Could Distributed Peer Review Better Decide Grant Funding?
The landscape of academic grant funding is notoriously competitive and plagued by lengthy, bureaucratic processes, exacerbated by difficulties in finding willing reviewers. Distributed […]
How Statistics Are Twisted to Obscure Public Understanding
We likely all remember the maxim about statistics and lies. Statistical data do not allow for lies so much as semantic manipulation, explains Jonathan Goodman. In short, numbers drive the misuse of words.
Making the Best of Brexit’s Impact on Science and Research
Addressing the consequences of the “prolonged period of uncertainty” in the three months since the Brexit vote, the Academy of Social Sciences and Campaign for Social Science recommend immediate steps the government should take to support UK science and ensure the “long-term health of research is kept to the fore” during the negotiation process.
A Cautionary Tale in the Quest for Novelty
Novel breakthroughs in research can have a dramatic impact on scientific discovery but face some distinct disadvantages in getting wider recognition and are often cited as a plus in getting published. But new findings suggest an inherent bias in bibliometric measures against novel research.
The Transformation of UK Higher Education Since 1968
Since the heyday of the student movement in the late 1960s policy decisions in the United Kingdom have mostly pushed universities into neoliberal boxes that ill-fit the needs of students and the society at large, argues Hugo Radice.
Recognition for Peer Review: Who’s Doing What?
To help celebrate Peer Review Week 2016, the steering committee for the commemoration asked the 20+ organisations on the group to tell us how they #recognizereview and what more they hope to do in future. Their responses show a clear understanding of the importance of peer review and a firm commitment to supporting more recognition for review in future.
Canadian Science Minister Funds More than 1,000 SSH Projects
Canada’s first-ever Minister of Science spends more than a billion dollars on science projects in a busy week.
Indian Sociological Society Awards to Atal, Uberoi
The Indian Sociological Society has honored Patricia Uberoi and Yogesh Atal with its 2016 ts Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Must be Protected and Respected
This is an extract from a speech made by Valerie Amos, director of the SOAS, for the Menzies Oration on Higher Education at the University of Melbourne on September 14.
