Author Archives: Stephen

Ready-made citation distributions are a boost for responsible research assessment

Posted on 1 July 2018 by Stephen

Though a long-time critic of journal impact factors (JIFs), I was delighted when the latest batch was released by Clarivate last week. It’s not the JIFs themselves that I was glad to see (still alas quoted to a ridiculous level … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic publishing | Comments Off on Ready-made citation distributions are a boost for responsible research assessment

Opening peer review for inspection and improvement

Posted on 12 February 2018 by Stephen

For me the most memorable event at last week’s ASAPbio-HHMI-Wellcome meeting on Peer Review, which took place at HHMI’s beautifully appointed headquarters on the outskirts of Washington DC, was losing a $100 bet to Mike Eisen. Who would have guessed he’d know … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic publishing, asapbio, hhmi, peer review, science, Wellcome Trust | Comments Off on Opening peer review for inspection and improvement

Why I don’t share Elsevier’s vision of the transition to open access

Posted on 3 October 2017 by Stephen

Last week Elsevier’s VP for Policy and Communications, Gemma ybridersh, published a think-piece on the company’s vision of the transition to open access (OA). She makes some valid points but glosses over others that I would like to pick up on. Some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Open Access | Comments Off on Why I don’t share Elsevier’s vision of the transition to open access

Does science need to be saved? A response to Sarewitz.

Posted on 25 September 2017 by Stephen

I wrote this piece a few months ago at the invitation of The New Atlantis. It was supposed to be one of a collection of responses to a polemical essay that they published last year on the parlous state of … Continue reading →

Posted in science | Comments Off on Does science need to be saved? A response to Sarewitz.

BAMEed: the voices of the people

Posted on 25 June 2017 by Stephen

At the beginning of June I attended the first BAMEed conference. It was an unexpectedly memorable and inspiring occasion. Final panel discussion at #BAMEed2017 Though billed as an “unconference” – the sort of self-disorganising gathering popular among millennials of which old … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching | Comments Off on BAMEed: the voices of the people

University rankings are fake news. How do we fix them?

Posted on 16 May 2017 by Stephen

tagThis post is based on a short presentation I gave as part of a panel at a meeting today on Understanding Global University Rankings: Their Data and Influence, organised by HESPA (Higher Education Strategic Planners Association). Yes, it’s a ‘manel’ … Continue reading →

Posted in metrics, science, Scientific Life, University League Tables, University Rankings | Comments Off on University rankings are fake news. How do we fix them?

The Cathedral on the Marsh

Posted on 13 May 2017 by Stephen

I’ve already shared this on Twitter and Facebook but wanted to post it here as a more permanent record. Two weeks ago i managed to fulfill the ambition, held since I had seen Nic Stacey’s and Jim Al-Khalili’s quite wonderful … Continue reading →

Posted in science | Comments Off on The Cathedral on the Marsh

The March for Science: advocacy masterstroke or PR misfire?

Posted on 20 April 2017 by Stephen

Last night made my way to an upstairs room at The Castle pub near Farringdon to participate in a debate organised by Stempra on the forthcoming March for Science. The panel (Photo by Anastasia Stefanidou) The question before the panel and … Continue reading →

Posted in Science & Politics | Comments Off on The March for Science: advocacy masterstroke or PR misfire?

Grim resolve at the House of Commons on the scientific priorities for Brexit

Posted on 24 March 2017 by Stephen

On Tuesday morning last week MPs, MEPs, and representatives of various organisations with a stake in post-Brexit UK science gathered in the Churchill Committee room at the House of Commons for the launch of  the “Scientific priorities for Brexit” report, … Continue reading →

Posted in Brexit, Science & Politics | Comments Off on Grim resolve at the House of Commons on the scientific priorities for Brexit

Science, art and Art

Posted on 18 March 2017 by Stephen

This past week I was fortunate once again to be invited to the award ceremony of the Wellcome Image Awards. Each time I go I tell myself I will submit an entry for the following year, but somehow I never … Continue reading →

Posted in Science & Art, Wellcome Image Awards | Comments Off on Science, art and Art