Search

The article reports that Nobel laureate Steven Chu assumed the presidency of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for a one year term. It states he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with William Phillips and Claude Cohen-Tannoudji to developing methods to cool and trap atoms using laser light. It discusses his past childhood and career in science and mentions his call for scientists to share their discoveries with the public.

The article focuses on genome editing technologies and its benefit for the society. It is noted that the International Association for Responsible Research and Innovation in Genome Editing (ARRIGE) was created in 2018, to bring civil society into the discussion. The authors' mention the need to create a global citizens' deliberation to discuss genome editing. It discusses some important reasons for creating global citizens' assembly which include public confidence in technologies.

The article discusses the sexual harassment cases in the field of science and technology in the U.S. It states that high-profile cases have arisen in astronomy and biology, while the field of paleoanthropology has been rife with sexual misconduct for decades. It mentions that leaders in the science field recommended setting policies to encourage witnesses to speak out against cases.

The article reports on the underrepresentation of Asian scientists among recipients of U.S. biomedical research prize and also discusses need to improve racial and ethnic diversity to promote racial and gender equality.

The article highlights the important scientific aspects in line with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Topics covered include background of the CWC treaty, the need to ensure effective implementation of the General Purpose Criterion (GPC) of the CWC, issues that an Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) should address and the importance of improving monitoring and risk assessment of science and technology by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The article focuses on the role of community and stakeholder engagement (CSE) in improving the chances of success and performance of some scientific programs. It talks about how variability in working language for CSE can diminish the comparability and coherence of evidence and suggests the conceptual heterogeneity increases the problem of a lack of precision in reporting social processes. It talks about management of CSE and the role of research funders in developing effective CSE systems.

The article discusses America's Doctors appeared on the steps of the United States Supreme Court in 2020, stating that hydroxychloroquine was a cure for COVID-19. Topics include question of what responsibility the scientific community has to condemn its members when they enable the spread of misinformation; situation at the University of Florida creates an opportunity to treat the Covid-19 and Ladapo's former supervisor at the University of California, considered his approach to COVID-19.

Information about the 2013 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting held in Boston, Massachusetts, as of the periodical Sciencemag, is presented. Topics include how much should the society spend on scientific research and development, the effective strategies to be applied and detailed accounting of witnessed growth. The conference featured AAAS president William H. Press as the active speaker who discussed the good and bad sides of scientific research.

The article discusses whether scientists in India can help lift people out of poverty. Topics include a meeting on March 2012, organized by Ashok Jhunjhunwala of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Madras, in which Jhunjhunwala challenged scientists in Madras' electronics industry to design a tablet computer with Internet connectivity that would sell for about 2500 Indian rupees ($50), intense competition among several companies to refine prototypes for the tablet, and development of the Aakash 4 tablet that Jhunjhunwala hopes will transform Indian education. Also discussed is India's drive to use science and technology to improve the lives of millions of impoverished Indians, the National Innovation Fund, and vaccinations for all Indians.

Educational policy increasingly emphasizes knowledge and skills for the preprofessional "science pipeline" rather than helping students use science in daily life. We synthesize research on public engagement with science to develop a research-based plan for cultivating competent outsiders: nonscientists who can access and make sense of science relevant to their lives. Schools should help students access and interpret the science they need in response to specific practical problems, judge the credibility of scientific claims based on both evidence and institutional cues, and cultivate deep amateur involvement in science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on the 2013 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting, titled "The Beauty and Benefits of Science," to be held February 14-18, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts is presented.

The article cites a report within the issue regarding the publication of research from a laboratory led by virologist Ron Fouchier of Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The study describes how mutations might give the H5N1 avian influenza (flu) virus the potential to move easily between mammals, which could spark a human flu pandemic. Topics include an international debate over whether the results of the study should be made public, the differences between Fouchier's study and similar research conducted by a U.S. team led by Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the University of Tokyo, Japan, and insights into how the virus's evolution could cause a pandemic.

The article discusses reforms to science research institutions, funding, and education in Egypt following the revolution of January 2011. Following the end of former President Hosni Mubarak's regime, Egyptian scientists and politicians have called for scientific innovation in order to improve the economy. Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has announced plans to build a science city, while Nobel laureate Ahmed Zewail has a popular following. The 1967 war with Israel and the lack of governmental support for science led to a lack of research. Science minister Amr Salama is working to change the structure of universities and grant giving institutions like the Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF). INSET: Tackling Egypt's New Plague.

