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The value of the open science movement

The value of the open science movement

Research creates its own problems. Articles may be withdrawn because of irregularities, results can be impossible to reproduce, methods are often non-standardised, and publications may not be accessible. The search is now on for solutions.

Open Access law adopted

Open Access law adopted

In France, the final text of a new law on Open Access has been adopted on June 29, 2016.

We should reward peer reviewers. But how?

We should reward peer reviewers. But how?

Peer review is a thankless task, but journals have been experimenting with accolades and cash incentives for scientists who serve as peer reviewers.

Science Editor-in-Chief Highlights Need for Steady Science Funding

Science Editor-in-Chief Highlights Need for Steady Science Funding

In an editorial in the 26 August issue of the journal Science, Jeremy Berg, the journal's 20th editor-in-chief, examines the importance of funding science steadily, with predictable budget cycles that allow science-funding agencies to do long-term planning that research projects typically require.

Research watchdog's new leader faces staff revolt

Research watchdog's new leader faces staff revolt

The new director of the federal office that guards against misconduct in U.S.-funded biomedical research is aiming to shake things up—but is also encountering rough waters. Kathryn Partin, who took the helm of the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) in December 2015, has launched a top-to-bottom review of the office, which has been criticized for moving too slowly and meting out sanctions that lack teeth.

Truth in Science Publishing

Truth in Science Publishing

In this Perspective, Thomas C. Südhof describes some of the current challenges to the peer review system that have endangered public acceptance of science and discusses possible avenues to addressing these challenges.

Preprint server bioRxiv receives additional major funding

Preprint server bioRxiv receives additional major funding

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's free, not-for-profit preprint service bioRxiv has received generous additional financial support.

The delicate balancing act of research funding

The delicate balancing act of research funding

Many people see privately funded research as a threat to academic independence, but this is an incomplete view. Experts with close connections to politics and business are a logical consequence of a knowledge-based society. It is time for a fundamental debate on responsible research partnerships.

A Simple Explanation for the Replication Crisis in Science

A Simple Explanation for the Replication Crisis in Science

The replication crisis in science is largely attributable to a mismatch in our expectations of how often findings should replicate and how difficult it is to actually discover true findings in certain fields.

Relative Citation Ratio - A Leap Forward in Research Metrics

Relative Citation Ratio - A Leap Forward in Research Metrics

There is no perfect metric.  There is no number or score which fully encapsulates the value, impact, or importance of a piece of research. While this statement might appear obvious, research evaluation and measurement are a fact of life for the scientific research community.

If we want to improve peer review, we'll need to invest in training

If we want to improve peer review, we'll need to invest in training

New reviewers are anxious to get some formal coaching before they start commenting the work of fellow academics.

Why scientists are losing the fight to communicate science to the public

Why scientists are losing the fight to communicate science to the public

Scientists and science communicators are engaged in a constant battle with ignorance. But that’s an approach doomed to failure, says Richard P Grant.

A Simple, Low-Cost, Effective Method for Increasing Transparency

A Simple, Low-Cost, Effective Method for Increasing Transparency

Badges that acknowledge open practices significantly increase sharing of reported data and materials, as well as subsequent accessibility, correctness, usability, and completeness.

Science in the age of selfies

Science in the age of selfies

A time traveler from 1915 arriving in 1965 would have been astonished by the scientific theories and engineering technologies invented during that half century. One can only speculate, but it seems likely that few of the major advances that emerged during those 50 years were even remotely foreseeable in 1915.

Automatic Generation of Scientific Paper Reviews

Automatic Generation of Scientific Paper Reviews

Peer review is widely viewed as an essential step for ensuring scientific quality of a work and is a cornerstone of scholarly publishing. In this work we investigate the feasibility of a tool capable of generating fake reviews for a given scientific paper automatically.