Blogs

Interesting article on InsideHigherEd on the development of bibliometrics to accommodate social media use in science.  One particularly interesting aspect is the commercial considerations and how these interact with the academic. /...

.../ Clearly publishers will be interested in how metrics affect their commercial interests, as will libraries and academic institutions. Bibliometrics are transparently about the behaviour of groups of academics with respect to particular publication media - but the non-academic parameters are less frequently appreciated.

John Holdren, Director of the US White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, has issued a memo on scientific integrity in government.  This follows the earlier 2009 memo from the US President.  /...

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Strong emphasis on the responsibility of the resposibility and accoutability of agencies for the integrity of science and scientific decsion-making. A different emphasis from the UK GOS principles of scientific advice and Guidelines for the use of science and engineering advice in Government released in June 2010.

The Annual Report and Accounts of the Natural Environment Research Council are just available online.

Good article by Ahmed Zawail aimed at both developed and developing countries in Nature, reminding us of the essential importance of fundamental research to good science. Ahmed Zewail Curiouser and curiouser: managing discovery making. Nature 468, 347 (2010) doi:10.1038/468347a  /....

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To quote: 

"First, and most important, are the people involved. Giving proper priority to providing thorough and inspiring education in science, technology, mathematics and engineering is essential. Research and development needs to attract the best young minds. Large buildings and massive funds will not produce much without the right people.

Second, an atmosphere of intellectual exchange is of paramount importance for ideas to crystallize. To distract faculty members with the writing of extensive and numerous proposals or to turn them into managers is the beginning of the end. The modern enterprise of science has become so bloated and complex that the traditional models of funding must be re-examined. How do we focus resources on the best science and what is the level of funding needed to serve society best?

Third, without resources little can be achieved, no matter how creative the mind. Obviously, investment in science is needed to build instruments and to hire competent staff. Countries and institutions that provide the requisite infrastructure and the funding for ideas will be the homes of discoveries. But such support should follow the vision of creative researchers, not be built merely to lure money or to force people into fashionable research areas such as nanotechnology."