Reading, writing, and oral communication are critical literacy practices for participation in a global society. In the context of science inquiry, literacy practices support learners by enabling them to grapple with ideas, share their thoughts, enrich understanding, and solve problems. Here we suggest five instructional and curricular features that can support students in developing literacy in the context of science: (i) linking new ideas to prior knowledge and experiences, (ii) anchoring learning in questions that are meaningful in the lives of students, (iii) connecting multiple representations, (iv) providing opportunities for students to use science ideas, and (v) supporting students' engagement with the discourses of science. These five features will promote students' ability to read, write, and communicate about science so that they can engage in inquiry throughout their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have used 19.9 million papers over 5 decades and 2.1 million patents to demonstrate that teams increasingly dominate solo authors in the production of knowledge. Research is increasingly done in teams across nearly art fields. Teams typically produce more frequently cited research than individuals do, and this advantage has been increasing over time. Teams now also produce the exceptionally high-impact research, even where that distinction was once the domain of solo authors. These results are detailed for sciences and engineering, social sciences, arts and humanities, and patents, suggesting that the process of knowledge creation has fundamentally changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) made progress by releasing a request for applications in support of research leading to the creation of best practices for the study of race and other population identifiers . It highlights persistent aspect of science and medicine includes the use of obsolete concepts of race to measure human biological difference and the false belief, amid COVID-19 pandemic.

The article presents an analysis on the nexus of science and society. The role that science and scientists play in society, the degree of influence wielded by scientific opinion, the reputation of scientific bodies for impartially rendered insight, the priority accorded to scientific research and education has been vital to a nation. The frontiers of science have never looked more promising than they do today. From nanotechnology, to bioengineering, to string theory, to space science, human beings are in an age of discovery and innovation. The challenge is how to mine these opportunities for all they are worth to improve human health and welfare and to have greater public understanding of, and respect and appreciation for, science.

This article reports that science takes a back seat to survival in Iraq these days. Ahmed Moosa, an engineering professor at the University of Technology in Baghdad, said that at least 58 professors, 150 medical doctors, and dozens of scientists at institutes and ministries have been murdered since the Iraq war ended in April 2003. Security is so poor that it prompted soul-searching at the meeting about whether grants that keep scientists in Iraq are even morally defensible. The first shock hit Iraqi scientists after the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein, when an orgy of looting engulfed the country. Universities and research institutions were devastated. The British government is considering bankrolling the DNA forensic science project, conceived by Ali Al-Zaag, dean of the Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Baghdad, and Hanan Malkawi, vice dean of the Faculty of Science at Yarmouk University in Jordan. Fellowships will be on offer in another initiative that could allow 500 Iraqi researchers to spend up to 3 months abroad.

The article presents information on various forthcoming events in 2005 in the field of scientific communications. An annual meeting will take place in Washington D.C., on February 17-21, 2005 with the theme "The Nexus: Where Science Meets Society." The public will have the chance to see the connection between science and society, through Family Science Days, an occasion that debuted at last year's Annual Meeting in Seattle and attracted 3,300 visitors. Symposia of this type include Homeland Security & Emerging Technology, Science & Technology for Diplomacy & Security, and Worldwide Public Understanding of Science.

Interviews former United States President Bill Clinton regarding the role of science and technology in changing the world. Views on how Clinton might continue to interact with the scientific community after leaving his post; Views on the impact of science on society; Assessment of his administration's track record with regards to science; Views on the success and failures of the space programs of the U.S.

The author offers his perspective on achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the world during the period of 2015 through 2030, including through referencing the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR). An overview of the role that science, technology and innovation (STI) will purportedly play in achieving the SDGs is provided.

Discusses the increased realization of the intimate connections between ecological systems of the planet and human health, the economy, social justice and national security as of January 1998. The new and unmet needs of society; The need for fundamental research, faster and more effective transmission of new and existing knowledge to policy- and decision-makers, and better communication of this knowledge to the public.

Science and society have been struggling to find a way to protect humankind from recurring epidemics and pandemics of influenza. Here, we review the options available in the short term and also briefly address the solutions that research may make available in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experience with influenza has shown that predictions of virus phenotype or fitness from nucleotide sequence are imperfect and that predicting the timing and course of evolution is extremely difficult. Such uncertainty means that the risk of experiments with mammalian-transmissible, possibly highly virulent influenza viruses remains high even if some aspects of their laboratory biology are reassuring; it also implies limitations on the ability of laboratory observations to guide interpretation of surveillance of strains in the field. Thus, we propose that future experiments with virulent pathogens whose accidental or deliberate release could lead to extensive spread in human populations should be limited by explicit risk-benefit considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a decade of intensive policy discussions on the topic of dual-use research of concern (DURC) in the life sciences, there has been a lack of consensus on how to practically define DURC; whether it is feasible to identify and regulate DURC experiments; how to address the risks associated with DURC; and how to balance this risk with the necessity of fostering life sciences research for public health and biodefense. The publication of two avian influenza studies has brought the DURC issue back into sharp focus and has resulted in a new set of federal guidelines. However, the new DURC policy raises questions regarding whether this is the best policy solution to a complicated biosecurity concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new U.S. policy for dual-use life science research defines what is permissible by scientists and the government. However, further negotiations will be needed as governments realize the consequences of such boundaries for research and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers news briefs related to science including Great Britain's investment in an inactivated virus vaccine against COVID-19, discovery of an unstable gas, phosphine on the planet Venus and U.S. President Donald Trump order excluding undocumented immigrants from the 2020 census.

