When new funds for research and education are allocated, interaction must also be factored in. The autumn’s budget bill will suggest how this could be done, although the proposal has been met with criticism.
Computer programs are now being used to support the evaluation of methods and statistics in the review of scientific articles. The rapid development of AI raises the hope that this is just the start and that more aspects of peer reviews will be able to be assessed automatically. Others, however, are wary of such a development.
When operations at ESS start in 2023, Sweden’s biggest ever research venture near Lund will be the world’s best neutron-scattering facility. ESS will create new opportunities for research into different materials and their properties.
Curie has spoken to researchers who globally share language data, water models and DNA sequences. The different fields face varying practical challenges, but a common requirement is that the data must be prepared – it cannot just be presented.
Research data is increasingly being made available online – a trend supported by the EU Commission, the Swedish government and various research financiers. But this development also has practical and ethical considerations.
Conflicts, psychological problems and ineffective research work. “Cultural differences can be a major problem for foreign students”, says Reza Salim – a researcher at Mid-Sweden University and vice-chair of SULF’s Association of Doctoral Candidates, which works to improve conditions for international doctoral students.
Greater emphasis should be given to language issues in postgraduate education and more resources are needed to manage multilingual environments at Swedish universities. This is the view of Megan Case, a doctoral student in education at Dalarna University and Örebro University.
There is a great deal of concern among UK scientists as the country prepares to leave the EU. British research receives a lot of funding from the EU and the free movement of labour makes it easier to recruit the best scientists from all over Europe. Swedish-British partnerships may also be affected.
In June, 52 percent of the British people voted for the UK to leave the EU. The results of the referendum came as a shock to the country’s researchers, who have benefited from EU membership. Curie finds out why Brexit won.
Frequently used but fiercely criticised. Curie has looked into how some Swedish research funders and universities use the disputed Journal Impact Factor, a measure that can currently affect who is granted research funds and which journals researchers choose to publish in.