Best of Nature Network for Monday, August 4: Life on Mars, Patent Law for Scientists, Science and Humanities

Best of Nature Network for Monday, August 4: Life on Mars, Patent Law for Scientists, Science and Humanities

A summary of the week’s best discussions on Nature Network. The recent discovery of water on Mars has flung wide speculation and discussion of the possibility of life on the Red Planet. In a most timely blog post, Joanna Scott features an upcoming seminar, “ExoMars: Europe’s Next Step in the Search for Life on Mars,” to take place on Tuesday, 5 August 2008 at 10am PDT, 6pm BST, on Nature’s island in Second Life. The seminar will be given by Jeff Marlow, part of a group developing instrumentation for the ExoMars probe. “Jeff’s specific role in the project is designing  … Read more

Best of Nature Network for Monday, July 14: Stockpiling Flu Vaccines, Fair Play in the Blogosphere, and Is a PhD Just a PhD?

Best of Nature Network for Monday, July 14: Stockpiling Flu Vaccines, Fair Play in the Blogosphere, and Is a PhD Just a PhD?

A new blog focusing on alternative careers in science has spurred debate in the Careers Advice by NatureJobs forum about the value of airing concerns and complaints about current work situations. Ian Brooks says that leaving the traditional academic path is not easy, but one should, “direct your anger and mal-contentment towards building the future and career you want.” In response to a commentary in Nature on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) program of stockpiling influenza vaccines in preparation for a potential flu pandemic, Brendan Maher asks, “Can a pre-pandemic vaccine curb a major catastrophe?” Steven Salzburg, the author of  … Read more

Best of Nature Network for Monday, July 7: Nobel Laureates in Berlin, Success in Science, and Science and Politics

Best of Nature Network for Monday, July 7: Nobel Laureates in Berlin, Success in Science, and Science and Politics

A summary of the week’s best discussions on Nature Network. With over 70 members, the Berlin group on Nature Network is gaining momentum. The group even has its own online calendar of upcoming NN Berlin events. The group’s administrator, Philipp Selenko, is organizing a series of dinners to take place during the International Congress of Genetics 2008 in Berlin this month, featuring speakers from the Congress. Eric Lander, Oliver Smithies, Mario Capecchi, and Elisa Izaurralde are among the speakers expected to attend. As a graduate student, Nuruddeen Lewis has had ample opportunity to reflect on how science is done. He  … Read more

Best of Nature Network for Monday, June 30: PhDs in the Workforce, Choosing a Graduate Program, and the End of Scientific Modeling?

Best of Nature Network for Monday, June 30: PhDs in the Workforce,  Choosing a Graduate Program, and the End of Scientific Modeling?

In the Science in Brisbane forum, William Burns brings up a recent report that states Australia has fewer PhDs in the workforce than other countries. The report recommends that Australia seek to increase the number of doctorate level employees in the workforce. Burns wonders whether that recommendation is worthwhile, “Aren’t we (us lot with PhDs) an impractical, overly-analytical bunch?” While the response to the posting is split, Jon Moulton suggests that, “Without Ph.D.s in the workforce, who will design those new tools the academic Ph.D.s like to use in their research?” Ever wonder how reviewers for journal articles are chosen?  Read more

Best of Nature Network for Monday, June 23: Self-genotyping, Research Integrity, and the Drawbacks of Blogrolls

Best of Nature Network for Monday, June 23: Self-genotyping, Research Integrity, and the Drawbacks of Blogrolls

Nature Network is an online meeting place for scientists all around the world, designed to facilitate discussion, form connections, and keep in touch. The following is the first in a weekly series of articles highlighting the best conversations on Nature Network. Check back here every Monday for a round-up of the previous week’s activity on Nature Network. Euan Adie, a Nature Network blogger, brings to Nature Network the science blog buzz surrounding California’s recent cease and desist order targeting direct-to-consumer genotyping companies. Euan elaborates that two issues California legislators have with the genotyping companies are that “…that the labs they  … Read more