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Nature is Trialling Transparent Peer Review - the Early Results Are Encouraging

Nature is Trialling Transparent Peer Review - the Early Results Are Encouraging

Last year, nearly half of Nature authors agreed to publish anonymous referee reports. 

Designing Grant-Review Panels for Better Funding Decisions: Lessons from an Empirically Calibrated Simulation Model

Designing Grant-Review Panels for Better Funding Decisions: Lessons from an Empirically Calibrated Simulation Model

This article explores how factors relating to grades and grading affect the correctness of choices that grant-review panels make among submitted proposals. It seeks to identify interventions in panel design that may be expected to increase the correctness of choices.

Precipitation Effects on Grassland Plant Performance Are Lessened by Hay Harvest

Precipitation Effects on Grassland Plant Performance Are Lessened by Hay Harvest

Climate and human management, such as hay harvest, shape grasslands. With both disturbances co-occurring, understanding how these ecosystems respond to these combined drivers may aid in projecting future changes in grasslands. 

Wanted: Better Systems for Turning Evidence into Action

Wanted: Better Systems for Turning Evidence into Action

The pandemic created a colossal demand for scientific evidence to inform decision-making. Now researchers are mapping out what went wrong and what needs to change.

WEF Young Scientists Call to Address Missing Link Between Policy and Science

WEF Young Scientists Call to Address Missing Link Between Policy and Science

Scientists from the World Economic Forum's Young Scientists community want to see the social value of scientific research better recognised and acknowledged. Published today by Frontiers Policy Labs, a call has been signed by 52 scholars from some of the world's foremost academic institutions. The signatories say that for science to become rooted in decision-making, a new culture of engagement between policymakers and scientists needs to be established.

Building Trust in Science

Building Trust in Science

Engaging citizens in research will be a big priority for the new Horizon Europe funding programme. Horizon Europe includes a €2 million research call for recommendations to strengthen societal trust in science, research and innovation, while the programme is also seeking to encourage more public participation in scientific research.

Inequality in Science and the Case for a New Agenda

Inequality in Science and the Case for a New Agenda

The history of the scientific enterprise demonstrates that it has supported gender, identity, and racial inequity. To reverse this situation, the scientific community must reexamine its values and then collectively embark upon a moonshot-level new agenda for equity.

Spain Sets out to Overhaul Research Careers

Spain Sets out to Overhaul Research Careers

Spain has set out to improve the lives of its researchers after years of hand to mouth existence and a brain drain that has significantly weakened the public research sector.   A reform of a 2011 law will see young researchers getting permanent contracts, recognition of experience gained abroad and new labour rights. At the same time, there will be increased public spending on research.   

Discussion Begins in Brussels over Science Sanctions on Russia

Discussion Begins in Brussels over Science Sanctions on Russia

Discussions are underway in Brussels over whether Russia should be cut out of future Horizon Europe projects after president Vladimir Putin recognised two separatist-held parts of Ukraine as sovereign states and requested permission from parliament to send in troops on a mission.

Ukrainian Scientists Fear for Their Lives and Future Amid Russian Threat

Ukrainian Scientists Fear for Their Lives and Future Amid Russian Threat

Researchers say that conflict will hinder progress made since Ukraine's revolution in 2014.

Stop Using Anecdotal Evidence in Conversations About Gender

Stop Using Anecdotal Evidence in Conversations About Gender

Let data guide discussions on equality, say Juliana Hipólito and Luisa Maria Diele-Viegas.

How Politics, Society, and Tech Shape the Path of Climate Change

How Politics, Society, and Tech Shape the Path of Climate Change

Public perceptions of climate change, the future cost and effectiveness of climate mitigation and technologies, and how political institutions respond to public pressure are all important determinants of how climate will change, according to a new study.

Swiss Back Creation of Global Body on Plastic Pollution

Swiss Back Creation of Global Body on Plastic Pollution

Some 15 countries, including Switzerland, have proposed the creation of a "Science-Policy Panel" to deal with chemical waste and plastic pollution.

NIH Issues a Seismic Mandate: Share Data Publicly

NIH Issues a Seismic Mandate: Share Data Publicly

The data-sharing policy could set a global standard for biomedical research, scientists say, but they have questions about logistics and equity.

The Covid Treatment Pill is Here - and Big Pharma Will Ultimately Decide Who Gets It | Othoman Mellouk

The Covid Treatment Pill is Here - and Big Pharma Will Ultimately Decide Who Gets It | Othoman Mellouk

Experts are predicting demand for life-saving antiviral drugs will rapidly outpace supply. Like the vaccine, the poorest countries will be left until last, says medicine access advocate Othoman Mellouk