October Research, Science and Knowledge

Read the articles selected in October 2016

Blended learning- From ancient Greece to the digital age

by Brennan Weiss

Source: University World News, 14 October

In today’s globalized world, the agoras where in ancient Greece citizens gathered to exchange goods and ideas are online, and the good of excellence is knowledge. Since social relationships enhance deep learning, “co-learn in a social context” is the base of a new pedagogical concept in the digital era.

Making sex cells from body cells

Source: The Economist, 17 October

Researchers at Kyushu University in Japan have made mice created by somatic cells from the tail and rejuvenated into pluripotent stem cells, that have produced egg cells and sperm useful for in vitro fertilization.

To save money, NSF requires university cost-sharing for rotators

by Jeffrey Mervis

Source: Science, 21 October

The National Science Foundation has announced that academic researchers applying for working for up to 4 years at the agency should ask their universities to pay 10% of the salaries and benefits that they will earn.

Hasta la visa

Source: The Economist, 15 October

In contrast to many countries in Europe and in the world, the British government is announcing new restrictions on foreign students, that come almost not from Europe but from the rest of the world, especially for those enrolling to lower-quality institutions.

Brexit: funding confirmed for EU students applying for 2017-2018

Source: http://eua.be/, 13 October

UK Universities President announced that EU students enrolled this year will not have to pay up-front tuition fees and that they will receive government loans to cover them for the duration of their courses, even if UK exits the EU during the coursework period.

Public Funding Observatory:EUA releases new data on university funding

Source: http://www.eua.be/, 6 October

The report, presented at the 3rd Funding Forum in Porto, Portugal, reveals a general decreasing funding and investment for universities, but also widening funding gaps between national systems, what obstacles the creation of a unified European Higher Education and Research Area.

EU structural fund “not working”: EUA director

by Holly Else

Source: Times Higher Education, 10 October

After EUA director Thomas Estermann, the majority of universities are not able to take out loans from EFSI, because not always allowed to borrow money, and often not in a situation to take a risk, although Horizon 2020 and other funding programmes can have very important results.

Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmstrom win the Nobel prize for economic sciences

Source: The Economist, 10 October

The Nobel Prize winners for economic science, Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmstrom, have studied how contracts can manage the unavoidable imperfections of economic life, especially in some critical sectors, and the power positions that can affect the good behavior of economic operators.

Theory of how we seal a deal wins economics Nobel

by Eric Stokstad

Source: Science, 10 October

The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences has been awarded for a research on economic contracts, like those that rule CEO bonuses. The theory of incomplete contracts analyzes the financial structure of startups, laying out the mechanisms determining who shall pay whom.

England guarantees funding for EU students starting courses next year

by John Morgan

Source: Times Higher Education, 11 October

The British Government has guaranteed that it won’t overstep the maximum tuition fee threshold foreseen for home students, for EU students applying to enroll in English universities in 2017-2018, that will continue maintaining the eligibility for student funding throughout the duration of their course.

Where Nobel winners get their start

by Tom Clynes

Source: Nature, 7 Ottobre

Some argue that undergraduate institutions should be ranked, more than for reputation, graduation rate or such current ranking indicators, for the outstanding accomplishments of their graduates, even if only a few institutions generate Nobel Prizes.

Physics of 2D exotic matter wins Nobel

by Elisabeth Gibney & Davide Castelvecchi

Source: Nature, 4 October

Nobel Prize 2016 in Physics has been assigned to a work on two-dimensional matter switching between states with different topologies – the topological phase transitions –observed in particular in its ability to conduct electricity. This mathematical theory that opens to a new generation of electronics and quantum computers.

World’s tiniest machines win chemistry Nobel

by Richard Van Noorden & Davide Castelvecchi

Source: Nature, 5 October

Nobel Prize 2016 in Chemistry has been assigned to three British chemists who have created molecular machines, that are molecular chains empowered with energy, able to do controllable movements e perform tasks and could be used as microchips and as micro-robots in the body.

Medecine Nobel for research on how cells “eat themselves”

by Richard Van Noorden & Heidi Ledford

Source: Nature, 3 October

The 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicin has been given to a study on cells autophagy, a process fundamentally important to living cells, that eat and recycles their components and refuses, to renew and fight against bacteria and viruses.

Science without borders under scrutiny

by Bruno Morche

Source: University World News, 30 September

The Brazilian programme “Science without borders” launched with the aim to promote technological innovation in the country, and committed to attracting high-level post-docs and researchers from overseas, has been suspended for a lack of funds, assessment criteria and goals.

University funding under pressure:a call for dialogue at the European level

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

EUA is leading a campaign on universities funding. A meeting in Bruxelles provided the opportunity to discuss the effectiveness and efficiency of European funding programmes, that have to be sufficient, simplified and on sustainable conditions.

Technology is key if universities want to perform well in world university rankings

by Paul Feldman

Source: Times Higher Education, 22 September

Some of the performance indicators used in THE World University Rankings are powered by technology. Technology enhances learning experience. An university of success must have technologically competent staff, and a world-leading research must be open access.

Universities’role in providing ethical leadership

by Mervyin Frost

Source: University World News, 23 September

The ethical dimension of university life is close to the pursuit of knowledge, and with that, of truth. What research requires is a safe space in which all theories, propositions, claims are subject to critical scrutiny. The freedom of research must be accorded with honesty and the respect of rules.

Educating for innovation and innovation in education

by Andreas Schleicher

Source: http://www.oecd.org/, 26 September

Educational institutions are expected to prepare students for a world that has not yet been created. Today technology is the access to knowledge. Technology enhances experiential learning, inquiry- based pedagogies, supports learning and teaching communities.

Raising well-being in Germany’s ageing society

by A. Kappeler, Andrès Fuentes Hutfilter, Dorothee Schneider, Naomitsu Yashiro, Eun Jung Kim, Giovanni Maria Semeraro

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

In Germany, the country with the oldest population in the OCSE area, continued reforms have been implemented to help older workers to improve their work-life, through life-long learning. In stressful working conditions, it is important to adjust the ability and desire to work at a higher age.

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

October Research, Science and Knowledge

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