scholarly journals The need for a new set of measures to assess the impact of research in earth sciences in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dasapta Erwin Irawan ◽  
Juneman Abraham ◽  
Jonathan Peter Tennant ◽  
Olivier Pourret
Keyword(s):  
Earth Sciences ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
National Level ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Impact Factors ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Scientific Databases ◽  
The Impact

Background: Earth sciences is one of those sensitive field sciences that are closely needed to solve local problems within local physical and social settings. Earth researchers find state-of-the-art of topics in earth sciences by using scientific databases, conduct research on the topics, and write about them. However, the accessibility, readability, and usability of those articles for local communities are major problems in measuring the impact of research, although it may be covered by well-known international scientific databases. Objectives: To ascertain empirically whether there are differences in document distribution, in the proportions of openly accessible documents, and in the geographical coverage of earth sciences topics as revealed through analyses of documents retrieved from scientific databases and to propose new measures for assessing the impact of research in earth sciences based on those differences. Methods: Relevant documents were retrieved using ‘earth sciences’ as a search term in English and other languages from ten databases of scientific publications. The results of these searches were analysed using frequency analysis and a quantitative- descriptive design. Results: (1) The number of articles in English from international databases exceeded the number of articles in native languages from national-level databases. (2) The number of open-access (OA) articles in the national databases was higher than that in other databases. (3) The geographical coverage of earth science papers was uneven between countries when the number of documents retrieved from closed-access commercial databases was compared to that from the other databases. (4) The regulations in Indonesia related to promotion of lecturers assign greater weighting to publications indexed in Scopus and the Web of Science (WoS) and publications in journals with impact factors are assigned a higher weighting. Conclusions: The dominance of scientific articles in English as well as the paucity of OA publications indexed in international databases (compared to those in national or regional databases) may have been due to the greater weighting assigned to such publications. Consequently, the relevance of research reported in those publications to local communities has been questioned. This article suggests some open-science practices to transform the current regulations related to promotion into a more responsible measurement of research performance and impact.

scholarly journals The need for a new set of perspectives to measure research impact in Earth Sciences: Indonesian’s case

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dasapta Erwin Irawan ◽  
Juneman Abraham ◽  
Jonathan Tennant ◽  
Olivier Pourret
Keyword(s):  
Earth Sciences ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
National Level ◽  
Research Impact ◽  
National Database ◽  
Native Languages ◽  
Scientific Databases ◽  
Social Settings ◽  
Quantitative Descriptive

Background: The researcher’s need to construct the state-of-the-art of a topic in Earth sciences is the only plausible reason to use scientific databases. However, nowadays, the primary function of such databases is often mixed up, confused with functions that are not intended for it, such as to select content based on language (e.g. English vs. Non-English issue), as well as to rank publications based on certain metrics. It is urgent to prove the fallacy of the trending use of the indexation.Objectives: This study aims to describe empirically whether there are differences in document distribution, openly accessible documents, and geographical coverages of Earth sciences topics based on searched scientific databases, as the basis for proposing new perspectives in Earth sciences research assessment.Methods: Document selection using ‘Earth sciences’ keywords in English and native languages was done on ten databases. Quantitative-descriptive design with a frequency analysis technique was employed. Results: (1) The number of English-written articles in international databases significantly exceeded the number of those written in native languages that were detected in national-level databases; (2) The sum of open access (OA) articles in national databases is higher than in other databases; (3) The geographical coverages of Earth sciences documents are unbalanced between countries when comparing retrievals from closed-commercial databases with the other databases. Conclusions: Earth sciences is one of the geographical sensitive field sciences that is closely needed to solve local problems with local physical and social settings. A combination of quantitative and qualitative measurements are very much needed in research performance assessment. Keywords: database bias; indexation; national database; Earth Science; Indonesia

scholarly journals Nationwide Assessment of Urban Surface Water Environment Status in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 81 ◽  
pp. 01003
Author(s):  
Hongjie Gao ◽  
Peng Yuan ◽  
Ruixia Liu ◽  
Lu Han ◽  
Yonghui Song
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Population Density ◽  
National Level ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
National Standard ◽  
Impact Factors ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Impact

In this study, the assessment of nationwide urban water environment status was conducted based upon a method of integrating both 70% of objective water quality and 30% of standard compliance percent compared with national standard limit of GB3838-2002 for Class III. The impact factors on urban water environment status were discussed. The results showed that the status of urban water environment could be graded into 5 types in China. The population density, water resources, urbanized areas and so on were key impact factors on water environment. The study found that population density and urban built-up area had significantly negative effect on urban water environment status, and there was positive relationship between per capita water resources and urban water environment status. The results would provide the guidance for effective governance and management of urban water environment at national level.

