I discuss how cases of sexual harassment at the academic workplace could be covered by journalists, examining the responsibility of individual scientists and of the institutions they belong to.
A scientific organization that gives its members the green light to interact with journalists and the public, without insisting that every such interaction be filtered through an administrative layer or otherwise controlled, is doing things right.
Preprints level the playing field for scientists from the developing world. They may simply be the most innovative method we know of that enables such access to the best of science from all round the world.
On 27 June 2018, the Human Resources Development Ministry of the Government of India announced that it would repeal the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act and introduce a new regulatory body for higher education called the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). This announcement has received intense critique from a faction of the Indian academic world. Prof. V. S. Sunder expresses his concern over this corrupt initiative of bureaucratizing Indian higher education system.
What are the skills that a 21st century student need to acquire? Is the present education system up to the task in imparting those skills?
This is the text of the letter written by a group of Indian citizens to the Honorable President of India, expressing their concern about recent happenings in the Indian Space Research Organization.
One reason why the mainstream has not given up the classical theory is that a stronger and more convincing alternative theory is not yet agreed upon. The Diabetes Code tries to do this, but alas, with an almost equally weak case.
One ‘finding’ suggests cancer and MDR-TB patients consuming a cow-urine distillate along with their medication can reduce the dosage of their medication and still reap positive results. This is dangerous.
There is broad, scientific consensus that antibiotic use in animal agriculture is increasing the risk of the development of resistant bacteria. But can we afford to completely go away from the usage of antibiotics in livestock?
From the tunnels built by termites to the enormous underground networks built by fungi, life forms have evolved incredible ways of solving the challenge of moving large numbers of individuals and resources from one place to another. But how do natural systems – which lack engineers or in some cases even brains – build and manage their transportation networks?
What happens if academics at different career levels are deputed to various government departments? A lot of good, argues the author.
I think it is time to articulate a grand vision for Indian science. But at the same time, we need to be cognizant of the barriers. Our approach has to strike a fine balance, avoiding the twin pitfalls of a) dreams unanchored by reality or b) of being too mired in the present and its challenges that one loses sight of bigger objectives. We need to find the right vehicle that can carry the vision ahead without getting derailed.
When a researcher conducts scientific studies in a geographical area, what exactly is the impact of that research for the residents of that area? How can a scientist make his or her work more relevant for such people? Anne Toomey presents a case study from Bolivia that is surprisingly close to sentiments expressed by Indian ecologists and environmentalists.
