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Unintended Consequences of Gender-equality Plans

Unintended Consequences of Gender-equality Plans

Don't let academia's initiatives to advance women become just another way to game the research system, urges Charikleia Tzanakou.

College Librarians Prepare for Looming Budget Cuts, and Journal Subscriptions Could Be in for a Trim

College Librarians Prepare for Looming Budget Cuts, and Journal Subscriptions Could Be in for a Trim

University librarians are preparing for tough times ahead, even though the fiscal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to be fully understood. Could big deals with publishers be on the chopping block?

Perspectives on Open Science and Inequity: Who is Left Behind?

Perspectives on Open Science and Inequity: Who is Left Behind?

Due to precautionary measures in regard to the coronavirus, the second day of this year's Open Science Conference got canceled. Luckily, the panellists Johanna Havemann, Anne-Floor Scholvinck, Daniel Spichtinger and August Wierling agreed to submit their opening statements as a blog post.

Relying on Science and Politics, Merkel Offers a Cautious Virus Re-entry Plan

Relying on Science and Politics, Merkel Offers a Cautious Virus Re-entry Plan

Shorn of any bravado, her announcement seemed again to make Germany, Europe's biggest economy, a de facto leader on the Continent and something of an example for Western nations. The chancellor, a physicist by training, focused on the science as she announced the government’s cautious step-by-step plan.

The Importance of Being Second

The Importance of Being Second

PLOS Biology, PLOS Medicine, PLOS Computational Biology, PLOS Genetics, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases and PLOS Pathogens have all revised their ‘scooping’ policy to waive the novelty criteria for work submitted within six months of a similar study having been published.

Royal Society Convenes Data Analytics Group to Tackle COVID-19

Royal Society Convenes Data Analytics Group to Tackle COVID-19

DELVE: Data Evaluation and Learning for Viral Epidemics is a multi-disciplinary group, convened by the Royal Society, to support a data-driven approach to learning from the different approaches countries are taking to managing the pandemic.

EPA Can't Bar Grantees from Sitting on Science Advisory Panels, Judge Rules

EPA Can't Bar Grantees from Sitting on Science Advisory Panels, Judge Rules

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot block recipients of agency funding from participating on its science advisory boards, a federal judge said yesterday.

NIH to Launch Public-private Partnership to Speed COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Options

NIH to Launch Public-private Partnership to Speed COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Options

Health agencies, leading pharmaceutical companies to join forces to accelerate pandemic response.

We Scientists Said Lock Down. But UK Politicians Refused to Listen

We Scientists Said Lock Down. But UK Politicians Refused to Listen

For 11 fateful days in March, the government ignored the best coronavirus advice, says public health professor Helen Ward. 

Shadow Minister Says REF 'serves No Purpose' - Research Professional News

Shadow Minister Says REF 'serves No Purpose' - Research Professional News

Emma Hardy says there will be no return to 'business as usual' after Covid-19 crisis. 

Europe Must Take Urgent Copyright Law Action To Support Distance Learning & Research During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Europe Must Take Urgent Copyright Law Action To Support Distance Learning & Research During the Coronavirus Pandemic

During this unprecedented global emergency, LIBER calls on European Commissioners, Member State governments, publishers and authors to urgently help libraries, universities and other educational establishments, so that they can continue supplying researchers, teachers and students with access to books, archives and other instructional materials. 

Why the Big Bang Produced Something Rather Than Nothing

Why the Big Bang Produced Something Rather Than Nothing

How did matter gain the edge over antimatter in the early universe? Maybe, just maybe, neutrinos.

Ten Work-life Balance Tips for Researchers Based at Home During the Pandemic

Ten Work-life Balance Tips for Researchers Based at Home During the Pandemic

If you struggle with home working but are having to do it because of the coronavirus, Lucy Taylor has some advice.

Coronavirus Distancing May Need to Continue Until 2022, Say Experts

Coronavirus Distancing May Need to Continue Until 2022, Say Experts

Scientists say one-time lockdown will not bring pandemic under control.

How COVID-19 Could Ruin Weather Forecasts and Climate Records

How COVID-19 Could Ruin Weather Forecasts and Climate Records

As climate- and ecological-monitoring projects go dark, data that stretch back for decades will soon contain coronavirus-associated gaps.

This 3-D Simulation Shows Why Social Distancing Is So Important

This 3-D Simulation Shows Why Social Distancing Is So Important

We visualized a cough to show how far respiratory droplets can spread. If you haven't been keeping your distance to fight the coronavirus, this may persuade you.

ETH4D Research Challenges

ETH4D Research Challenges

The goal of the ETH4D Research Challenges is to enable collaborations on project-​based research between ETH researchers, non-​academic partners and partners from the Global South to develop effective solutions for poverty reduction combining technologies, policies and a profound understanding of human behaviour.

This Study on Flower Resilience is the Most Beautiful Thing I've Read During the Pandemic

This Study on Flower Resilience is the Most Beautiful Thing I've Read During the Pandemic

What plants can teach us about surviving a pandemic.

Ending Coronavirus Lockdowns Will Be a Dangerous Process of Trial and Error

Ending Coronavirus Lockdowns Will Be a Dangerous Process of Trial and Error

There's no scientific consensus on when it's safe to reopen schools, businesses, restaurants, and bars

There's Been a Spike in People Dying at Home in Several Cities. That…

There's Been a Spike in People Dying at Home in Several Cities. That…

Coronavirus death counts are based on positive tests and driven by hospital deaths. But data from major metropolitan areas shows a spike in at-home deaths, prompting one expert to say current numbers were just "the tip of the iceberg."

Projecting the Transmission Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Through the Postpandemic Period

Projecting the Transmission Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Through the Postpandemic Period

It is urgent to understand the future of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission. This research group used estimates of seasonality, immunity, and cross-immunity for betacoronaviruses OC43 and HKU1 from time series data from the USA to inform a model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Putin's Long War Against American Science

Putin's Long War Against American Science

A decade of health disinformation promoted by President Vladimir Putin of Russia has sown wide confusion, hurt major institutions and encouraged the spread of deadly illnesses.

What Do Countries With The Best Coronavirus Reponses Have In Common? Women Leaders

What Do Countries With The Best Coronavirus Reponses Have In Common? Women Leaders

From Iceland to Taiwan and from Germany to New Zealand, women are stepping up to show the world how to manage a messy patch for our human family.