scholarly journals The International Earth Science Olympiad as a tool to enhance the profile and quality of earth science education

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. e019019
Author(s):  
Rajasekhariah Shankar
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
National Level ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Science Olympiad ◽  
Earth Science Education ◽  
Entrance Test ◽  
System Project ◽  
The Impact

The International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) is a relatively new international science olympiad, having begun in 2007. Be-sides the usual written and practical tests, co-operative activities like the International Field Team Investigation (ITFI) and Earth System Project (ESP) are special and exclusive to IESO. Two problems that are unique to Earth Science education are the lack of visibility and the quality of teaching of Earth Science. In recent years, the International Geoscience Education Organisation has brought in sweeping changes in the way IESO testing is done. This paper summarises how IESO has contributed to enhanc-ing the profile and visibility and the quality of earth science education: Through national level entrance test and National Earth Science Olympiad; through publicity regarding the entrance test and related Olympiad activities; through workshops during and between IESO’s; through Mentors and Observers; through the International Team Field Investigation (ITFI) and Earth System Project (ESP); and through hosting IESO. However, efforts have to be made to further increase the impact of IESO on the quali-ty of Earth Science education by several means, including having more countries to participate in IESO.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of the Protective Effect of Prior SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Repeat Infection

2021 ◽  
pp. 016327872110479
Author(s):  
N. Kojima ◽  
N. K. Shrestha ◽  
J. D. Klausner
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Protective Effect ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
P Value ◽  
Average Risk ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
The Impact

We systematically reviewed studies to estimate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection among those previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. For this systematic review, we searched scientific publications on PubMed and MedRxiv, a pre-print server, through August 18, 2021. Eligible studies were retrieved on August 18, 2021. The following search term was used on PubMed: (((“Cohort Studies”[Majr]) AND (“COVID-19”[Mesh] OR “SARS-CoV-2”[Mesh])) OR “Reinfection”[Majr]) OR “Reinfection”[Mesh]. The following search term was used on MedRxiv: “Cohort Studies” AND “COVID-19” OR “SARS-CoV-2” AND “Reinfection”. The search terms were broad to encompass all applicable studies. There were no restrictions on the date of publication. Studies that did not describe cohorts with estimates of the risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection among those with previous infection were excluded. Studies that included vaccinated participants were either excluded or limited to sub-groups of non-vaccinated individuals. To identify relevant studies with appropriate control groups, we developed the following criteria for studies to be included in the systematic analysis: (1) baseline polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, (2) a uninfected comparison group, (3) longitudinal follow-up, (4) a cohort of human participants, i.e. not a case report or case series, and (5) outcome determined by PCR. The review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. We assessed for selection, information, and analysis bias, per PRISMA guidelines. We identified 1,392 reports. Of those, 10 studies were eligible for our systematic review. The weighted average risk reduction against reinfection was 90.4% with a standard deviation of 7.7% ( p-value: <0.01). Protection against SARS-CoV-2 reinfection was observed for up to 10 months. Studies had potential information, selection, and analysis biases. The protective effect of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection on re-infection is high and similar to the protective effect of vaccination. More research is needed to characterize the duration of protection and the impact of different SARS-CoV-2 variants.

scholarly journals How to publish your data with the EPOS Multi-scale Laboratories

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geertje ter Maat ◽  
Otto Lange ◽  
Martyn Drury ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Earth Sciences ◽  
Solid Earth ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Supplementary Information ◽  
Science Data ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Data Repositories ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Metadata Standards

&lt;p&gt;EPOS (the European Plate Observing System) is a pan-European e-infrastructure framework with the goal of improving and facilitating the access, use, and re-use of Solid Earth science data. The EPOS Thematic Core Service Multi-scale Laboratories (TCS MSL) represent a community of European Solid Earth sciences laboratories including high-temperature and high-pressure experimental facilities, electron microscopy, micro-beam analysis, analogue tectonic and geodynamic modelling, paleomagnetism, and analytical laboratories.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Participants and collaborating laboratories from Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and the UK are already represented within the TCS MSL. Unaffiliated European Solid Earth sciences laboratories are welcome and encouraged to join the growing TCS MSL community.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Laboratory facilities are an integral part of Earth science research. The diversity of methods employed in such infrastructures reflects the multi-scale nature of the Earth system and is essential for the understanding of its evolution, for the assessment of geo-hazards, and the sustainable exploitation of geo-resources.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Although experimental data from these laboratories often provide the backbone for scientific publications, they are often only available as images, graphs or tables in the text or as supplementary information to research articles. As a result, much of the collected data remains unpublished, not searchable or even inaccessible, and often only preserved in the short term.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The TCS MSL is committed to making Earth science laboratory data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR). For this purpose, the TCS MSL encourages the community to share their data via DOI-referenced, citable data publications. To facilitate this and ensure the provision of rich metadata, we offer user-friendly tools, plus the necessary data management expertise, to support all aspects of data publishing for the benefit of individual lab researchers via partner repositories. Data published via TCS MSL are described with the use of sustainable metadata standards enriched with controlled vocabularies used in geosciences. The resulting data publications are also exposed through a designated TCS MSL online portal that brings together DOI-referenced data publications from partner research data repositories (https://epos-msl.uu.nl/). As such, efforts have already been made to interconnect new data (metadata exchange) with previous databases such as MagIC (paleomagnetic data in Earthref.org), and in the future, we expect to enlarge and improve this practice with other repositories.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Inspecting map compilation in earth sciences for better communication

