Collections
Research culture
In this collection we explore fostering a positive research culture and scientific practices, covering topics such as reproducibility, open science, diversity and inclusion, leadership and mentorship, career instability, discrimination, misconduct and the evolving landscape of research ethics and integrity.
Leadership
What’s wrong with research culture?
A knotty mess of problems affects people doing academic research in the UK. Rachel Brazil tries to untie the tangle
How to improve research culture
Five ways to make chemistry departments better places to work
How EPSRC fosters inclusion
The pandemic has provided valuable lessons for funders to rethink research culture
Support and wellbeing
Act now to support early-career researchers
The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted long-existing issues that leaders need to take a stance on
Mental wellbeing in academia
Not enough has been done to support students during the pandemic
Science and research ‘are dead’ in Afghanistan
Afghan researchers and scholars flee or go into hiding as the Taliban’s return to power sees the science academy and universities closed
UKRI response to Black female academics on funding decisions called inadequate
Pledge to improve understanding and monitoring of inequality comes a year after open letter was first published
Diverse cultures
In situ with Tebello Nyokong
The influential chemist on nurturing confidence in students and taking inspiration from the humanities
The science of team science
Researchers and funders are exploring ways to make large collaborative projects more successful
Science faction
Taking inspiration from nerd culture
Science as a product of culture
The role of background beliefs and assumptions in the development of science
Change at the top
Improving research culture requires effort – but it’s worth it
Impact of Covid-19
Let it go
We have to accept that we can’t catch up on time lost in lockdown
How Covid-19 has changed us
While the pandemic has introduced more efficient and global ways of working, researchers and educators still have challenges to overcome
Pandemic continues to disrupt and depress UK researchers, survey finds
Researchers reported spending more time on peer-review activities, teaching and writing
Leading a lab through pandemic-induced uncertainty
Emphathy is vital to support mentees effectively
Publishing
Depositing hope for the future
The rise of ChemRxiv might mean that chemists can tackle thornier cultural problems
Australian Research Council’s ban on preprints in grants prompts outcry
Move derided as ‘hopelessly outdated’ and a setback for open science by researchers
Chemists react to UK umbrella funding body’s new open access mandate
Agency aligns itself with principles of Plan S by insisting on immediate open access
Four years of chemistry preprints
Nina Notman takes stock of how preprint severs have settled into the chemistry community
FeatureConserving Barbie from degradation
Although she is a cultural icon, conserving Barbie has its challenges: as with most plastic toys and dolls, she was not made to last. Rachel Brazil investigates how conservation scientists are approaching this sticky problem
OpinionBreaking the cycle of teach, test, forget
A focus on exams makes it harder for students to cultivate a deep understanding of their subject
OpinionInertia, decisions and robots
Our cognitive biases can make it difficult to choose what’s best for science
OpinionHoles in the ‘holey graphyne’ story
The challenges – and importance – of questioning published results
ResearchChemical analysis reveals origins of early English silver coins
Byzantine silver plates were melted down to make many of the first Anglo-Saxon coins
ResearchUsing analytical chemistry to illuminate the unlisted ingredients in tattoo inks
Discovery that more than 80% of the tattoo inks sampled had unlisted ingredients prompts New York-based lab to launch a website providing chemical information to tattoo artists and their clients
NewsUS government scientists follow academics in unionising for better conditions
California Association of Professional Scientists joins a national trade union to boost bargaining power
OpinionNichols’ radiometer and discovering that radiation exerts pressure
A sensitive reflection of light pressure
NewsRobert Curl’s ‘buckyball’ Nobel prize medal sold at auction for more than double reserve price
Curl won the 1996 chemistry prize with Harry Kroto and Richard Smalley for the discovery of fullerenes
CareersA sustainable career in sustainability
How Xampla’s principal scientist Lynette Holland became an industry leader without sacrificing her work-life balance
NewsRobert Curl’s ‘buckyball’ chemistry Nobel prize to be auctioned off
1996 chemistry award honoured Curl, Harry Kroto and Richard Smalley’s discovery of fullerenes
OpinionJani Ingram: ‘We have seen wells with uranium levels higher than the drinking water standard’
The environmental chemist on addressing pollution of Navajo waterways from legacy mining, her life off the reservation and a puke green Datsun
NewsUniversities in the UK beat national average on gender pay gap but large discrepancies remain
Report estimates that in 14 years’ time women in higher education will be paid the same as men
CareersMaking science communication persuasive and engaging
Be understandable and relevant – and realistic
OpinionHarnessing biodiversity through natural products research in the Philippines
Collaborative projects aim to produce cheaper and more effective medicines
OpinionHow we set up the Chemical Society of The Gambia
Overcoming red tape and technical hurdles to bring together the country’s chemists
NewsWhat’s the most expensive piece of glassware you ever broke? Chemists share their stories
Question on social media strikes a chord as scientists share their smashing tales
CareersLosing a job can make you question who you are
Our identity becomes tightly linked with our work
CareersThe community of colleagues supporting each other through redundancy
The #SandwichTogether group on LinkedIn has also seen help pour in for affected Pfizer employees from across industry
