All articles tagged with #royal society
Royal Society president Paul Nurse defends not expelling Elon Musk over conduct concerns, arguing expulsions should target fraud or false research, a stance that has sparked fierce debate among fellow researchers and critics who say the code of conduct and public trust in science are at stake.
Elon Musk's controversial speech at a UK rally has raised doubts about his fellowship with the Royal Society, prompting concerns from its president about the language of violence and its impact on the organization's values.
The UK Royal Society is transitioning eight of its journals to the 'subscribe to open' (S2O) model, which makes content freely accessible if enough libraries subscribe, aiming for 100% open access. This move aligns with a broader trend among scientific publishers adopting the S2O model to promote open access, with varying degrees of sustainability depending on subscription levels and financial support from scientific societies.
The new astronomer royal, Prof Michele Dougherty, supports the decision of the Royal Society to retain Elon Musk as a fellow, emphasizing the benefits of private sector involvement in space exploration despite some controversy over Musk's conduct. She highlights the positive impact of private companies like SpaceX on advancing space technology and exploration, and expresses her own focus on instrument-based exploration rather than becoming an astronaut.
A striking drone image of young sharks hunting silverside fish in the Maldives has won the top prize in the Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition 2024. Captured by photographer Angela Albi and drone pilot August Paula, the image highlights the predator-prey dynamics in shallow waters. The competition featured five categories, with Albi's image winning both the behavior category and the overall prize. Other category winners included images of nebulae, a melting lake in Greenland, a bark scorpion, and a secretary bird.
The Royal Society, representing UK's leading researchers, has launched a pilot scheme to increase the number of black scientists in the field. Five scientists per year will receive grants of up to £690,000 over four years, allowing them to work in any research institute and establish their own research teams. The initiative aims to address the low representation of black scientists, who often face barriers such as lack of support, promotion opportunities, and grant rejections. If successful, the pilot may be expanded to include researchers from other underrepresented groups.
The Royal Society has digitized around 250,000 documents, including the first scientific finding signed by a woman, Martha Gerrish's descriptions of the stars in 1734. The archive also includes discoveries by Isaac Newton, Victorian fossil hunters, and pioneer photographers. Making the history of science more accessible to the public is "essential," says Royal Society historian Louisiane Ferlier.
The Royal Society has digitized around 250,000 documents, including the first scientific finding signed by a woman, Martha Gerrish's descriptions of the stars in 1734. The archive also includes discoveries by Isaac Newton, Victorian fossil hunters, and pioneer photographers. The documents cover everything from climate observations, the history of color, how to conduct electricity, and animals. Making the history of science more accessible to the public is "essential," says Royal Society historian Louisiane Ferlier.