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-280
Author(s):  
Márton Pál ◽  
◽  
Gáspár Albert ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Earth Sciences ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
Visual Representation ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Impact Factors ◽  
Compilation Process ◽  
Thematic Cartography ◽  
Set Up

The use of thematic cartography in earth sciences is a frequent task for researchers when publishing. When creating a map, researchers intend to communicate important spatial information that enhances, supplements or replaces textual content. Not only visual but substantial requirements exist for those who create maps. Cartographic visualisation has several well-established rules that must be taken into account during compilation, but not all researchers apply them correctly. The present study aims to identify the factors determining the quality of geoscientific maps and what needs to be improved during a map compilation process. To get to know the tendencies, we have investigated maps in designated journals – one Hungarian and one international per earth science branch: geography, cartography, geology, geophysics, and meteorology. A system of criteria was set up for evaluating the maps objectively; basic rules of cartography, quality of visual representation, and copyright rules were investigated. The results show that better map quality is connected to journals with strict editorial rules and higher impact factors. This assessment method is suitable for analysing any kind of spatial visual representation, and individual map-composing authors can use it for evaluating their maps before submission and publication.

scholarly journals EPOS Multi-scale laboratories Data Services & Trans-national access program

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Wessels ◽  
Otto Lange ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Earth Sciences ◽  
Solid Earth ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Remote Access ◽  
Supplementary Information ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Data Repositories ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Laboratory Facilities

&lt;p&gt;EPOS (European Plate Observing System) is an ESFRI Landmark and European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). The EPOS Thematic Core Service Multi-scale laboratories (TCS MSL) represents a community of European solid Earth sciences laboratories including high temperature and pressure experimental facilities, electron microscopy, micro-beam analysis, analogue tectonic and geodynamic modelling, paleomagnetism, and analytical laboratories.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Participants and collaborating laboratories from Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and the UK are already organized in the TCS MSL. Unaffiliated European solid Earth sciences laboratories are welcome and encouraged to join the growing TCS MSL community. Members of the TCS MSL are also represented in the EPOS Sustainability Phase (SP).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Laboratory facilities are an integral part of Earth science research. The diversity of methods employed in such infrastructures reflects the multi-scale nature of the Earth system and is essential for the understanding of its evolution, for the assessment of geo-hazards, and for the sustainable exploitation of geo-resources.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Although experimental data from these laboratories often provide the backbone for scientific publications, they are often only available as supplementary information to research articles. As a result, much of the collected data remains unpublished, inaccessible, and often not preserved for the long term.&amp;#160;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The TCS MSL is committed to make Earth science laboratory data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR). For this purpose the TCS MSL has developed an online portal that brings together DOI-referenced data publications from research data repositories related to the TCS MSL context (https://epos-msl.uu.nl/).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In addition, the TCS MSL has developed a Trans-national access (TNA) program that allows researchers and research teams to apply for physical or remote access to the participating EPOS MSL laboratories. Three pilot calls were launched in 2017, 2018, and 2019, with a fourth call scheduled for 2020. The pilot calls were used to develop and refine the EPOS wide TNA principles and to initialize an EPOS brokering service, where information on each facility offering access will be available for the user and where calls for proposals are advertised. Access to the participating laboratories is currently supported by national funding or in-kind contribution. Based on the EPOS Data policy &amp; TNA General Principles, access to the laboratories is regulated by common rules and a transparent policy, including procedures and mechanisms for application, negotiation, proposal evaluation, user feedback, use of laboratory facilities and data curation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Access to EPOS Multi-scale laboratories is a unique opportunity to create new synergy, collaboration and innovation, in a framework of trans-national access rules.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;An example of such a successful collaboration is between MagIC and EPOS TCS MSL. This collaboration will allow paleomagnetic data and metadata to be exchanged between EPOS and the MagIC (https://www.earthref.org/MagIC) database. Such collaborations are beneficial to all parties involved and support the harmonization and integration of data at a global scale.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Magnetic to the Core – communicating paleomagnetism with hands-on activities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annique van der Boon ◽  
Andrew J. Biggin ◽  
Greig A. Paterson ◽  
Janine L. Kavenagh
Keyword(s):  
Earth Sciences ◽  
General Public ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Wide Audience ◽  
The Core ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Science Laboratories ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Paleomagnetism is a relatively unknown part of Earth sciences that is not well integrated into the school curriculum in the United Kingdom. Throughout recent years, there has been a decline in the number of Earth science students in the UK. In 2018 and 2019, we developed outreach activities and resources to introduce the scientifically-engaged general public to paleomagnetism and raise awareness of how geomagnetism affects society today, thus putting paleomagnetism, and Earth sciences, in the spotlight. We tested our ideas at local events that were visited mostly by families with small children, with tens to hundreds of participants. Our project culminated in the ‘Magnetic to the Core’ stand at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in 2019, which is visited by members of the general public as well as students and teachers, scientists, policymakers and the media. At this event, we communicated the fundamentals of paleomagnetism through hands-on experiments and presented our recent research advances in a fun and family friendly way. To test the impact of our exhibit on knowledge of paleomagnetism and Earth’s magnetic field on visitors, we designed an interactive quiz and collected results from 382 participants over 8 days. The results show an increase in score of 19.1 % between those who had not yet visited the stand to those who had visited for more than 10 minutes. The results from school-age respondents alone show a larger increase in score of 28.1 % between those who had not yet visited and those who had spent more than 10 minutes at the stand. These findings demonstrate that this outreach event was successful in impacting visitors’ learning. We hope our Magnetic to the Core project can serve as an inspiration for other Earth science laboratories looking to engage a wide audience and measure the success and impact of their outreach activities.

