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The Francis Crick Institute: Europe's superlab

The Francis Crick Institute: Europe's superlab

When the Francis Crick Institute opens in London this year, it will be Europe’s largest biomedical research centre. Can director Paul Nurse make this gamble pay off for UK science?

Politics doesn't always rule

Politics doesn't always rule

Although a person's political views are a strong predictor of their attitudes on climate change and a handful of energy issues, their gender, age, religion, race, or education play a larger role on many other controversial topics.

Sci-Hub tears down academia's illegal copyright paywalls

Sci-Hub tears down academia's illegal copyright paywalls

In a lawsuit filed by Elsevier, Sci-Hub.org is facing millions of dollars in damages. However, the site has no intentions of backing down and will continue its fight to keep access to scientific knowledge free and open.

Une femme à la tête de l'UNIL pour la première fois

Une femme à la tête de l'UNIL pour la première fois

La biologiste Nouria Hernandez devrait devenir la première rectrice de l'Université de Lausanne. Elle succédera à Dominique Arlettaz dès le 1er août 2016.

Journal Science releases guidelines for publishing scientific studies

Journal Science releases guidelines for publishing scientific studies

Science posted the most comprehensive [3]guidelines for the publication of studies in basic science to date, calling for the adoption of clearly defined rules on the sharing of data and methods.

Queen Mary University of London considers making PhD students employees

Queen Mary University of London considers making PhD students employees

Importance of doctoral candidates in research makes it likely that many institutions will make the change, says principal.

National consortium for ORCID set to improve UK research visibility and collaboration

National consortium for ORCID set to improve UK research visibility and collaboration

ORCID will now be offered to UK higher education institutions through a national consortium arrangement operated by Jisc.

National ORCID implementation launched

National ORCID implementation launched

Italy will be implementing ORCID on a national scale. 70 universities and 4 research centers will initially participate in the consortium.

'Export rules' threaten research

'Export rules' threaten research

The US government is considering policy changes that could dramatically affect how researchers handle equipment and information that have national-security implications. Scientists would need to reconsider what they can discuss with graduate students from other countries, or when traveling abroad on work trips.

French scientists welcome new research minister

French scientists welcome new research minister

Thierry Mandon replaces Geneviève Fioraso, who stepped down in March for health reasons, leaving France without anyone heading the research brief for three months.

Science chief wants to work ERC magic on innovation

Science chief wants to work ERC magic on innovation

Carlos Moedas has proposed setting up a European Innovation Council to fund applied research and innovation.

Explosive intervention set to transform climate change debate

Explosive intervention set to transform climate change debate

Pope Francis squarely blames the burning of fossil fuels for climate change in the leaked draft of his long-awaited environmental encyclical.

Election results delight scientists

Election results delight scientists

Researchers hope that a more pluralistic parliament will put an end to interference and slipping standards.

Researchers protest government reforms

Researchers protest government reforms

About 3000 Russian scientists rallied in Moscow on Saturday to protest against government reforms of the research system and the imposition of competitive funding, which is not commonly used in the country.

Elsevier cracks down on pirated scientific articles

Elsevier cracks down on pirated scientific articles

Elsevier has filed a complaint hoping to shut down websites which are particularly popular in developing nations where access to academic works is relatively expensive.

Call to unlock a treasure chest of hidden research data

Call to unlock a treasure chest of hidden research data

"The right to read is the right to mine" : publishers are resisting a change to copyright law that would allow academics to digitally mine published research to help crack intractable problems.

Examining the predictive validity of NIH peer review scores

Examining the predictive validity of NIH peer review scores

"Retrospective analyses of the correlation between percentile scores from peer review and bibliometric indices of the publications resulting from funded grant applications are not valid tests of the predictive validity of peer review at the NIH."

Five companies control more than half of academic publishing

Five companies control more than half of academic publishing

[3]A study at the University of Montreal shows that Reed-Elsevier, Springer, Wiley-Blackwell, Taylor & Francis, and Sage now publish more than 50% of all academic articles. This number has been rising, thanks to mergers and acquisitions, from 30% in 1996 and only 20% in 1973.

A woman will lead Oxford University for the first time in its 785-year history

A woman will lead Oxford University for the first time in its 785-year history

Oxford University has picked its next leader — and for the first time in 785 years, it will be led by a woman: Louise Richardson.

Global research chiefs seek ways to foster serendipity

Global research chiefs seek ways to foster serendipity

Researchers need freedom and the flexibility that leads to serendipity, and they should be encouraged to take risks even if it leads to failure.

EU trims H2020 but spares ERC

EU trims H2020 but spares ERC

Facing pressure from E.U. parliamentarians and scientists, the European Commission agreed to spare the ERC from budget cuts.