S&S: Media & Publishing
- Things we know we know
- Howy Jacobs
Universities worldwide compete to produce the most impressive performance statistics. Howy worries that the universities' primary function of scholarship is being neglected in the process.
- Copyright © 2012 European Molecular Biology Organization
- Significant statistics
- Bernd Pulverer1
Appropriate statistical analysis is vital to the integrity of the scientific record, but experience and intuition also play a role in interpreting results. Scientific progress should not be hampered through statistical over‐evaluation.
- Copyright © 2012 European Molecular Biology Organization
- To hype, or not to(o) hypeCommunication of science is often tarnished by sensationalization, for which both scientists and the media are responsible
Communication of science is often tarnished by sensationalization, for which both scientists and the media are responsible
Scientists and journalists try to engage the public with exciting stories, but who is guilty of overselling research and what are the consequences?
- Copyright © 2012 European Molecular Biology Organization
- How good is research really?Measuring the citation impact of publications with percentiles increases correct assessments and fair comparisons
Measuring the citation impact of publications with percentiles increases correct assessments and fair comparisons
Bibliometrics increasingly determine the allocation of jobs and funding in science. Bibliometricians must therefore develop and adopt reliable measures of quality that truly reflect a scientist's contribution to his or her field.
- Copyright © 2013 European Molecular Biology Organization
- Emerging journalsThe benefits of and challenges for publishing scientific journals in and by emerging countries
The benefits of and challenges for publishing scientific journals in and by emerging countries
- Rogerio Meneghini1
Emerging countries have established national scientific journals as an alternative publication route for their researchers. However, these journals eventually need to catch up to international standards.
- Copyright © 2012 European Molecular Biology Organization
- More than a blogShould science bloggers stick to popularizing science and fighting creationism, or does blogging have a wider role to play in the scientific discourse?
Should science bloggers stick to popularizing science and fighting creationism, or does blogging have a wider role to play in the scientific discourse?
- Howard Wolinsky1
Blogging is circumventing traditional communication channels and levelling the playing field of science communication. It helps scientists, journalists and interested laypeople to make their voices heard.
- Copyright © 2011 European Molecular Biology Organization
- From and to a very grey area
- Howy Jacobs
The German Minister of Defence recently resigned after accusations that he plagiarized parts of the doctoral thesis. Howy argues that academia needs to refine and enforce its rules against such practices, in the new world of electronic publication.
- Copyright © 2011 European Molecular Biology Organization
- Exorcising ghostwriting…Ghostwriting could potentially have serious repercussions for science and should therefore be treated as research misconduct
Ghostwriting could potentially have serious repercussions for science and should therefore be treated as research misconduct
- Xavier Bosch1
Ghostwriting violates the ethical standards of scientific research and publishing and can be dangerous to the public where medicine is concerned. Journals, funders and research organizations must adopt stricter procedures for ‘ghostbusting’.
- Received February 8, 2011.
- Accepted April 20, 2011.
- Copyright © 2011 European Molecular Biology Organization
- Sustainable digital infrastructureAlthough databases and other online resources have become a central tool for biological research, their long‐term support and maintenance is far from secure
Although databases and other online resources have become a central tool for biological research, their long‐term support and maintenance is far from secure
Databases and online resources are an integral tool for research but their funding remains a major problem. The authors propose and discuss various models for the support and maintenance of digital infrastructures.
- Received May 26, 2010.
- Accepted August 26, 2010.
- Copyright © 2010 European Molecular Biology Organization