Category Archives: impact

That’s the way science works

Posted on 25 July 2014 by Steve Caplan

There have been a lot of articles published in newspapers around the world discussing a recent PLoS ONE paper published on July 23 by Harris and Provoust entitled “Jealousy in Dogs.” Ginger, in a reflective, non-jealous mode For those who … Continue reading →

Posted in animal behavior, behavior, canine, dog, dog sense, dogs, impact, jealousy, PLOS ONE, Research, science, Scientific method | Comments Off on That’s the way science works

Scientific road maps for the future – proceed with caution.

Posted on 15 July 2013 by Sylvia McLain

I spent the last week at the ICNS (International Conference of Neutron Scattering) in Edinburgh. This particular conference is only held every 4 years – bouncing back and forth between North America, Europe and Oceania. It is particularly fun, when … Continue reading →

Posted in impact, Roadmaps for science, science communication, Scientific impact | Comments Off on Scientific road maps for the future – proceed with caution.

Once Absence of Impact used to be the Fashionable Thing to Claim

Posted on 2 May 2013 by Athene Donald

Up and down the land, academics from Vice Chancellors down are sweating over 3 letters: REF. This dread acronym, standing for the Research Excellence Framework, must be absorbing a fantastic number of hours of time for many people and it … Continue reading →

Posted in History of Science, impact, Jan Golinski, REF, Research, Science Culture | Comments Off on Once Absence of Impact used to be the Fashionable Thing to Claim

REF Nightmares

Posted on 29 November 2012 by Athene Donald

In a moment of frivolity I sketched out how a REF committee in a dysfunctional department might pan out. As chair of my own local REF committee, I am delighted to say my own  experiences bear no relationship to this … Continue reading →

Posted in Department of Paintballing Studies, impact, Research, Research Excellence Framework | Comments Off on REF Nightmares

Real and False Economy [16]

Posted on 24 November 2011 by Stephen

Last week I went to Germany to talk to a pharmaceutical company about my work on the blood protein, human serum albumin. It set me thinking. But first I need to tell you about albumin. Albumin is a surprisingly abundant … Continue reading →

Posted in impact, Protein Crystallography, science, Science policy, Scientific Life | Comments Off on Real and False Economy [16]

Incoming [1]

Posted on 24 November 2011 by Stephen

I gave a talk a couple of weeks ago at a Biochemical Society meeting on the subject of the Research Excellence Framework, the process that will assess UK academic research quality for the purpose of determining how a large tranche … Continue reading →

Posted in impact, REF, science, Scientific Life | Comments Off on Incoming [1]

Here comes Impact

Posted on 22 June 2011 by Stephen

In UK scientific circles and the wider realm of academia impact has been around for a while now. Grant forms incorporate large blank spaces in which applicants are required to outline their plans for ensuring that the work they hope … Continue reading →

Posted in communication, impact, science, Science & Politics, Science policy | Comments Off on Here comes Impact