Irish science achieves high ratings for research

“Measuring the quality of research in different countries can be a complex, controversial exercise, but the widely used bibliometrics system shows that Irish scientists are increasingly influential …” (more)

[Conor O’Carroll, Irish Times, 24 March]

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Korea, Singapore threaten Australia’s standing in Nature publication rankings

“Pressure from rising stars Korea and Singapore could soon squeeze Australia out of its third place in a prestigious ranking of publication rates in the Nature suite of scientific journals. The Nature Publishing Index for Asia and the Pacific released today …” (more)

[Jill Rowbotham, The Australian, 24 March]

UK Unearths £100 Million More for Research Infrastructure, Launches Agency to Eliminate Clinical Trial Red Tape

“The United Kingdom’s budget for 2011-12, announced today by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, has some good news for scientists with a £100 million boost in spending on capital projects as well as promised removal of red tape surrounding biomedical research and clinical trials …” (more)

[Daniel Clery, Science Insider, 23 March]

To Wikipedia or not to Wikipedia

“Do you / should you recognise use of Wikipedia as a source of content for student research projects? For years, the answer was an overwhelming ‘no’ …” (more)

[Pennybridged’s Weblog …, 23 March]

Europe opens up clinical trials database

“The European Medicines Agency opened up its clinical trials database to the public today. Information on interventional trials run in all 27 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, will now be searchable via the EU Clinical Trials Register website …” (more)

[Daniel Cressey, The Great Beyond, 22 March]

Scholars to stop pretending they don’t use Wikipedia; will work out best practices instead

“Some students and profs London’s Imperial College have decided to stop using scary anecdotes to frighten students away from Wikipedia …” (more)

[Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing, 21 March]

Quake shakes Japan’s science

“The magnitude-9.0 earthquake that struck northeastern Japan on 11 March trashed Koji Tamura’s laboratory and office, flinging books, microscopes, sequencers and samples to the floor …” (more)

[Ichiko Fuyuno, Nature News, 21 March]

When Economists Misunderstand Biology

“It really does matter: if economists are going to use biology as a model for their discipline, we need them to understand ours, to help improve theirs. But I’m getting ahead of myself …” (more)

[Mike the Mad Biologist, 21 March]

£1m to fund University of Ulster project

“A major Northern Ireland company is to help the University of Ulster establish a Chair in Pharmaceutical Science with a £1 million donation …” (more)

[Belfast Telegraph, 21 March]

US: Academic publishing must promote good scholarship

“Since 2005, and with generous support from the AW Mellon Foundation, The Future of Scholarly Communication Project at the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Studies in Higher Education has been exploring how academic values – including those related to peer review, publishing, sharing and collaboration – influence scholarly communication practices and engagement with new technological affordances, open access publishing and the public good …” (more)

[Diane Harley and Sophia Krzys, University World News, 20 March]

Writer presents papers to Galway university

“An infamous Abbey Theatre rejection note and correspondence with late authors John McGahern and Mary Lavin are among the papers of playwright Thomas Kilroy due to be presented to NUI Galway next week …” (more)

[Lorna Siggins, Irish Times, 19 March]

Limerick academics develop anti-MRSA textiles

“Textiles that kill the hospital superbug MRSA have been developed by scientists at the University of Limerick …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 19 March]

Budget limbo continues for US science

“The US budget limbo continues, as US President Barack Obama this morning signed a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that funds the government until April 8 …” (more)

[Eugenie Samuel Reich, The Great Beyond, 18 March]

Subpanels’ lack of experience will put REF credibility at risk, Hefce told

“The lack of previous experience among members of two subpanels in the forthcoming research excellence framework could undermine researchers’ ‘grudging acceptance’ of the exercise, an academic has warned …” (more)

[Paul Jump, Times Higher Education, 17 March]

‘Life depends on science but the arts make it worth living’

“Scientist claims true fulfilment is achievable only through the humanities. the arts and humanities are ‘superior’ to science, a top cardiologist has argued. John Martin, director of University College London’s Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, has 53 patents, 20 staff and has founded a biotechnology company …” (more)

[Rebecca Attwood, Times Higher Education, 17 March]

Pharma firms create 300 research jobs

“Almost 300 jobs were announced yesterday as part of the first phase of a huge pharmaceutical enterprise planned for unemployment blackspot Tralee, Co Kerry …” (more)

[Donal Hickey, Irish Examiner, 17 March]

Diversity works: why women must be allowed to lead

“Not a single UK science, engineering or technology company is led by a woman. But changing this by easing women’s routes to top positions in industry, commerce and academia is not about making concessions to feminists …” (more)

[Annette Williams, Exquisite Life, 16 March]

The ‘substanceless blue’ time of day

“It’s safe to say I have definitely entered another level of commitment to my PhD. It’s becoming an obsession. I find myself getting up early, not exactly the very early ‘substanceless blue’ pre-dawn in which Plath wrote many of her ‘Ariel’ poems, but around 7 / 8am I will pour my first cup of tea and settle down to my humming laptop in the early morning silence …” (more)

[The Plath Diaries, 16 March]

US physics feels the squeeze

“Obama’s pro-science 2012 budget hides some bitter pills for physical scientists …” (more)

[Eugenie Samuel Reich, Nature, 15 March]

Institutes of tech reveal ‘Innovation Island’ progress

“The umbrella body for Ireland’s 13 Institutes of Technology have unveiled details of 19 thriving industry-led collaborations between their researchers and industry partners …” (more)

[Silicon Republic, 15 March]