scholarly journals The role of learned societies and grant-funding agencies in fostering a culture of open science

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Brysbaert

At first sight, it is a no-brainer to make publicly funded research findings freely available to everyone. Ever increasing pay walls are unsustainable and publishers have been pushing their luck in the last decades. On the other hand, free lunches do not exist either. It is unrealistic for researchers to expect that their manuscripts can be evaluated and published for eternity without someone paying something. Based on my experiences, I think that commercial companies competing against each other are still the best guarantee for good service and innovation (e.g., for manuscript submission and handling). However, these companies must be reined in by people who put the ideals of scientific progress and accessibility first. Otherwise, temptations for easy profit are too large. There is no good alternative to learned societies governed by the researchers themselves. Complementary to the role of learned societies, grant funding agencies have the unique power to nudge researchers toward open science practices and to make sure that the findings of the research they support are copied to secure systems immune to the siren call of profit making.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn R. Wentzel

In this article, I comment on the potential benefits and limitations of open science reforms for improving the transparency and accountability of research, and enhancing the credibility of research findings within communities of policy and practice. Specifically, I discuss the role of replication and reproducibility of research in promoting better quality studies, the identification of generalizable principles, and relevance for practitioners and policymakers. Second, I suggest that greater attention to theory might contribute to the impact of open science practices, and discuss ways in which theory has implications for sampling, measurement and research design. Ambiguities concerning the aims of preregistration and registered reports also are highlighted. In conclusion, I discuss structural roadblocks to open science reform and reflect on the relevance of these reforms for educational psychology.


Author(s):  
Nigel Gilles Yoccoz

Watch the VIDEO.There is a widespread discussion around a scientific crisis, resulting from a lack of reproducibility of published scientific studies. This was exemplified by Ioannidis’ 2005 paper “Why most published research findings are false” or the 2015 Open Science Collaboration study assessing reproducibility of psychological science. An often-cited reason for this reproducibility crisis is a fundamental misunderstanding of what statistical methods, and in particular P-values, can achieve. In the context of studies of ecology and evolution, I will show how 1) the pressure for publishing “novel” results, 2) what Gelman has called the “garden of forking paths”, i.e. the fact that published analyses represent only one out of many possible analyses, and 3) the often fruitless dichotomy between a null and alternative hypotheses, has led to the present situation. While scientific progress is dependent of major breakthroughs, we also need to find a better balance between confirmatory research – understanding how known effects vary in size according to the context – and exploratory, non-incremental research – finding new effects.


Author(s):  
Robert J. Hanisch ◽  
Ian S. Gilmore ◽  
Anne L. Plant

We present here a summary of a workshop held 1-3 May 2018 at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK in which the focus was how the national metrology institutes of the world might help to address challenges in reproducibility of research. The workshop brought together experts from the measurement and wider research communities (Physical-, Data- and Life-sciences, Engineering, and Geology) to understand the issues and to explore how good measurement practice and principles can foster confidence in research findings [1, 2, 3], including how we can tackle the challenge posed by increasing data volumes in both industry and research. The workshop involved 63 participants from metrology laboratories (38), academia (16), industry (5), funding agencies (2), and publishers (2). The participants came from UK, US, Korea, France, Germany, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Turkey, and Singapore.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Viktorija Šipilova

Following to the global trends, the future role of sustainable universities will expand with the new focuses as, for example, entrepreneurial activities and Open Science. Entrepreneurial activities of universities provide possibilities to contribute to sustainability and Open Science is the tool for fast and simultaneous spread and exchange of the newest knowledge and good practices. This research focuses on three questions – how widespread economically oriented sustainable activities of universities are, which activities universities prefer as sustainable and economically oriented, and how often universities share such knowledge through Open Access articles. For the purpose, the author applies the monographic method, the logical analysis method, and the scientific induction method for the study of the selected Open Access articles about sustainable activities of universities in the economic subject area. Research findings indicate that the idea about sustainable and economically oriented activities of universities is widespread around the world and there are case studies from Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. The analysis demonstrates differentiated accents in sustainable economically oriented activities of universities – globally accepted sustainability goals in economic sphere, entrepreneurial ecosystems, topicality of sustainability content in education for participants of labour market, new teaching approaches, transdisciplinary research, and university as sustainable and competitive participant at the market. Although, it is noteworthy to highlight that the exchange of knowledge and practice through Open Access articles in the relevant subject area is relatively modest and requires more attention from universities.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Mustaqim - Mustaqim

Abstract. The purpose of this research is to analyze the role of Panglima Laot in the management of fishery resources in Sabang Island. To be able to understand the fisheries management that involves the role of the community in the form of local institutions, a series in-depth interview, observation, as well as literature were successfully carried out to local fishery community. Since this study is a combination of qualitative and quantitative method, the data collection was analysed using phenomenological approach and critical interpretation process to see the validity and reliability of the research findings.  Referring to previous research evidence, the results show that the presence of Panglima Laot has played an important role in providing information, invitation, supervision and participation in the management of fishery resources. In addition, the role of Panglima Laot in the management of fishery resources includes carrying out customs, assisting the government, resolving conflicts in the community, preventing illegal fishing, preserving the coastal environment and fighting for the living standards of fishermen is very influential both in centralization and decentralization era.  Therefore, these findings can be categorized as a useful information for any party working in field of fishery program. 


