The American Association of Museums' Centre for the Future of Museums has just launched a project on forcasting the future of museum ethics with the Institute for Museum Ethics.Good blog post on some of the issues.
The UK parliament's House of Commons Committee on Science and Technology has published a report of its inquiry on Peer Review in Scientific Publications, with conclusions and recommendations. /... more
.../The Committee examines the current approach, reminding publishers, funders and scientists of the principles involved and urging caution on use of impact factors. Recommendations on better coordination and innovation, training for peer review, open access to data and other issues. The report looks at developments in virtual pre- and post-publication commentary and review.
A key conclusion is that there is insufficient oversight of research integrity in the UK: the recommendation is for a government body for regulation and key responsible individuals for each research employer (it is emphasised that the responsibility for ensuring integrity lies significantly with the employer).
This recommendation picks up on the late 2010 report from the UK Research Integrity Futures Group, formed by Research Councils UK (RCUK), Universities UK (UUK) and the UK Department of Health (DH), in association with the UK Higher Education Funding Councils (HEFCs), the Wellcome Trust, the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries (ABPI). Some concern that the UK Research Integrity Office is not being funded beyond its current term.
A briefing from the UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) on Informal STEM Education - informal science education, including specifically that provided by museums and science centres.
Two new briefing notes from the UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology - the first on Evidence-based Conservation and the second on Landscapes of the Future - a view of the demands on land resources and options for policy response
The UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology has produced new policy-oriented briefings on Ecosystem Approach and Natural Capital Accounting
Can we do biology without names? Challenging post from Rod Page on the names/Genbank/new biology/microbiology questions. Comments from Janzen, Schindel and others.
Interesting blog post on the use of Facebook social media to mobilise peer networks on taxonomic triaging for Guyanan fish by Smithsonian Scientists.
The UK Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology has produced a useful briefing on biodiversity offsetting. Biodiversity offsetting is a policy tool used when loss of or impact on biodiversity is compensated by deliberate improvement elsewhere.
