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Infection and Immunity Dec 2015In contrast to many other human endeavors, science pays little attention to its history. Fundamental scientific discoveries are often considered to be timeless and...
In contrast to many other human endeavors, science pays little attention to its history. Fundamental scientific discoveries are often considered to be timeless and independent of how they were made. Science and the history of science are regarded as independent academic disciplines. Although most scientists are aware of great discoveries in their fields and their association with the names of individual scientists, few know the detailed stories behind the discoveries. Indeed, the history of scientific discovery is sometimes recorded only in informal accounts that may be inaccurate or biased for self-serving reasons. Scientific papers are generally written in a formulaic style that bears no relationship to the actual process of discovery. Here we examine why scientists should care more about the history of science. A better understanding of history can illuminate social influences on the scientific process, allow scientists to learn from previous errors, and provide a greater appreciation for the importance of serendipity in scientific discovery. Moreover, history can help to assign credit where it is due and call attention to evolving ethical standards in science. History can make science better.
Topics: Biomedical Research; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Science
PubMed: 26371119
DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00921-15 -
The FEBS Journal Nov 2016In the first instalment of the Words of Advice series, we feature the essentials of good manuscript writing with practical tips on how to plan, organise and write a...
In the first instalment of the Words of Advice series, we feature the essentials of good manuscript writing with practical tips on how to plan, organise and write a standout scientific paper.
Topics: Humans; Manuscripts as Topic; Publishing; Research Report; Science; Writing
PubMed: 27870269
DOI: 10.1111/febs.13918 -
Anesthesiology Jul 2008
Topics: American Heart Association; Anesthesiology; Humans; Science; United States
PubMed: 18580163
DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31817c1ad2 -
PLoS Genetics Jul 2020
Topics: Humans; Research Design; Science
PubMed: 32667915
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008950 -
Journal of Molecular Microbiology and... 2017
Topics: Biotechnology; Culture; Ethics, Research; Humanities; Humans; Microbiology; Mythology; Public Health; Science; Societies
PubMed: 28448972
DOI: 10.1159/000467401 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Apr 2019Effective science communication requires assembling scientists with knowledge relevant to decision makers, translating that knowledge into useful terms, establishing...
Effective science communication requires assembling scientists with knowledge relevant to decision makers, translating that knowledge into useful terms, establishing trusted two-way communication channels, evaluating the process, and refining it as needed. [National Research Council (2017)] surveys the scientific foundations for accomplishing these tasks, the research agenda for improving them, and the essential collaborative relations with decision makers and communication professionals. Recognizing the complexity of the science, the decisions, and the communication processes, the report calls for a systems approach. This perspective offers an approach to creating such systems by adapting scientific methods to the practical constraints of science communication. It considers staffing (are the right people involved?), internal collaboration (are they talking to one another?), and external collaboration (are they talking to other stakeholders?). It focuses on contexts where the goal of science communication is helping people to make autonomous choices rather than promoting specific behaviors (e.g., voter turnout, vaccination rates, energy consumption). The approach is illustrated with research in two domains: decisions about preventing sexual assault and responding to pandemic disease.
Topics: Biomedical Research; Communication; Decision Making; Humans; Information Dissemination; Models, Theoretical; Pandemics; Science; Sex Offenses
PubMed: 30478063
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1805863115 -
EMBO Reports Apr 2010The new German government has boldly promised to “lead Germany to first place in the world in education, science and research.” Howy Jacobs explores this promise and...
The new German government has boldly promised to “lead Germany to first place in the world in education, science and research.” Howy Jacobs explores this promise and whether it will lure Einstein's grandchildren back across the pond.
Topics: Europe; Germany; Science; United States; Workforce
PubMed: 20351754
DOI: 10.1038/embor.2010.38 -
FEBS Letters Jan 2022The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that a shockingly large fraction of the public is willing to ignore scientific judgements on issues such a vaccines and mask wearing....
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that a shockingly large fraction of the public is willing to ignore scientific judgements on issues such a vaccines and mask wearing. For far too many, scientific findings are viewed as what scientists believe, rather than as the product of an elaborate community process that produces reliable knowledge. This widespread misunderstanding should serve as a wake-up call for scientists, clearly demonstrating that the standard way that we teach science - as a large collection of "facts" that scientists have discovered about the world - needs major change. Three more ambitious and important goals for science education at all levels are outlined. In order of increasing difficulty, these are: (1) to provide all adults with an ability to investigate scientific problems as scientists do, using logic, experiment, and evidence; (2) to provide all adults with an understanding of how the scientific enterprise works - and why they should therefore trust the consensus judgements of science on issues like smoking, vaccination, and climate change; and (3) to provide all adults with the habit of solving their everyday problems as scientists do, using logic, experiment, and evidence. Although examples exist for attaining all of these goals, extensive education research will be needed to discover how best to teach the last two. I argue that such an effort is urgent, and that it can best begin by focusing on the introductory courses in biology and other science disciplines at the university level.
Topics: Community Resources; Humans; Learning; Quality of Life; Science; Teaching; United States
PubMed: 35006607
DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14272 -
Communications Biology Jul 2021July is Disability Pride Month here in New York, where part of the Communications Biology team is based. To mark this occasion, we are featuring a series of scientist...
July is Disability Pride Month here in New York, where part of the Communications Biology team is based. To mark this occasion, we are featuring a series of scientist interviews on the Nature Portfolio Ecology & Evolution Community site and wanted to elaborate on our motivations behind this post and our hopes for the future concerning the lived experience of disability in science.
Topics: Disabled Persons; Science
PubMed: 34272479
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02411-8 -
Medecine Sciences : M/S May 2020
Topics: Biomedical Research; Forecasting; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Light; Pandemics; Perception; Science; Truth Disclosure
PubMed: 32452358
DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2020110