Tag: Science

Empower Researchers to Reach Their Full Potential with Mendeley

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mendeley resourcesPrevious articles about Mendeley have been directed towards researchers, and how they can benefit from this powerful online workflow ecosystem. Mendeley helps researchers, readers and authors build their knowledge, stay up to date on trends, organize, advance and showcase their research, track and store the data they generate, move their careers forward, and find funding. But Mendeley is important to you and your library as well. It can raise and sustain your perception as a valuable resource center for all the different constituencies within the university.

The Future Holds Legitimate Concerns

There’s no denying that librarians need and want to reinvent themselves. While libraries will not cease to exist, they are becoming a reimagined asset that you must define, promote and manage. You need to be recognized as the “Switzerland” of your institution, retaining control of resources and decision-making while simultaneously having the right avenues to content for any possible research objective or need.

In addition to your own challenges, your researchers are more stressed than ever. Broad-based collaboration is much more prevalent, especially among younger researchers. The scramble for research funding is shifting from local to global, and research from emerging markets is increasing in volume and value. Researchers continue to seek more entry points to open science. At the same time, they must keep up with the latest technological developments without losing focus on their research topics. Universities are competing harder than ever for every research dollar – and that competition is felt to varying degrees throughout each institution.

Not surprisingly, nearly all of you are forced to do more with less. No librarian has ever said that she or he has too much funding or too large a staff! With an increased workload and a decreased headcount, it’s necessary for you to streamline wherever possible. You’re responsible for managing a large number of databases and platforms, and simplification is critical if you’re going to be successful.

You Can Facilitate Change with Mendeley

As librarians, you love to provide guidance that leads to solutions. You want to be better at anticipating needs and supporting goals. Efficient processes are important to you. You also want to know how resources will fit into your budget. You’re on board with the evolution of your role and that of your library, and so is Mendeley. You have a golden opportunity to help your researchers unlock the future of science. Let Mendeley help you serve as the cornerstone for revolutionary discoveries. It’s the workflow resource your researchers want and need.

 

Showcase Your Research with Mendeley

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mendeley difference

The last Mendeley article looked at Mendeley Data, and how it helps you manage your data while you focus on your research. But you also have to manage your research persona…and Mendeley can do that too. It enables you to inform your peers and the public about your academic accomplishments, extending your influence and your career prospects. In addition, Mendeley can help you discover, review and keep track of the profiles of other researchers who could inspire your work or just might end up being your future collaborators.

The Right Connections are Out There

Once you open a free Mendeley account and create a profile, you can join one or more groups, or form your own group to drive information sharing that highlights your research. In Public Groups, you can quickly make new connections by searching for people and finding researchers with similar interests. Your Mendeley feed suggests individuals you might want to follow as well. With only a minimal time investment, you immediately become part of a community – a network of eight million peers now able to learn about your research and your accomplishments.

While you’re shining a light on your research, you’re also opening new opportunities to partner with others working in your field or a related one. The diverse membership of Mendeley’s Research Network represents virtually every field of research, facilitating collaboration across the globe.

Mendeley’s Intelligence Complements Yours

Your research requires you to be highly disciplined, efficient and an expert in your field. Mendeley works that way as well, automatically capturing information like authors, title and publisher. By making organization and browsing easy, Mendeley broadens the reach of your research with minimal effort on your part.

By generating citations and bibliographies while you write, Mendeley shares your process with others and highlights your work. Mendeley enables you to easily see who’s viewing, downloading and citing your research. It gives you more chances to make important discoveries, whether on your own or as part of a team.

You can easily add your research interests to your Mendeley account, encouraging others with the same or related interests to follow you. You may also update your profile with your unique ORCID indentifier, and link with your Scopus profile, to further showcase your research information. Mendeley shows details such as your h-index, citations, readers and views during a given time period.

Don’t Keep Your Light Under a Basket

You have a golden opportunity to make a difference and inspire a community – perhaps the world – with your research. Mendeley can help you expand your impact while you’re focused on your work. Why not be part of a network of connections – and call attention to your achievements – when it’s so easy to do?

Get started! Sign up today.

