Nalini Nadkarni is a biologist who has a passion for reaching out with her research to people who are not generally familiar with science. She and her research team involve members of religious communities, prisoners, baseball players and Barbie-doll owners.
In the USA, public access legislation has forced an increasing number of researchers to disclose their e-mail and other correspondence on demand. Whether this poses a problem and its significance for research is a moot issue.
Monica Lind began studying environmental toxicology when she was 35 years old. Only then did she begin to understand that many of the diseases among the people in the village during her childhood were probably a result of environmental contaminants. It was a powerful insight that continues to motivate her. Monica Lind wants to make a difference.
There is increasing evidence that the scientific community is producing more in quantity but poorer quality. Research results in complex research areas rarely stand up to reviews. One explanation is the tough competition for jobs, as several researchers have told Curie.
Ten years ago he published an article entitled, "Why most published research findings are false". Today, many studies show that he was right. John Ioannidis, professor of medicine, epidemiology and statistics at Stanford, explains for Curie what he thinks needs to be changed.
It takes longer and longer for researchers to become permanently employed in academia, according to a report from the Swedish Research Council. Since there are very few career development positions, more and more researchers are forced to take various insecure, temporary jobs."Sweden needs a more effective, nationwide career system," says Director-General Sven Stafström.
Research has to become more accessible, both for the general public and for other researchers. This is what doctor and researcher Ajibola Omokanye argues, and who is now launching Explainartist, an international platform for research communication which is based on images.
Sixteen internationally acclaimed researchers have been recruited to Sweden with money from the Swedish Research Council. Political Scientist Ellen Lust is one of them. In June, she will move her research from Yale to the University of Gothenburg.
Infrastructures are perhaps mainly associated with natural science research, but now it is developing within the humanities and within the social sciences. “This can revolutionise research”, argues Joakim Palme, professor of political science at Uppsala University.
Recruiting the best researchers is one thing, but ensuring that they produce exceptional research - perhaps even a Nobel Prize - is something else. The next challenge becomes keeping these excellent researchers and staying on top.
