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I Advocate an African Research Agenda for African Development

I Advocate an African Research Agenda for African Development

As Uganda's science minister, Monica Musenero pushes to connect scientific research to economic development in her country and her continent.

Living Guidelines for Generative AI - Why Scientists Must Oversee Its Use

Living Guidelines for Generative AI - Why Scientists Must Oversee Its Use

Establish an independent scientific body to test and certify generative artificial intelligence, before the technology damages science and public trust.

ChatGPT Use Shows That the Grant-Application System is Broken

ChatGPT Use Shows That the Grant-Application System is Broken

The fact that artificial intelligence can do much of the work makes a mockery of the process. It's time to make it easier for scientists to ask for research funding.

Science is Under Threat in Argentina - We Must Call out the Danger

Science is Under Threat in Argentina - We Must Call out the Danger

Extreme-right presidential front runner Javier Milei plans to disband ministries and privatize research. That would be disastrous for Argentina's science and for the nation.

US Science Agencies on Track to Hit 25-Year Funding Low

US Science Agencies on Track to Hit 25-Year Funding Low

Despite last year's CHIPS and Science Act, which was meant to boost innovation, report predicts that Congress will cut spending on science.

Seize the Moment: Researchers Have a Rare Opportunity to Make Progress in Protecting Global Biodiversity

Seize the Moment: Researchers Have a Rare Opportunity to Make Progress in Protecting Global Biodiversity

A quiet revolution is taking place to incorporate the costs of biodiversity loss into economic planning. It needs researchers to be engaged.

AI Tools As Science Policy Advisers? The Potential and the Pitfalls

AI Tools As Science Policy Advisers? The Potential and the Pitfalls

Large language models and other artificial-intelligence systems could be excellent at synthesizing scientific evidence for policymakers - but only with appropriate safeguards and humans in the loop.

Universities Axe Diversity Statements in Wake of US Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action

Universities Axe Diversity Statements in Wake of US Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action

Higher-education campaigners fear that removing the option for job applicants to provide the statements will make the academic workforce less diverse.

Can AI Help to Predict Who Will Win a Nobel Prize?

Can AI Help to Predict Who Will Win a Nobel Prize?

With a few modifications, ChatGPT-like models could enhance the art of identifying future laureates.

How Tackling Real-world Problems Transformed My Teaching and Research

How Tackling Real-world Problems Transformed My Teaching and Research

Designing courses on the basis of what really matters to people is a win-win for students and society.

Rich Countries Must Align Science Funding with the Sustainable Development Goals

Rich Countries Must Align Science Funding with the Sustainable Development Goals

This week, New York City is buzzing with scientists. A Science Summit is being held at the United Nations, to coincide with the UN General Assembly. The summit’s overall theme revolves around the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to end poverty and protect the environment. Research in poorer countries maps closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals - wealthy nations must follow if the goals are to be met. 

This Alternative Way to Measure Research Impact Made Judges Cry with Joy

This Alternative Way to Measure Research Impact Made Judges Cry with Joy

Podcast: Research managers, citizen scientists, librarians and technicians rarely make it onto author lists. But an initiative to assess their hidden contributions to team science moved some judging panel members to tears.

The World's Goals to Save Humanity Are Hugely Ambitious - but They Are Still the Best Option

The World's Goals to Save Humanity Are Hugely Ambitious - but They Are Still the Best Option

Not one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals looks set to be achieved by 2030. But deadlines can help focus the mind, and scientists should double down on their work to support the goals.

How Science Bolstered a Key European Climate-change Case

How Science Bolstered a Key European Climate-change Case

A group of older women in Switzerland has taken the government to court over its inaction on climate change. Our experience of preparing evidence for the case offers six lessons for researchers.

"Just Get the Admin to Do It." Why Research Managers Are Feeling Misunderstood

"Just Get the Admin to Do It." Why Research Managers Are Feeling Misunderstood

Science benefits when there is mutual respect between academics and research managers. Team Science, a six-part series, begins by examining a key workplace relationship.

Three Institutional Pathways to Envision the Future of the IPCC - Nature Climate Change

Three Institutional Pathways to Envision the Future of the IPCC - Nature Climate Change

The IPCC has been successful at building its scientific authority, but it will require institutional reform for staying relevant to new and changing political contexts. Exploring a range of alternative future pathways for the IPCC can help guide crucial decisions about redefining its purpose.

re3data - Indexing the Global Research Data Repository Landscape Since 2012

re3data - Indexing the Global Research Data Repository Landscape Since 2012

For more than ten years, re3data, a global registry of research data repositories (RDRs), has been helping scientists, funding agencies, libraries, and data centers with finding, identifying, and referencing RDRs.

If AI Becomes Conscious: Here's How Researchers Will Know

If AI Becomes Conscious: Here's How Researchers Will Know

Many researchers say that AI systems aren’t yet at the point of consciousness, but that the pace of AI evolution has got them pondering: how would we know if they were? A checklist derived from six neuroscience-based theories could aid in the assessment. 

Allow Patents on AI-generated Inventions - for the Good of Science

Allow Patents on AI-generated Inventions - for the Good of Science

The current global mishmash of rules on whether innovations made using artificial intelligence are patentable impedes AI-rich fields such as drug discovery.