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Let's make sure it's fair as well as transparent

Let's make sure it's fair as well as transparent

Scientific publishing has undergone a revolution in recent years - largely due to the internet. And it shows no sign of letting up as a growing number of countries attempt to ensure that research papers are made freely available. Publishers are struggling to adapt their business models to the new challenges.

Is the 2015 Nobel Prize a turning point for traditional Chinese medicine?

Is the 2015 Nobel Prize a turning point for traditional Chinese medicine?

The 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has gone to a researcher who spent her entire career researching traditional Chinese medicine...

Half of biomedical research studies don't stand up to scrutiny and what we need to do about that

Half of biomedical research studies don't stand up to scrutiny and what we need to do about that

What if I told you that half of the studies published in scientific journals today - the ones upon which news coverage of medical advances is often based - won't hold up under scrutiny?

Retraction of scientific papers for fraud or bias is just the tip of the iceberg

Retraction of scientific papers for fraud or bias is just the tip of the iceberg

Investigating fraud is hard work, and it is easier for journal editors to ignore the problem and perpetuate the myth that peer review of trial reports ensures their scientific quality.

Tackling unethical authorship deals on scientific publications

Tackling unethical authorship deals on scientific publications

The research excellence of academics is often measured by the quantity and quality of their scholarly publications. But how do we know that all authors listed on a publication have actually been involved in the research?

Neuroscience risks being the next scientific bubble

Neuroscience risks being the next scientific bubble

Overly optimistic investments in scientific fields, research methods and technologies generate episodes comparable to those experienced by financial markets prior to crashing.

Researcher's death highlights problems in dealing with scientific misconduct

Researcher's death highlights problems in dealing with scientific misconduct

We need to deal swiftly with fraud when it is identified. But time after time I have watched not only the accused, but everyone around them, be treated with such sanctimonious disdain. by Michael Eisen

What lesson do rising retraction rates hold for peer review?

What lesson do rising retraction rates hold for peer review?

The rate of retractions of scientific papers has been growing over the past decade, suggestive to some of a crisis of confidence in science. Can we no longer trust the scientific literature?

Time to discard the metric that decides how science is rated

Time to discard the metric that decides how science is rated

Scientists need ways to evaluate themselves and their colleagues. These evaluations are necessary for better everyday management: hiring, promotions, awarding grants and so on. One evaluation metric has dominated these decisions, and that is doing more harm than good.

Hate the peer-review process? Einstein did too

Hate the peer-review process? Einstein did too

Most academic papers today are published only after some academic peers have had a chance to review the merits and limitations of the work. This seems like a good idea, but there is a growing movement that wants to retort as Albert Einstein did to such a review process.

Six steps to fairer funding for female scientists

Six steps to fairer funding for female scientists

Although approximately 50% of PhD students and postdoctoral scientists are female, males run the majority of research laboratories. Despite some reform over the past three decades, there is still an exodus of female scientists from academic research at the transitional stage between a postdoctoral researcher and laboratory head.

Five tips for crowdfunding success

Five tips for crowdfunding success

With only one in five National Health and Medical Research Council ( NHMRC) grant applications successful, and a similar rate for Australian Research Council ( ARC) Discovery grants, it's little wonder researchers are looking to alternate forms of funding - one of which being crowdfunding.

What is good science? And what gets public funding?

What is good science? And what gets public funding?

I've heard that we should stop talking about "pure" science and "applied" science; that we should only be talking about "good" science and "bad" science. Last year, CSIRO Chief Executive Megan Clark said as much during question time at her National Press Club address, and this year I heard it recommended again at the Universities Australia Conference.