scholarly journals Analysing the socio-technical transition to conservation agriculture in Uganda through the lens of the multi-level perspective

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Helen Kaweesa ◽  
Hamid El Bilali ◽  
Willibald Loiskandl
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Legal Standards ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Civic Awareness ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Conservation agriculture (CA) is based on three principles, namely minimum tillage, crop rotations and maintaining a soil cover. The research used the multi-Level perspective on socio-technical transitions to analyse the dynamics of CA in Uganda. The analysis of the CA niche is structured along the socio-technical regimes and explores the impact of the transition. Data were gathered from Alebtong, Dokolo and Lira districts in mid-Northern Uganda. The results indicate a steady transition towards CA that can be supported to eventually scale up. The legitimisation process of CA transition involved wider implementation by farmers on their fields, validation through adoption by the wider communities and at the national level. The process seeks policy and institutional promotion, more scientific publications of local research findings, validation by legal standards and judicial reasoning, raising civic awareness, stakeholder dialogue and mobilisation of political will to advance the purposes of CA in contrast to conventional agriculture. CA caused changes in practices, perceptions and motivation among the niche actors with respect to agricultural sustainability. However, scaling up could further be enhanced when market policies, credit and financial environment are reconciled.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of the Protective Effect of Prior SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Repeat Infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noah Kojima ◽  
Nabin Shrestha ◽  
Jeffrey D Klausner
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Protective Effect ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Average Risk ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: We systematically reviewed studies to estimate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection among those previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. Methods: For this systematic review, we searched scientific publications on PubMed and, the pre-print server, MedRxiv through August 18, 2021. Eligible studies were retrieved on August 18, 2021. We used the following search term on PubMed: (((Cohort Studies [Majr]) AND (COVID-19 [Mesh] OR SARS-CoV-2 [Mesh])) OR Reinfection [Majr]) OR Reinfection [Mesh]. We used the following search term on MedRxiv: Cohort Studies AND COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2 AND Reinfection. The search terms were broad to encompass all possibilities for applicable studies. There were no restrictions on the date of publication. Studies that did not describe cohorts with estimates of the risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection among those with previous infection were excluded. Studies that included vaccinated participants were either excluded or limited to sub-groups of non-vaccinated individuals. To identify relevant studies with appropriate control groups, we developed the following criteria for studies to be included in the systematic analysis: (1) baseline polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, (2) a negative comparison group, (3) longitudinal follow-up, (4) a cohort of human participants, i.e., not a case report or case series, and (5) outcome determined by PCR. The review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. We assessed for selection, information, and analysis bias, per PRISMA guidelines. Results: We identified 1,392 reports. Of those, 10 studies were eligible for our systematic review. The weighted average risk reduction against reinfection was 90.4% with a standard deviation of 7.7%. Protection against SARS-CoV-2 reinfection was observed for up to 10 months. Studies had potential information, selection, and analysis biases. Conclusions: The protective effect of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection on re-infection is high and similar to the protective effect of vaccination. More research is needed to characterize the duration of protection and the impact of different SARS-CoV-2 variants.

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