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FAQs on Protecting Yourself from Aerosol Transmission

FAQs on Protecting Yourself from Aerosol Transmission

FAQs on Protecting Yourself from COVID-19 Aerosol Transmission Shortcut to this page: https://tinyurl.com/FAQ-aerosols Version: 1.78, 1-Oct-2020 Click here to jump over the scientific & historical details and go straight to the recommendations, Click here for automatic translation into many la...

How Universities Are Crushing Academics

How Universities Are Crushing Academics

Exhibiting a dogmatic faith in metrics, higher education executives are being guided less by rational considerations about educational values and more by the "snake oils" of efficiency, profitability, and accountability. But these dark arts exact a price. Due to increasing competition for funds and jobs, and with the jobs themselves becoming increasingly precarious, universities have become "anxiety machines" for academics.

Black Microbiologists Push for Visibility Amid a Pandemic

Black Microbiologists Push for Visibility Amid a Pandemic

A week of talks, panels and discussions seeks to counter an impression "that this talent pool just does not exist."

How Mathematical 'Hocus-Pocus' Saved Particle Physics

How Mathematical 'Hocus-Pocus' Saved Particle Physics

Renormalization has become perhaps the single most important advance in theoretical physics in 50 years.

Where Do Scholars Move? Measuring the Mobility of Researchers Across Academic Institutions

Where Do Scholars Move? Measuring the Mobility of Researchers Across Academic Institutions

This blog post demonstrates how scientometrics can help trace mobility patterns at the institutional level, using the Dimensions database.

These Black Holes Shouldn't Exist, but There They Are

These Black Holes Shouldn't Exist, but There They Are

On the far side of the universe, a collision of dark giants sheds light on an invisible process of cosmic growth.

Systematize Information on Journal Policies and Practices - A Call to Action

Systematize Information on Journal Policies and Practices - A Call to Action

Recently the creators of Transpose and the Platform for Responsible Editorial Policies convened an online workshop on infrastructures that provide information on scholarly journals. In this blog post they look back at the workshop and discuss next steps.

Are Children Able to Continue Learning During School Closures?

Are Children Able to Continue Learning During School Closures?

In response to the unprecedented educational challenges created by school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 90 per cent of countries have implemented some form of remote learning policy. This UNICEF factsheet estimates the potential reach of digital and broadcast remote learning responses, finding that at least 463 million students around the globe remain cut off from education, mainly due to a lack of remote learning policies or lack of equipment needed for learning at home. 

Challenge to Scientists: Does Your Ten-year-old Code Still Run?

Challenge to Scientists: Does Your Ten-year-old Code Still Run?

Missing documentation and obsolete environments force participants in the Ten Years Reproducibility Challenge to get creative.

Why Antibody Tests Won't Help You Much

Why Antibody Tests Won't Help You Much

Most antibody tests are useful only for large population surveys, diagnosis in certain children or when initial diagnostic testing fails, according to an expert panel.

Blockchain, the Amazing Solution for Almost Nothing

Blockchain, the Amazing Solution for Almost Nothing

Blockchain technology is going to change everything: the shipping industry, the financial system, government … in fact, what won't it change? But enthusiasm for it mainly stems from a lack of knowledge and understanding. The blockchain is a solution in search of a problem.

Why COVID Deniers and Climate Skeptics Paint Scientists As Alarmist

Why COVID Deniers and Climate Skeptics Paint Scientists As Alarmist

And why they also try to "feminize science," labeling experts as shrill or emotional.

Open Access Transformation in Switzerland & Germany: A Synopsis of Agreements with Wiley, Springer Nature & Elsevier

Open Access Transformation in Switzerland & Germany: A Synopsis of Agreements with Wiley, Springer Nature & Elsevier

Since Germany has been trying for years to reach such a contract with Elsevier, it is worth comparing it with the two transformative contracts with Wiley and Springer Nature in Germany, which were reached and coordinated by Project DEAL.

Why Figshare? Choosing a New Technical Infrastructure for 4TU.ResearchData

Why Figshare? Choosing a New Technical Infrastructure for 4TU.ResearchData

Written by Marta Teperek & Alastair Dunning 4TU.ResearchData is an international repository for research data in science, engineering and design. After over 10 years of using Fedora, an open so…

What's the Secret Ingredient to Great Mentorship?

What's the Secret Ingredient to Great Mentorship?

“Find a mentor.” It’s a piece of career advice so commonplace many of us have never given it a second thought. But does it hold up to scrutiny?

Responses to 10 Common Criticisms of Anti-Racism Action in STEM

Responses to 10 Common Criticisms of Anti-Racism Action in STEM

Table of Contents 1. "There is no evidence of racism in STEM."2. "Don't politicize STEM! Stick to the science, not social issues."3. "I'm not a racist, so I don't need to do anything."4. "I only hire/award/cite based on merit; I do not need to consider race."5. "There just aren't as many BIPOC who want to…