July-August Research, Science and Knowledge

Read the articles selected in July-August 2016

Women in physics face big hurdles-still

by Ramin Skibba

Source: Nature, 1 August

Unlike biology, sociology, and psychology, physics lacks a representative number of women, due to entrenched bias and stereotypes and to an undervaluing of their abilities that deter young women even from completing their degrees.

One in five ERC-funded projects “makes scientific breakthrough”

by Chris Havergal

Source: Times Higher Education, 2 August

Of a sample of 199 projects funded by the European Research Council, 43 have led to a “major scientific breakthrough”, 99 resulted in a “major scientific advance” and 50 made an “incremental scientific contribution, considering their impact on the economy, society and policymaking.

Universities respond to indigenous student needs

by Nicola Jenvey

Source: University World News, 15 July

Canadian universities have adjusted programmes, services, and competences to the target of indigenous students, considering education an important possibility of reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous people in Canada.

Higher education reasserts its role as a public good

by Cristina González and Liliana Pedraja

Source: University World News, 15 July

Chile President Michelle Bachelet is struggling to reverse the privatization in higher education started by Pinochet that has brought to an “educational apartheid”.

When will neuroscience blow our minds?

Fonte: Times Higher Education, 4 August

Neuroscience is a field underrepresented in fundings, and even many pharmaceutical companies have dismissed research for its costs. Although it is still a young discipline, our current brain models have to be adjusted to its apparent complexity.

Equations and Inequalities. Making mathematics accessible to all

Source: http://www.oecd.org/, 20 June

Mathematics has never been as important as today. In work as in life, we need to have a mathematics literacy to solve everyday problems. Widening access to this field to all socioeconomic levels, giving the opportunity to think in mathematical terms makes raise the level of the achievement of a country.

Academic spinouts: a cancer killer moves from a Paris university toward the market

Source: http://www.eib.org/efsi/, 19 July

A scientist of the Université Pierre et Marie Curie after discovering a targeted therapy of a range of tumors has founded with the support of a French investment fund a research company following a model of academic spinout developed by US and UK.

Stern review: submit all researchers to next REF

by Paul Jump

Source: Times Higher Education, 28 July

Standing to a landmark review commissioned by the British government, the next Research Excellence Framework will assess the work of all active academics, and their outputs will be attributed to the institution where the work has been carried out.

Pan-European pension fund for scientists leaves the station

by Elisabeth Pain

Source: Science, 27 July

A pan-European pension fund, called Resaver, has been officially created on 14 July with the contribution of the European Commission to provide researchers who are spending part of their career abroad supplemental pension benefits that are not so easily transferred, what dampers scholars mobility.

Consulta l’articolo:

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/07/pan-european-pension-fund-scientists-leaves-station

New THE ranking – Brazil 23, Chile 11 and Argentina 0

by Angel Calderon

Source: University World News, 15 July

THE ranking of universities in Latin America, an incentive to the development of higher education in this continent underrepresented in world rankings, has used THE typical performance indicators, but with substantial adjustments.

Universities UK Statement: European university leaders call for continued collaboration after Brexit vote

Source: http://eua.be/, 22 July

A joint statement from university leaders from 24 countries in Europe highlights the importance of continued cooperation and to build a new relationship between UK and EU in this turbulent time for Europe.

How long will goodwill in academia last?

Source: Times Higher Education, 7 July

Three professors tell about their job relying on so much goodwill and undervalued voluntary engagement, despite the competitive environment in research and teaching.

Hyperkinetic disorders and loss of synaptic downscaling

by Paolo Calabresi, Antonio Pisani, John Rothwell, Veronica Ghiglieri, José a Obeso & Barbara Picconi

Source: http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v19/n7/full/nn.4306.html,28 June

Hyperkinetic movement disorders from a wide range of diseases, genetic and not genetic, are characterized by the loss of neuronal ability to rest after a stimulation. This dysfunction involves also pathologies not due to the lack of dopamine.

Enhancing higher education system performance

Source: http://eua.be/

OECD is launching new initiatives to benchmarking the performances in higher education systems, comparing data on higher education in an in-depth analysis to maintain a dialogue with higher education institutions and other stakeholders.

Theresa May as prime minister: what it might mean for higher education

by Emran Mian

Source: Times Higher Education, 11 July

The new UK prime minister has a strategic plane for universities which seems to adjust to its industrial policy, promoting with tuition fees discounts the degrees that give skills lacking in the country.

11th European Quality Assurance Forum: registration open

Source: http://eua.be/, 7 July

From 17 to 19 November 2016 will take place in Ljubljana the European Quality Assurance Forum, a dialogue on developments in Quality Assurance in the different national contexts and cultures.

Will Brexit dent doctoral student numbers?

by Jack Grove

Source: Times Higher Education, 17 July

With the loss of academic networking opportunities across the European Union, Brexit could deter a significant number of Ph.D. students, almost in scientific fields, from studying in the UK.

Can analogue skills bridge the digital divide?

by Marilyn Achiron

Source: http://www.oecd.org/

The digital divide involves today the ability to use the Internet and not more the access to it. The linea of this division is socioeconomic. More advantaged students are better-equipped to deploy this tool at best.

Signs of progress for women amid entrenched inequality

by Brendan O’Malley

Source: University World News, 8 July

According to a recent UN Women report, despite the gains in gender equality, women are too often denied access to basic education and to work, and they are still politically and economically underrepresented.

Critical Maths for Innovative Societies- The Role of Metacognitive Pedagogies

Source: http://www.oecd.org/

It’s common sense that education is not as innovative as other human activities. But it is not true. This book shows how mathematics education can contribute to innovation in the society. Metacognitive pedagogies, teaching to think about thinking in learning, play a key role.

Brexit view from the Continent: partnerships face ‘huge problem’

by Ellie Bothwell

Source: Times Higher Education, 1 July

The President of the German Rectors’ Conference said that after Brexit the continuity of European university partnership with the UK is a “huge problem”, seeing the possibility that funding projects involving UK universities to end abruptly.

Brexit and science: seven days later

by Daniel Cressey

Source: Nature, 1 July

After the vote for Brexit, UK science minister Jo Johnson said that EU academics and students are still welcome in the UK, but the consequences for science continue to play out, waiting for a negotiation that will take place.

E-learning in European Higher Education Institutions

Source: http://www.eua.be/

Massive Open Online Courses have incredibly expanded at European universities. An EUA study shows that practically all surveyed higher education institutions have started to embrace e-learning or blended learning, with the advantage of greater flexibility and a better use of resources.

Latin America University Rankings 2016: results announced

by Ellie Bothwell

Source: Times Higher Education, 7 July

In the Times Higher Education rankings of the best universities in Latin America Brazil and Chile are the most represented nations, with the University of Sao Paulo and the State University of Campinas in first and second place, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in the third position.

Universities must rise to the challenges of globalisation

by Michele Meoli and Stefano Paleari

Source: University World News, 8 July

The massification of the university system is a big challenge, which needs to be answered and brought forward with a not pure market logic to advantage students who are capable and worthy.

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Pubblicato il : 20/12/2017
Modificato il : 04/04/2019

July-August Research, Science and Knowledge

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