All articles tagged with #academic research
Scientific publishers are producing more papers than ever, but concerns are growing over their business models, which often involve high profit margins and paywalls that restrict access to academic research. Universities and research institutions are required to pay substantial subscription fees to access these articles, raising questions about the sustainability and fairness of the current system.
The author, a Ph.D. student, shares firsthand experiences with the flaws of peer review in academic research, highlighting the process's vulnerability and the potential for bias. Despite its challenges, the author emphasizes the importance of peer review in evaluating studies and advancing knowledge, while also advocating for professionalizing the field to address issues such as unpaid labor and a limited pool of experts.
ResearchGate, an academic social networking site, faces challenges and backlash from the academic community due to a deal with MDPI, a scholarly publisher. Some researchers are considering deleting their accounts due to concerns about the flood of mediocre papers and pointless alerts. Despite the criticisms, many academics still find ResearchGate useful for keeping up with scientific literature and sharing papers, although they are also exploring alternative methods for tracking relevant literature.
Blackbird Laboratories, a life sciences accelerator, has launched with a $100 million grant from The Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation. The accelerator aims to help universities and investigators commercialize their academic research, build innovative companies, and create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Baltimore. Blackbird Labs will collaborate with Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the Lieber Institute for Brain Development to bridge the gap between industry and academic science in the field of biomedical research. The grant aligns with the foundation's mission to promote entrepreneurship and reduce the opportunity gap.
The Scott Trust, owner of The Guardian, has apologized for the role the newspaper's founders had in transatlantic slavery and announced a decade-long program of restorative justice. The trust is expected to invest more than £10m, with millions dedicated specifically to descendant communities linked to the Guardian's 19th-century founders. The restorative justice fund will support projects in the Gullah Geechee region and Jamaica over the next decade after consultation with reparations experts and community groups. The Guardian also announced plans to expand its reporting of Black communities in the UK, US, the Caribbean, South America, and Africa.