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We Don't Necessarily Need a Scientist at the Head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy

We Don't Necessarily Need a Scientist at the Head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy

The OSTP is without a leader in the wake of a scandal. It's time for the White House to think about getting a new kind of director.

Canada Announces New Innovation Agency - and It's Not Modelled on DARPA

Canada Announces New Innovation Agency - and It's Not Modelled on DARPA

The unit will instead mimic Finnish and Israeli agencies. But some researchers worry Canada might be too big and regionalized for the scheme to succeed.

Refereed Preprints Recognized As Eligibility Criterion for EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships - Features - EMBO

Refereed Preprints Recognized As Eligibility Criterion for EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships - Features - EMBO

EMBO will accept first author refereed preprints in applications for postdoctoral fellowships in a four-month trial.

Crossref: Come and Get Your Grant Metadata!

Crossref: Come and Get Your Grant Metadata!

Metadata for the (currently 26,000) grants that have been registered by our funder members is now available via the REST API. This is quite a milestone in our program to include funding in Crossref infrastructure and a step forward in our mission to connect all.the.things. This post gives you all the queries you might need to satisfy your curiosity and start to see what's possible with deeper analysis. So have the look and see what useful things you can discover.

China Focuses on Ethics to Deter Another 'CRISPR Babies' Scandal

China Focuses on Ethics to Deter Another 'CRISPR Babies' Scandal

But some question whether a statement from the government will deter scientists from carrying out research that violates ethical norms.

UK-Based Researchers Win Big in Latest ERC Awards - but May Have to Relocate to Keep Their Grants

UK-Based Researchers Win Big in Latest ERC Awards - but May Have to Relocate to Keep Their Grants

UK-based researchers have been awarded 45 grants in the European Research Council's (ERC) latest funding round for experienced researchers, but in the absence of UK association to Horizon Europe, it is on the condition they move to institutions in the EU.

Open Access in 2020: Up by 8 Percentage Points

Open Access in 2020: Up by 8 Percentage Points

SNSF-funded research produced a total of 13,938 publications in 2020, 63% of which are freely accessible. Upgrades in monitoring capabilities make the positive trend towards more Open Access (OA) more readily visible.

Researchers Sense Apathy Towards Science in French Presidential Election Campaign

Researchers Sense Apathy Towards Science in French Presidential Election Campaign

Campaign-trail debates about research reduced to a sideshow as Ukraine, government finance, health and energy dominate.

Who Will Be the Commission's New Research Chief?

Who Will Be the Commission's New Research Chief?

The departure of Jean-Eric Paquet, the head of the European Commission's directorate general for research and innovation, has not been officially confirmed as yet, but the Brussels rumour mill is already churning out potential replacements.

Le Pen Election Win Would Be Disastrous for Research, France and Europe

Le Pen Election Win Would Be Disastrous for Research, France and Europe

Marine Le Pen is promising to repeal unpopular changes to research institutions. But the wider impact of her presidency would be catastrophic.

New Research into Threat Posed to Climate Change Policies by the Rise of the Populist Right

New Research into Threat Posed to Climate Change Policies by the Rise of the Populist Right

Climate policies could be the next target for right-wing populist parties as the cost of energy soars, researchers into the links between climate policy and political parties warn.

'Historic': Global Climate Plans Can Now Keep Heating Below 2C, Study Shows

'Historic': Global Climate Plans Can Now Keep Heating Below 2C, Study Shows

But goal of limiting global heating to 1.5C will fail without immediate action, scientists warn.

NATO to Launch €1B Fund for High Tech Start-Ups in Dual Use Technologies

NATO to Launch €1B Fund for High Tech Start-Ups in Dual Use Technologies

NATO has launched a new research programme called DIANA to bring industry, start-up companies and academia together to research new dual-use technologies that address both societal problems and national security issues. The Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) is focusing on technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data processing, quantum-enabled technologies, autonomy, biotechnology, novel materials and space.

ERC Issues Ultimatum Telling 150 UK-Based Grant Holders to Move to the EU

ERC Issues Ultimatum Telling 150 UK-Based Grant Holders to Move to the EU

The European Research Council (ERC) has asked successful applicants based in the UK to move to an EU institution within the next two months, or else give up their grants. 

Researchers Urge Inclusion of UK and Switzerland in Cyber-Climate Project

Researchers Urge Inclusion of UK and Switzerland in Cyber-Climate Project

An ambitious EU initiative aiming to create a cyber-replica of Planet Earth for climate-impact simulations may not include British or Swiss organisations - and some researchers in the project say that's a problem.

The War in Ukraine is Exposing Gaps in the World's Food-Systems Research

The War in Ukraine is Exposing Gaps in the World's Food-Systems Research

Russia's invasion is the latest threat to the stability of world food supplies. Researchers must act now to halt the cycle of repeated food crises.

Nigeria Begins National Performance Trials for GM Maize

Nigeria Begins National Performance Trials for GM Maize

Nigeria is set to begin national performance trials for genetically modified  TELA maize. As the West African nation makes another leap towards greater pest-resistance and productivity, particularly for small-scale farmers.

1,000+ Scientists Worldwide Engaged in Civil Disobedience for Climate Action

1,000+ Scientists Worldwide Engaged in Civil Disobedience for Climate Action

Scientists chained themselves to the White House fence, blocked bridges and occupied buildings. Dozens were arrested.

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.