Bonfire of the Sanities

Since the EU Referendum last year, there has been a lot of uncertainty about what it will mean for UK academics. In the last edition of the Research Services' newsletter, Research Active, we looked at known unknowns, and why European funding is crucial to the University—and the UK as a whole.

Current Situation

The EU has made it clear that, until the UK actually leaves the Union, it is still a full Member State, with all ‘rights and obligations’: ‘UK legal entities [are eligible] to participate and receive funding in Horizon 2020 actions,’ it confirmed.

Smallpox: a Reminder

Interesting news today from the USA, where a vial of the Smallpox virus was discovered in an unsecured Government refrigerator. Fundermentals has got hold of the note that was pinned to the front of the fridge. There's a message there for all of us.

Private Eye Lookalikes: 4* Output?

Having cut my teeth (metaphorically) on the great and the good from RCUK (for example here, here and here) I have finally reached the acme of the lookalike world. Never mind an article in Nature, there is no more prestigious publication in the lookalike discipline than Private Eye.

My life is complete. However, it does beg the question: is this a REFable output? If so, what is the impact factor of Private Eye? Is there an H index for lookalikes? How can I track my citations? Do 'likes' on Facebook count? *Sigh* Having reached this acme, I realise that all I've done is open up a world of academic angst...

The Tough & Uncertain Life of a Postdoc

An interesting column from Jennifer Rohn in Nature yesterday. She lifts the lid on the difficult and insecure career path of postdocs, particularly in the life sciences, which is her area. The uncertainty and relatively poor terms and conditions for postdocs is wasting generations of scientists, she argues. What we need instead is a different kind of researcher position, a permanent post with the security and conditions that go with it. Whilst this may appear to be the expensive option, it would have considerable benefits for labs, which won't lose the knowledge and experience every 3 or 4 years.
The idea is supported by the various comments that follow the piece, although all question if and how such a concept would work in practice. Do take time to have a read through to get an insight on the difficulties that postdocs face as they make their way into academia.

Innovation, Innovation, Innovation

Shadow science minister Adam Afriyie has said that a future Conservative government would reverse Labour’s approach of centrally driving innovation through the universities and instead let innovation come through business by reducing regulatory and fiscal “obstacles”. Quoted in Nature, he said that “we want to create an environment such that science and research can easily be translated into innovation.”
His comments come shortly after Peter Mandelson's speech to the Labour Conference, at which he said that he wanted 'an innovation nation', and 'closer links between businesses and universities'.