The article comments on U.S. President Donald Trump's attitude towards the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its effect on countless lives in the U.S. The author argues that the President has deliberately lied about science that has resulted in widespread deaths of Americans. He cites an interview of the President with Bob Woodward that was published in the newspaper "Washington Post" on February 7, 2020, in which he stated that he knew COVID-19 was more dangerous than the flu.

Discusses the inadequacy of science in hampering management decisions in the national park system in the United States (US). Criticisms on how the US National Park Service (NPS) manages parks; Details on the Natural Resource Challenge program launched by Robert Stanton, director of NPS, to bolster the science underlying park management.

The article discusses the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Alan I. Leshner Leadership Institute for Public Engagement with Science from June 11-17, 2018. Topics discussed include food and water security, and bringing the scientific community into closer contact with society. It mentions that the Leshner Leadership Institute's fellow program was created utilizing social science research and public engagement and scientific communication experience.

Presents essays on science and society. Science as a sanctuary; What science means to society; Description, discovery and a natural order.

The article focuses on a letter from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees on the benefit of science to federal agencies and science policy. It states that the day after the election AAAS chief executive Rush Holt released a statement suggesting Trump should appoint a respected engineer or scientist to the position of science advisor. It talks about AAAS engagement efforts with the public concerning research.

The author calls for more scientific evidence and studies to be applied to strategies addressing the U.S. opioid epidemic.

The article explores Brexit in Great Britain and how it might impact scientists. Topics discussed include how this exit is causing British scientists to stockpile supplies, insights from Jennifer Rohn, a cell biologist at University College London, and how Brexit also appears to be discouraging EU (European Union) researchers from coming to the United Kingdom.

An editorial is presented on the need for the scientific community to adjust to new realities concerning science skepticism, gaps in science literacy, and a disdain for expertise or reliance on facts. She comments on how technological trends and scientific advances are disrupting cultural norms and creating questions about ethics, the future of the workforce, and what it means to be human. She talks about the 2019 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The article comments on a study by N. E. Friedkin and colleagues about the influence of interdependent beliefs on people's rejection of scientific findings. Topics discussed include the researchers' introduction of a model for interpersonal influence, the possible polarization of groups despite their exposure to moderating influences due to the interdependence of beliefs, and the effects of belief on the exchange of information.

The author discusses aspects of human genetics and a debate regarding the role of race in science. Topics discussed include the confusion over the use of race in human genetic research, the importance to determine the ancestry, a process-based concept about the relationship of an individual to other individuals in their genealogical history, from a taxonomic notion, like race, and the effort to develop better methods to examine human genetic diversity.

The article discusses the role of facts in scientific research in relation to the social conditions affecting belief in the existence of facts. Topics include the role of the law of universal gravitation (LUG) in predicting the behavior of matter, the assessment of propositions as factual or not, and the need for belief in credible evidence.

The article discusses the project Cape Citizen Science, an initiative to engage nonscientists in plant disease research. Particular focus is given to outreach to learners grades 9 to 12 from South Africa. Additional topics discussed include underprivileged learners in South Africa, the encouragement of scientists to reach out to their fellow citizens, and efforts to create science enthusiasts in society.

A personal narrative is provided in which the author explores her experience in changing careers from an nontenured university research faculty member to working for university fundraising, including in regard to the transferable nature of her science-related skills to fundraising.

The author reflects on the need for scientists to use more than facts to try and convince people that science is accurate. She comments on how as a climate scientist the most effective method she has found to improving her science communication is to tell people she is Christian as it provides a connection between her and her listeners. She mentions the need to bond with people over values they genuinely share with those they are speaking to, including a shared location or an activity in common.

The article presents the conversation between senior scientist Michael Ter-Mikaelian and his science writer daughter on the aspects of scientific career. The Father mentions how he started to like the aspect of science career during the time of working on his research, the necessity of pragmatism in the field of research, and the fathers realization of the role of science and scientific works as importance and necessary.

The article offers information related to research and policy discussed at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Austin, Texas. Topics include the study of infants primed to learn a visual language, the survey of Americans about their positive belief on science, and the move of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, asking to speed the progress in cancer research and treatment.

An editorial is presented about the importance of science to the census approach of the U.S. Topics discussed include the benchmark information provided by census which will be used in science, the use of census data by scientists to develop representative samples for medical and social research, and the decennial census of population proposed by former U.S. President James Madison.