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The Importance of Science Diplomacy During Difficult Times

The Importance of Science Diplomacy During Difficult Times

If the vaunted features of science that are used rhetorically to promote and justify its status as an aid to international affairs are truly valued, it would be precisely in the most trying circumstances that science diplomacy should remain a viable alternative.

Politics and Expertise: How to Use Science in a Democratic Society

Politics and Expertise: How to Use Science in a Democratic Society

The Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of scientific advice to modern policymaking. But how can the use of expertise in politics be aligned with the needs and values of the public?

Managing Academic Performance by Optimal Resource Allocation - Scientometrics

Managing Academic Performance by Optimal Resource Allocation - Scientometrics

This paper develops and studies a complex data-driven framework for human resource management enabling (i) academic talent recognition, (ii) researcher performance measurement, and (iii) renewable resource allocation maximizing the total output of a research unit.

Biden Bids Again to Boost Science Spending - but Faces Long Odds

Biden Bids Again to Boost Science Spending - but Faces Long Odds

The US president wants huge increases for clean energy and public health, but a divided Congress might not go along with the plan.

Stick to Science Builds Second Wave

Stick to Science Builds Second Wave

The research community in Europe has rallied behind the Stick to Science campaign, set up in February to push for a rapid resolution to the exclusion of Switzerland and the United Kingdom from EU research and innovation programmes.

Community science rides the escalator of public engagement

Community science rides the escalator of public engagement

Too often, science public communication programmes are didactic in nature. To help generate genuine engagement, the EU-funded DITOs project launched two-way discussions to inspire the public and influence policy.

EU and US Come to 'Agreement in Principle' on Data Flows

EU and US Come to 'Agreement in Principle' on Data Flows

The EU and US have reached an agreement in principle on facilitating data flows, including research data, across the Atlantic. Steady data sharing has been hampered since the EU's Court of Justice struck down the old rules due to concerns about US government surveillance in July 2020.

Scientists Fear Excluding Russia from Arctic Research Will Derail Climate Change Effort

Scientists Fear Excluding Russia from Arctic Research Will Derail Climate Change Effort

Crucial climate change research in the Artic is in jeopardy after the operation of the Arctic Council that coordinates the work was put on hold following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

UK Announces Russia Sanctions in Line with EU Measures

UK Announces Russia Sanctions in Line with EU Measures

The UK has followed much of the rest of Europe and announced its own scientific sanctions against Russia, leaving the US, which has still not issued any centralised guidance, increasingly isolated in its inaction. After reviewing its Russian links, the UK has said its research and innovation funding organisations will not start any new projects with Russia. Payments to existing projects "with a Russian dimension" have been paused pending an assessment of which ones "benefit the Russian regime."

How and Why to Say 'no' to Colleagues and Collaborators

How and Why to Say 'no' to Colleagues and Collaborators

Sometimes it's best to refuse offers and focus on the right projects to benefit your career.

Global Vaccination Must Be Swifter

Global Vaccination Must Be Swifter

Speeding up development of new vaccines won't help much in the next pandemic, unless world leaders work faster to roll out vaccination globally.

New US Rules on Sharing Healthcare Research Data Are a Giant Leap for Open Science

New US Rules on Sharing Healthcare Research Data Are a Giant Leap for Open Science

In order to get funding from the National Institutes of Health, researchers now need a plan for sharing and managing their data. 

Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl In Household Waste May Be Going Airborne

Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl In Household Waste May Be Going Airborne

Municipal waste incinerators only report hazardous air pollutants-like dioxin, mercury, and lead-to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) every three years, and PFAS compounds are not yet listed in this category. 

Research Infrastructures Face Disruption Due to Association Deadlock

Research Infrastructures Face Disruption Due to Association Deadlock

When JET, the Joint European Torus, announced a breakthrough in the production of fusion energy in February, the celebrations could be heard across Europe. Although based in the UK, the project belongs to a much wider fusion research community.

After Lockdown: A Metamorphosis by Bruno Latour (Book Review)

After Lockdown: A Metamorphosis by Bruno Latour (Book Review)

In After Lockdown: A Metamorphosis, Bruno Latour explores how the experience of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic has led us to better understand our connections with other living beings, in ways that might be conducive to confronting our climate crisis. This book will be of interest to anyone wanting to explore the philosophical meanings of lockdowns, Gaia theories and climate politics.

Do Octopuses Have Emotions?

Do Octopuses Have Emotions?

They look so "alien," but octopuses feel and remember pain like we do. We can track their emotional reactions. But their deeper feelings are a mystery.

Recommendations for Discipline-Specific FAIRness Evaluation Derived from Applying an Ensemble of Evaluation Tools

Recommendations for Discipline-Specific FAIRness Evaluation Derived from Applying an Ensemble of Evaluation Tools

From a research data repositories’ perspective, offering research data management services in line with the FAIR principles is becoming increasingly important. However, there exists no globally established and trusted approach to evaluate FAIRness to date. This article applies five different available FAIRness evaluation approaches to selected data archived in the World Data Center for Climate (WDCC).

ERA4Ukraine: a One-stop-shop to Support Researchers of Ukraine

ERA4Ukraine: a One-stop-shop to Support Researchers of Ukraine

The Commission launched 'European Research Area for Ukraine' (ERA4Ukraine), a one-stop-shop for information and support services to Ukraine-based researchers and researchers fleeing Ukraine. 

Ukraine Invasion Triggers Push to Cut Science Ties With Russia

Ukraine Invasion Triggers Push to Cut Science Ties With Russia

Governments and science organizations around the world are grappling over the extent to which sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine should extend to scientific exchanges.