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The new global race is for digital skills
"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest"
said Benjamin Franklin, to whom we owe the invention of the lightning rod and bifocals, among other things. More than two centuries later, the American mathematician's observation could not Read more [...]
iNerd: How nerdy are you? How nerdy is Europe?
Are a Steve Jobs like digital guru or a Mr Bean of the digital world? Play iNerd to find out!
iNerd makes you explore your knowledge of four key areas of the digital world: big data and artificial intelligence, social media and Internet of Things. Read more [...]
The emerging trends of Nobel Prizes in science
This article reviews the Nobel history since inception which shows that the Prizes in science conferred on individuals in the first 50 years are shifting to the Prizes being shared. It is,in part, because the science has become more complex, collaborative, expansive, and expensive. With the critical need for teamwork to tackle Big Science, we recommend that the policy of “no more than three” sharing the Prize be loosened on case by case basis and the nomination be made open for scientific organisations. We also suggest concrete steps for improving the gender gap among the Nobel Laureates. This necessitates proactive nominations of Nobel worthy work done by women and making structural changes in Nobel committees toward better gender ratio. Finally, our analysis shows that the U.S. is emerging as a Nobel Super Power leading to a divide not only with European countries but the world at large. Read more [...]
Wind energy data?… Hack it!
The wind energy industry is at a crossroads. With 40 to 80 GW of wind capacity reaching the end of its designed operational life in the next decade according to WindEurope, lifetime extension is a top priority and data will play a big role in accomplishing Read more [...]
Caterpillars: the masters of mimicry
Q: What would you do if you want to hide yourself from a ravenous predator?
A: I would disguise myself as a twig, leaf or even poop!
Caterpillars, soft and packed with proteins, know all the tricks of the trade to disguise themselves to avoid being eaten by predators such as birds. Read more [...]
Arthur Healy: Building EFSA’s impact and reputation through scientific publishing
Arthur Healy heads up EFSA’s scientific publishing programme. He has worked in publishing for most of his career after studies in human nutrition and medicine at University College Cork. He has spearheaded the recent development of the EFSA Journal which has seen it blossom from a DIY publication on EFSA’s website to becoming one of the most accessed journals on Wiley Online Library since its launch there in mid-2016. EuroScientist caught up with him to better understand EFSA’s publishing programme. Read more [...]
Will blockchain revolutionise the Internet of Things
The blockchain technology is currently being leveraged and applied to many industries from energy and resource distribution to sensitive document storage and retrieval in fields like medical, real estate and even law. It can also be used to improve the IoT ecosystem. Read more [...]
A gender scholar’s visit to ESOF 2018: she came, she saw, she ranted
In this theory-informed auto-ethnographic account, I relate my experience of participating in the EuroScience Open Forum Conference 2018 (ESOF). Gender equality was certainly on the agenda at ESOF, however, I argue that the manner in which gender equality was addressed at the conference is not only problematic but potentially counter-productive to the intended purpose of promoting women in research careers. If we keep 1) essentialising a presumed lack of confidence to women, 2) omitting men’s role in the reproduction of gender hierarchies in research from equality discussions, and 3) excluding gender scholars’ expertise from gender equality debates, I fear that women’s equal participation in academic research and leadership will remain a distant prospect in the future still. Read more [...]
Greek scientists part of a larger problem; economic crisis and Greek reality
Youth unemployment has been characterised a historic event by the global community. In developed countries around the world, young people experience the effects: extreme limited working opportunities, inability to economically sustain themselves, poor working conditions, low wages, internal and external migration, and mental health issues. Greece is experiencing this phenomenon since the onset of the economic crisis in the country in 2007. This article illustrates key findings from European agencies, government authority reports, and local NGO surveys. Read more [...]
Accelerate Open Science training for researchers
The FOSTER Roadmap for Implementing Open Science Training Practices in Research institutions outlines three key ways and practical actions that can taken up by Research Performing Organisations in order to support the transition towards Open Science. Read more [...]
Summer wish: an increased EU Budget for Research and Innovation
EuroScientist is off for a summer break!
In the meantime, help us sign and spread the petition to double the EU Budget for Research and Innovation compared to Horizon 2020.
The #DoubleRIEU petition is an initiative from EuroScience and Initiative for Science in Europe. Read more [...]
How ’Crowdsourcing’ involves experts and patients to define research missions: Broken Bone, anyone?
What if patients and clinical experts could spark and define the direction of multidisciplinary science projects without knowing the scientific literature? The Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft (LBG) — a Austrian research organisation located in Vienna — is currently experimenting with Open Innovation in Science to systematically steer missions for their future research groups. Open Innovation in Science has been a vital part of innovative R&D units in large companies, however the science side of things are just starting to develop. LBG is currently at the forefront of this development. Read more [...]