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine Pownall

Currently under review at Psychology Teaching Review. Over recent years, Psychology has become increasingly concerned with reproducibility and replicability of research findings (Munafò et al., 2017). One method of ensuring that research is hypothesis driven, as opposed to data driven, is the process of publicly pre-registering a study’s hypotheses, data analysis plan, and procedure prior to data collection (Nosek, Ebersole, DeHaven, & Mellor, 2018). This paper discusses the potential benefits of introducing pre-registration to the undergraduate dissertation. The utility of pre-registration as a pedagogic practice within dissertation supervision is also critically appraised, with reference to open science literature. Here, it is proposed that encouraging pre-registration of undergraduate dissertation work may alleviate some pedagogic challenges, such as statistics anxiety, questionable research practices, and research clarity and structure. Perceived barriers, such as time and resource constraints, are also discussed.


2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 81-90
Author(s):  
Krishna Poudel

Mountains have distinct geography and are dynamic in nature compared to the plains. 'Verticality' and 'variation' are two fundamental specificities of the mountain geography. They possess distinct temporal and spatial characteristics in a unique socio-cultural setting. There is an ever increasing need for spatial and temporal data for planning and management activities; and Geo Information (GI) Science (including Geographic Information and Earth Observation Systems). This is being recognized more and more as a common platform for integrating spatial data with social, economic and environmental data and information from different sources. This paper investigates the applicability and challenges of GISscience in the context of mountain geography with ample evidences and observations from the mountain specific publications, empirical research findings and reports. The contextual explanation of mountain geography, mountain specific problems, scientific concerns about the mountain geography, advances in GIScience, the role of GIScience for sustainable development, challenges on application of GIScience in the contexts of mountains are the points of discussion. Finally, conclusion has been made with some specific action oriented recommendations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 2278-2282
Author(s):  
Stelian Ioan Morariu ◽  
Letitia Doina Duceac ◽  
Alina Costina Luca ◽  
Florina Popescu ◽  
Liliana Pavel ◽  
...  

Maintaining the soil in optimal parameters is vital for mankind, given its essential role in providing the alimentary base, as well as its extremely slow formation and regeneration (hundreds or thousands of years). The direct and indirect pollution of the soil and especially its chemical pollution represent a corollary of other types of pollution, given that it is produced by solid, liquid and gaseous residues. It may be involved in a wide range of diseases (respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, renal, haematological, osteoarticular, neurological) of allergic, infectious, degenerative or neoplastic nature, from infancy to the old age. Although there are natural causes of soil pollution (e.g. volcanic eruptions), most pollutants come from human activities, which are the most incriminated in its pollution, degradation and erosion at an accelerated pace. The growing concern of all nations for the adoption of measures to limit the chemical pollution of the soil is partially found so far in viable and effective solutions intended to combat soil contamination and degradation and ensure its restoration. Chemical industrialization leads to technical and scientific progress, but at the same time it can develop related pathologies, which means that the role of the occupational health physician is essential in ensuring prophylaxis and the early detection of occupational diseases. Besides that, the role of the pediatrician is equally precious for the detection of specific diseases caused by chemical pollutants to children, because they will develop into adults with pathological stigma.The chemical pollution of the soil is a major challenge for ecologists, given that it is an important risk factor for many types of afflictions. It requires maximum attention from civil society, health care professionals and government institutions. The specialist in occupational medicine, as well as the pediatrician bear an essential responsibility in both, prevention and treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-114
Author(s):  
Im Sik Cho ◽  
Blaž Križnik

Sharing practices are an important part of urban life. This article examines the appropriation of alleys as communal space to understand how sharing practices are embedded in localities, how communal space is constituted and maintained, and how this sustains communal life. In this way, the article aims to understand the spatial dimension of sharing practices, and the role of communal space in strengthening social relationship networks and urban sustainability. Seowon Maeul and Samdeok Maeul in Seoul are compared in terms of their urban regeneration approaches, community engagement in planning, street improvement, and the consequences that the transformation had on the appropriation of alleys as communal space. The research findings show that community engagement in planning is as important as the provision of public space if streets are to be appropriated as communal space. Community engagement has changed residents' perception and use of alleys as a shared resource in the neighbourhood by improving their capacity to act collectively and collaborate with other stakeholders in addressing problems and opportunities in cities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (34) ◽  
pp. 2853-2861
Author(s):  
Yanli Li ◽  
Rui Yang ◽  
Limo Chen ◽  
Sufang Wu

CD38 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is widely expressed in a variety of human tissues and cells, especially those in the immune system. CD38 protein was previously considered as a cell activation marker, and today monoclonal antibodies targeting CD38 have witnessed great achievements in multiple myeloma and promoted researchers to conduct research on other tumors. In this review, we provide a wide-ranging review of the biology and function of the human molecule outside the field of myeloma. We focus mainly on current research findings to summarize and update the findings gathered from diverse areas of study. Based on these findings, we attempt to extend the role of CD38 in the context of therapy of solid tumors and expand the role of the molecule from a simple marker to an immunomodulator.


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