preparation in high school and intent to obtain a STEM degree.
Science, Technology and Innovation is Not Addressing World's Most Urgent Problems
Science, Technology and Innovation is Not Addressing World's Most Urgent Problems
Science, technology and innovation research is not focused on the most pressing problems: taking climate action, addressing complex underlying social issues, tackling hunger and promoting good health and wellbeing.
Lero Launches Charter to Make Science Research Freely Available
A new open access charter by Lero, the SFI research centre for software, aims to make publicly-funded research in Ireland openly available.
Stronger Pollution Protections Mean Focusing on Specific Communities
Targets specific locations is something that activists and experts have been pushing for in terms of pollution reduction.
Not Science Fiction: Methane-Eating "Borgs" Have Been Assimilating Earth's Microbes
A newly discovered type of transferable DNA structure with a sci-fi name appears to play a role in balancing atmospheric methane. In Star Trek, the Borg are a ruthless, hive-minded collective that assimilate other beings with the intent of taking over the galaxy. Here on nonfictional planet Earth
Making Better Use of Natural Experimental Evaluation in Population Health
Rather than arguing about the suitability of natural experimental methods to inform decisions we need to focus on refining their scope and design, say Peter Craig and colleagues Natural experiments have long been used as opportunities to evaluate the health impacts of policies, programmes, and other interventions. Defined in the UK Medical Research Council's guidance as events outside the control of researchers that divide populations into exposed and unexposed groups, natural experiments have greatly contributed to the evidence base for tobacco and air pollution control, suicide prevention, and other important areas of public health policy.1 Although randomised controlled trials are often viewed as the best source of evidence because they have less risk of bias, reliance on them as the only source of credible evidence has begun to shift for several reasons. Firstly, policy makers are increasingly looking for evidence about "what works" to tackle pervasive and complex problems, including the social determinants of health,23 and these are hard to examine in randomised trials. In Scotland, for example, legislation to introduce a minimum retail price per unit of alcohol included a sunset clause, which means that the measure will lapse after six years unless evidence is produced that it works. This has resulted in multiple evaluations, including natural experimental studies using geographical or historical comparator groups.4 Similarly, the US National Institutes of Health has called for greater use of natural experimental methods to understand how to prevent obesity,5 and a consortium of European academies for their greater use to understand policies and interventions to reduce health inequalities.3 Secondly, a wider range of analytical methods developed within other disciplines, mostly by economists or other social or political scientists, are being increasingly applied to good effect. A good example is the use of synthetic control methods …
How Weathercasters Helped Change Public Opinion on Climate Change
The Clinton administration's outreach to meteorologists persuaded some television weathercasters to include climate as part of their day-to-day presentations and others to follow suit over time, improving Americans' understanding of the climate crisis.
Focus on PhD Quality, Not Publications: We Need to Encourage Scholars to Become Inquisitive Explorers, Papers Will Naturally Follow
Focus on PhD Quality, Not Publications: We Need to Encourage Scholars to Become Inquisitive Explorers, Papers Will Naturally Follow
Does forcing students to mandatorily publish a research paper before thesis submission lead to a high-quality PhD thesis, or does high-quality PhD work lead to publications in good journals? This question is unlike the chicken...
ELife Ends Accept/reject Decisions Following Peer Review
eLife will emphasise the public peer review of preprints, restoring author autonomy and promoting the assessment of scientists based on what, not where, they publish.
Scientific Publishing: Peer Review Without Gatekeeping
eLife is changing its editorial process to emphasize public reviews and assessments of preprints by eliminating accept/reject decisions after peer review.
Science, Technology and Innovation is Not Addressing World's Most Urgent Problems
Science, Technology and Innovation is Not Addressing World's Most Urgent Problems
A major new international study finds that global science research serves the needs of the Global North, and is driven by the values and interests of a small number of companies, governments and funding bodies.
Women Researchers Are Cited Less Than Men. Here's Why-and What Can Be Done About It
Women Researchers Are Cited Less Than Men. Here's Why-and What Can Be Done About It
Two studies of citations in physics highlight factors contributing to this gender disparity.
Space Junk Created the World's Largest Dump. Here's How We Can Fix It.
When space debris collides with other space debris, it creates thousands more pieces of junk, a phenomenon known as the Kessler syndrome.
Getting the Job: It's Not Just Who You Know, but How You Know Them
People are more likely to land high-paying jobs through friends of friends than through their close friends or family, study finds.
In Academia, Lower Socioeconomic Status Hinders Sense of Belonging
In Academia, Lower Socioeconomic Status Hinders Sense of Belonging
Ph.D. students who belong to minoritized groups experience challenges with interpersonal understanding and social ties.
Why is the American Right Suddenly So Interested in Psychedelic Drugs?
Magic mushrooms are no magic cure for society's ills, and a substance as powerful as psychedelics can be dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands
The Psychology of Epiphanies
You might have been told off for staring out the window at school, but psychology shows us it's one of the best ways to spark new ideas and have epiphanies.
A Road Map Aims to Improve the Lives of Junior Scientists in Europe
A Road Map Aims to Improve the Lives of Junior Scientists in Europe
University associations, legislators, students and other stakeholders release a declaration on ways to recruit and retain early-career researchers in academia.
Horizon Europe: New Zealand to Begin Negotiating Full Association to the Research Programme
Horizon Europe: New Zealand to Begin Negotiating Full Association to the Research Programme
New Zealand and the European Commission announced they will enter formal negotiations on joining Horizon Europe, the EU's €95.5 billion research and innovation programme. Along with Canada, New Zealand was the first highly industrialised country to start exploratory talks with the EU on becoming an associated country in Horizon Europe. In the previous research programme, Horizon 2020, New Zealand participated as a 'third country' a status that does not offer the full benefits of association.
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