Send us a link

Subscribe to our newsletter

Evidence-based Politics:  WHO and the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Evidence-based Politics:  WHO and the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) Sign Memorandum of Understanding

The MoU has three key areas: technical support to promote evidence-based laws and policies aligned to WHO normative guidance, advocacy to mobilize parliamentarians on awareness raising for sexual and reproductive health, with particular support to low- and middle-income countries, capacity building to strengthen the way WHO and parliamentarians work together.

Mexican Researchers Fear for the Future

Mexican Researchers Fear for the Future

After four years of funding cuts and the erosion of academic freedom in Mexico, one scientist shares his community's concerns about a new law that would give the central government more control over scientific research.

Swedish Climate Minister's R&I Wish List - and a Reality Check

Swedish Climate Minister's R&I Wish List - and a Reality Check

Stronger research into policy innovation and behavioural change, new technologies to increase resource efficiency, and nature-positive food production innovation - these are three asks of European scientists by Sweden's climate minister Romina Pourmokhtari.

Science and Politics Are Inseparable

Science and Politics Are Inseparable

Ideally, policy makers are relying on the best available science to inform their decisions. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, because often “politics” gets in the way. And that is why it is crucial that scientists recognize their power.

Doomsday Clock at Record 90 Seconds to Midnight Amid Ukraine Crisis

Doomsday Clock at Record 90 Seconds to Midnight Amid Ukraine Crisis

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set its Doomsday Clock at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest to midnight the clock has been since it was established in 1947 to illustrate global existential threats at the dawn of the nuclear weapons age.

China Now Publishes More High-quality Science Than Any Other Nation - Should the US Be Worried?

China Now Publishes More High-quality Science Than Any Other Nation - Should the US Be Worried?

In 2014, Chinese researchers published more papers than any other country for the first time. In 2019, China overtook the U.S. as the No. 1 publisher of the most influential papers.

Arctic Researchers Forced to Modify Projects Amid Geopolitical Tensions with Russia

Arctic Researchers Forced to Modify Projects Amid Geopolitical Tensions with Russia

Arctic scientists are scrambling to modify projects that had involved Russian researchers as the war in Ukraine wears on, leaving questions about whether a data gap from such a key partner might be harmful to the ongoing body of scientific knowledge in the region.

From Anti-Government to Anti-Science: Why Conservatives Have Turned Against Science

From Anti-Government to Anti-Science: Why Conservatives Have Turned Against Science

Empirical data do not support the conclusion of a crisis of public trust in science. They do support the conclusion of a crisis of conservative trust in science: polls show that American attitudes toward science are highly polarized along political lines. In this essay, we argue that conservative hostility toward science is rooted in conservative hostility toward government regulation of the marketplace, which has morphed in recent decades into conservative hostility to government, tout court. This distrust was cultivated by conservative business leaders for nearly a century, but took strong hold during the Reagan administration, largely in response to scientific evidence of environmental crises that invited governmental response. Thus, science-particularly environmental and public health science-became the target of conservative anti-regulatory attitudes. We argue that contemporary distrust of science is mostly collateral damage, a spillover from carefully orchestrated conservative distrust of government.

National Funding and International Science Policy Hang in Balance of US Midterm Elections

National Funding and International Science Policy Hang in Balance of US Midterm Elections

US voters are expected to go to the polls in record numbers on November 8, driven by concerns about inflation, the economy and abortion rights. Layered on top of that are low approval ratings for President Joe Biden and ongoing polarisation among voters and politicians stirred by former President Donald Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

'Huge Relief' in Brazilian Scientific Community After Lula's Win

'Huge Relief' in Brazilian Scientific Community After Lula's Win

The sentiment is widely shared in Brazil’s scientific community, where many feared a second term for Bolsonaro might be catastrophic for issues they care about, including support for science, climate policy, and deforestation.

I Was a Presidential Science Adviser - Here Are the Many Challenges Arati Prabhakar Faces As She Takes over President Biden's Science Policy Office

I Was a Presidential Science Adviser - Here Are the Many Challenges Arati Prabhakar Faces As She Takes over President Biden's Science Policy Office

The director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy plays a critical role in achieving the president's science goals. Facilitating cooperation among the dozens of research agencies is key.

COVID Inquiry: the UK Government's Pandemic Response Was Often Not 'guided by the Science' - Yet Now Scientists Are Under Fire

COVID Inquiry: the UK Government's Pandemic Response Was Often Not 'guided by the Science' - Yet Now Scientists Are Under Fire

An ongoing narrative seeks to shift the blame away from the government for mismanagement of the pandemic, by depicting it as beholden to all-powerful scientists.

Determining the Credibility of Commitments in International Climate Policy

Determining the Credibility of Commitments in International Climate Policy

The success of international climate cooperation relies on whether national commitments are believable under the Paris Agreement. What determines the credibility of these commitments?

IPCC Reports Are the Beacon of Climate Science. These Scientists Say They Have to Be Stopped

IPCC Reports Are the Beacon of Climate Science. These Scientists Say They Have to Be Stopped

Fed up with what they saw as inaction by policymakers, three climate change scientists called on their colleagues to withdraw from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reporting process. 

The UK is Getting a New Prime Minister - What Will It Mean for Science?

The UK is Getting a New Prime Minister - What Will It Mean for Science?

Candidates face calls to prioritize research as the leadership contest heats up.

How to Keep Science Open - but Also Secure? G7 Nations Work on an Answer

How to Keep Science Open - but Also Secure? G7 Nations Work on an Answer

In recent years, the world's leading industrialised nations have been moving to defend their science and technology from perceived threats from China, Russia and elsewhere. Now, they're trying to counter another risk: that their security measures could harm their own science.

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.