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Researchers protest government reforms

Researchers protest government reforms

About 3000 Russian scientists rallied in Moscow on Saturday to protest against government reforms of the research system and the imposition of competitive funding, which is not commonly used in the country.

Elsevier cracks down on pirated scientific articles

Elsevier cracks down on pirated scientific articles

Elsevier has filed a complaint hoping to shut down websites which are particularly popular in developing nations where access to academic works is relatively expensive.

Call to unlock a treasure chest of hidden research data

Call to unlock a treasure chest of hidden research data

"The right to read is the right to mine" : publishers are resisting a change to copyright law that would allow academics to digitally mine published research to help crack intractable problems.

Examining the predictive validity of NIH peer review scores

Examining the predictive validity of NIH peer review scores

"Retrospective analyses of the correlation between percentile scores from peer review and bibliometric indices of the publications resulting from funded grant applications are not valid tests of the predictive validity of peer review at the NIH."

Five companies control more than half of academic publishing

Five companies control more than half of academic publishing

[3]A study at the University of Montreal shows that Reed-Elsevier, Springer, Wiley-Blackwell, Taylor & Francis, and Sage now publish more than 50% of all academic articles. This number has been rising, thanks to mergers and acquisitions, from 30% in 1996 and only 20% in 1973.

A woman will lead Oxford University for the first time in its 785-year history

A woman will lead Oxford University for the first time in its 785-year history

Oxford University has picked its next leader — and for the first time in 785 years, it will be led by a woman: Louise Richardson.

Global research chiefs seek ways to foster serendipity

Global research chiefs seek ways to foster serendipity

Researchers need freedom and the flexibility that leads to serendipity, and they should be encouraged to take risks even if it leads to failure.

EU trims H2020 but spares ERC

EU trims H2020 but spares ERC

Facing pressure from E.U. parliamentarians and scientists, the European Commission agreed to spare the ERC from budget cuts.

The BMJ requires data sharing on request for all trials

The BMJ requires data sharing on request for all trials

The data transparency revolution is gathering pace. Last month, the WHO and the Nordic Trial Alliance released important declarations about clinical trial transparency.

Lawmakers advance controversial science-policy bill

Lawmakers advance controversial science-policy bill

Republicans in the House of Representatives seek to reshape research agenda.

UK universities slow to publish reports of misconduct investigations

UK universities slow to publish reports of misconduct investigations

Just a fraction of universities in the United Kingdom have made public the extent of their investigations into research misconduct, a survey has found - even though all have been told that they should do so.

The Swiss science of investigating fraud

The Swiss science of investigating fraud

The ETH Zurich announced it was investigating one of its professors following accusations of publication fraud. Academic misconduct is nothing new, but the Swiss have only recently taken a coherent approach to investigating it.

Switzerland is 2nd in the Ranking of National Higher Education Systems

Switzerland is 2nd in the Ranking of National Higher Education Systems

Switzerland’s higher education system has been ranked 2nd in the 2015 global ratings done by Universitas 21. One aspect where it stood out: international outlook. However this is the area under threat after an anti-immigration vote last year.

Thomson Reuters identifies significant trends impacting the academic reputation of the world's leading universities

Thomson Reuters identifies significant trends impacting the academic reputation of the world's leading universities

Report and survey provide insider’s view into the various components that determine a university’s global academic reputation.

Publisher sacks 31 editors amid fierce row over independence

Publisher sacks 31 editors amid fierce row over independence

Frontiers, based in Lausanne, removed 31 editors from two journals after the editors complained that company staff were interfering with editorial decisions and violating core principles of medical publishing.

Researchers fret about downgrading of science minister role

Researchers fret about downgrading of science minister role

Jo Johnson is smart and well-connected, but will not attend highest-level policy meetings.

New mechanism for scientific advice

New mechanism for scientific advice

President Juncker welcomes world-leading scientists, discusses role of science in competitiveness and announces new mechanism for scientific advice.