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Infrared: The Future of Anti-counterfeit Tags?

Infrared: The Future of Anti-counterfeit Tags?

A new study proposes a technique to print images on a special surface such that they can only be seen by authorized recipients.

A New Science of Wellbeing Will Change Policy and Decision Making

A New Science of Wellbeing Will Change Policy and Decision Making

What produces a happy society and a happy life? Richard Layard and Jan-Emmanuel De Neve suggest that through the new science of wellbeing, we can now answer this question empirically. Explaining ho…

Taking Trash into Their Own Hands - Community Science to Policy 

Taking Trash into Their Own Hands - Community Science to Policy 

Community effort to systematically count and categorize trash in the Pinole watershed led to the prioritization of locations and trash types that informed recommendations for local government policy.

German Science Minister Tells Fraunhofer to Reform Amid Allegations of Misuse of Funds

German Science Minister Tells Fraunhofer to Reform Amid Allegations of Misuse of Funds

Germany's federal research minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger is calling for sweeping reforms at the Fraunhofer Society, one of Europe's most prestigious applied research organisations, after auditors found "numerous violations" of financial rules, including members of the executive board exceeding spending limits for hotel stays and hiring luxury cars.

The UK Government's Road to Creating a 'science Superpower'

The UK Government's Road to Creating a 'science Superpower'

As the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer releases the Spring Budget, the life science industry appears to be at the heart of the country's global image in years to come.

Maximizing Researcher Contributions to Science and Policy

Maximizing Researcher Contributions to Science and Policy

A recent article in the Israel Journal of Health Policy Research (IJHPR), analyzes the factors behind a recent surge in high quality publications by Israeli researchers, which have also informed global efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic. This blog highlights two of those factors which may be particularly relevant for researchers, research institutions, and research authorities in other countries.

Hope That the Way Will Be Cleared for UK Horizon Europe Association, As Parliament Votes on Windsor Framework

Hope That the Way Will Be Cleared for UK Horizon Europe Association, As Parliament Votes on Windsor Framework

Tomorrow's vote on the Windsor framework in the UK parliament marks a crucial step on the country's potential path to associating to Horizon Europe, the EU's €95.5 billion research and innovation programme. 

New Zealand Government Says Its Contribution to Horizon Europe could Be 'Adjusted' According to How Many Grants Its Researchers Win

New Zealand Government Says Its Contribution to Horizon Europe could Be 'Adjusted' According to How Many Grants Its Researchers Win

A transitional arrangement means researchers in New Zealand can apply for Horizon Europe grants as of now, even though Brussels and Wellington have yet to fix a budget following the agreement last December under which New Zealand became the first country to secure full association to the research programme.

Schisms in Research Collaboration Risk Worsening Global Crises, OECD Says

Schisms in Research Collaboration Risk Worsening Global Crises, OECD Says

China, the US and the EU's race to control their own scientific advances and cut out supply chain dependencies could lead to a "decoupling" of research activities at a time when collaboration to solve global issues is crucial, says a stark report by the OECD. 

It is Urgent to Recognize the Contribution of Indigenous Knowledge to Water Governance and Management

It is Urgent to Recognize the Contribution of Indigenous Knowledge to Water Governance and Management

UNESCO and its partners are organizing an official side event on 23 March during the United Nations’ 2023 Water Conference on indigenous knowledge of water governance and management.

Cambridge University Press Publishes First AI Research Ethics Policy

Cambridge University Press Publishes First AI Research Ethics Policy

From a CUP Announcement: The rules are set out in the first AI ethics policy from Cambridge University Press and apply to research papers, books and other scholarly works. They include a ban on AI being treated as an 'author' of academic papers and books we publish. 

Finland Sets Sights on Higher R&D Intensity After Overhauling State Spending Policies

Finland Sets Sights on Higher R&D Intensity After Overhauling State Spending Policies

Two new laws are intended to ensure a commitment to increase public and private investment in research will survive changes in government. The aim is for total spending to reach 4% of GDP by 2030

China is Mobilizing Science to Spur Development - and Self-reliance

China is Mobilizing Science to Spur Development - and Self-reliance

The National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference have boosted science and technology in the national agenda.

Biden Calls for Boosts in Science Spending to Keep US Competitive

Biden Calls for Boosts in Science Spending to Keep US Competitive

Facing a potential re-election battle next year, President Joe Biden laid out broad funding priorities for the US government on 9 March. His proposed budget for 2024 would invest new research funds into a range of programmes designed to achieve goals in scientific innovation, domestic manufacturing and clean energy, among others. 

G-7 Science Academies Call for Actions to Improve Climate Change Decision-Making, Protect Ocean Biodiversity, and Support Well-Being of Older People

G-7 Science Academies Call for Actions to Improve Climate Change Decision-Making, Protect Ocean Biodiversity, and Support Well-Being of Older People

Today the science academies of the G-7 countries issued three joint statements to their respective governments to inform discussions during the G-7 summit to be held in Hiroshima, Japan, in May, as well as ongoing policymaking.

In Wake of Gene-Edited Baby Scandal, China Sets New Ethics Rules for Human Studies

In Wake of Gene-Edited Baby Scandal, China Sets New Ethics Rules for Human Studies

Nearly 5 years after a Chinese scientist sparked worldwide outrage by announcing he had helped create genetically edited babies, China has unveiled new rules aimed at preventing a repeat of such ethically problematic research on humans.

Higher Trust in Public Health Agencies During COVID-19 Driven More by Beliefs That Agencies Led with Clear, Science-based Recommendations and Provided Protective Resources, Than by Beliefs That Agencies Controlled Outbreak

Higher Trust in Public Health Agencies During COVID-19 Driven More by Beliefs That Agencies Led with Clear, Science-based Recommendations and Provided Protective Resources, Than by Beliefs That Agencies Controlled Outbreak

In the first nationally representative survey of U.S. adults on reasons for trust in federal, state, and local public health agencies' information during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers found that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was highly trusted for information by more than one-third of U.S. adults, whereas state and local health departments were highly trusted by about one-quarter.

War in Ukraine Prompts Shifts in Thinking About International Cooperation in Science

War in Ukraine Prompts Shifts in Thinking About International Cooperation in Science

A year ago, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine redefined geopolitics in a shockwave that is still reverberating through the science world. The EU research community was quick to cut ties with Russia and lend Ukraine a helping hand - but now it is grappling with resulting instability and uncertainty as the war climbs into its second year.

Legitimacy in the Trans-scalar Governance of Climate Adaptation

Legitimacy in the Trans-scalar Governance of Climate Adaptation

Climate change adaptation is increasingly being addressed by public, private, and hybrid governance institutions across global, regional, national, sub-national, and local scales.

If Science is to Thrive, We Must Understand Its Human Foundations

If Science is to Thrive, We Must Understand Its Human Foundations

Robert P Crease explains why science can only thrive if we understand what makes humans tick

The Fight to Keep Ukrainian Science Alive Through a Year of War

The Fight to Keep Ukrainian Science Alive Through a Year of War

Researchers say science is bleeding in Ukraine - but they are determined to sustain their work with help from other nations.