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Aim Lower: Social Mobility and Higher Education in the Levelling Up Era

Aim Lower: Social Mobility and Higher Education in the Levelling Up Era

Social mobility champions are accused of having ‘lost focus on the role that a socially mobile society should have in matching all members of society into occupations and roles which they are suited for and enjoy, and at which they excel.’ Indeed, they give little attention to ‘the actual aspirations and ambitions of real people’. 

OPINION Why You Should (Only) Talk to Women About Climate Change

OPINION Why You Should (Only) Talk to Women About Climate Change

Watching the data roll in, it may be that the people we need to talk to most about the climate crisis are women.

The World Was Woefully Unprepared for a Pandemic. Let's Be Ready for the Next One

The World Was Woefully Unprepared for a Pandemic. Let's Be Ready for the Next One

The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board is calling for a coherent action plan to counter future health emergencies

The Truth About Artificial Intelligence? It Isn't That Honest

The Truth About Artificial Intelligence? It Isn't That Honest

Tests of natural language processing models show that the bigger they are, the bigger liars they are. Should we be worried?

The UN's Sustainable Development Goals and Open Access: Timon Oefelein Interviews Gerald Beasley

The UN's Sustainable Development Goals and Open Access: Timon Oefelein Interviews Gerald Beasley

In Part 1 of this pair of posts, Timon Oefelein interviews Gerald R. Beasley, the Carl A. Kroch University Librarian at Cornell University, about how librarians can support the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

Why Science Can't Settle Political Disputes

Why Science Can't Settle Political Disputes

Attempts to scientifically "rationalize" policy, based on the belief that science is purified of politics, may be damaging democracy.

What a Personal Saga Reveals About Scientists' Lives - and About Science Itself

What a Personal Saga Reveals About Scientists' Lives - and About Science Itself

Two scientists allowed Nature to chronicle their lives for three years. Their story speaks to the epic professional and personal struggles involved in establishing a career in research.

UK Universities Have Passed the Challenge of Brexit and Covid

UK Universities Have Passed the Challenge of Brexit and Covid

The pandemic produced apocalyptic warnings about higher education in the UK. In fact, its future is looking a lot brighter than predicted.