Store, Share and Find: Manage It All with Mendeley Data

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Mendeley answers NEWYou recently learned about how Elsevier’s Mendeley Research Network can help you stay updated on the latest trends and developments in your field. But there’s another tool within Mendeley that can give you peace of mind about the data you’ve already generated in your research. Mendeley Data  is a free, secure cloud-based repository where you can store, share and find data, wherever you are. A vital part of the unified Mendeley ecosystem, Mendeley Data enables you to check if there is data out there for a new project that you are working on, as well as to execute your funding mandate and data management plans without so much time-consuming administrative overheads.

Seek and You Shall Find

When you start a new project, or apply for funding, you always check the latest research on your chosen topic and look into what has been done already previously. Why don’t you take a look at existing data on a topic as well? With Mendeley Data Search you can find related data easily, and with  over nine million datasets from over 30 repositories worldwide indexed, that’s a wealth of information readily available for you to easily preview relevant data to support  your project.  Your funder will also be impressed if you show that you’ve taken the time to ensure that you’re not duplicating efforts.

Get Credit for Sharing Your Data

An open science repository, Mendeley Data allows you to quickly and easily upload files of any type – with as many as 10GB per dataset. You can import your own folder structure, and your data is automatically tagged with subject classifications. Mendeley Data has received the widely recognized CoreTrustSeal certification, so you can be confident that your data always will be safe and accessible. Plus, your data is archived for as long as you need it by Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS), the Netherlands-based institute for permanent access to digital research resources. Best of all, you retain complete control and copyright over the data, and choose the terms under which others may consume and reuse it.

Mendeley Data also supports versioning – making longitudinal studies easier to manage. All published versions of a dataset can be viewed and compared by clicking on the links in “Version” history.

There’s a vetting process to store data in Mendeley; each collection of research data files is checked by a qualified reviewer, to ensure the content constitutes research data, is scientific in nature, and doesn’t solely contain a previously published research article. Datasets also may not contain executable files or archives that are unaccompanied by individually detailed file descriptions; copyrighted content (audio, video, images) to which you do not own the copyright; or sensitive information (such as HIPPA-protected patient details or birthdates).

Could the process be any more painless?

>             Register/log in to Mendeley Data.
>             Click “New dataset.”
>             Upload data files.
>             Add metadata (including Title, Description and Contributors) for the                                          dataset.
>             Save
>             Hit “Publish.” (only when you’re absolutely ready for it to go public).

Each researcher’s dataset is discoverable, because it’s deeply-indexed in Mendeley Data’s powerful search engine. In addition, it is marked with the standard schema.org metadata markup language.

Datasets in Mendeley Data are viewed and downloaded frequently – on average once per month. As a result, we see that articles having accompanying datasets get cited more often.
Every dataset in Mendeley has a unique and permanent DataCite DOI(digital object identifier) which makes it much simpler for you, or other researchers, to locate and reference your data. When you publish your research, you can connect your paper to the cited dataset via the DOI and it will be indexed in OpenAIRE, the EU initiative aimed at improving the discovery and reuse of research publications and data.

Share Your Data – Or Not

When you use Mendeley Data, you control who gets to use your data and when. You have the option to securely share your data with colleagues and co-authors before publication, or publish your data to the world when you’re ready to do so.

With many Elsevier journals, it’s possible to upload and store your dataset to Mendeley Data during the manuscript submission process. You can also send your data directly to the repository. In each case, your data can be linked to any associated journal article on Elsevier’s ScienceDirect, making it easy for readers to find and reuse.

Mendeley Data benefits not only you, but your institution. By saving time in searching, collecting and sharing data, it prevents re-work. Mendeley showcases institutional research outputs, boosting your reputation as well as that of your employer. With quick access to so much data, institutions are able to improve collaborations internally and externally.

Let Mendeley Manage What You Generate

It’s time to get more credit for your data. Mendeley Data has the power to make this happen – enabling  your data to be citable, accessible and discoverable with  optimal data management, so you can focus on your research. Isn’t that what really matters?

Get started with Mendeley Data

 

 

Don’t Miss a Beat with Mendeley Research Network

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SUTD BLOGYou’ve seen that funding sources tend to reward the “new and shiny”…but how do you know for sure if your project falls into that category? You must to be able to demonstrate independent thought, and dispel any concern that someone else might be working on the same exact problem. Since you’re also trying to do it all with fewer resources, it’s more important than ever for you to quickly and easily confirm the unique nature of your research, as well as new, possibly related developments in the same or associated field. Thankfully, Mendeley addresses this fundamental factor in the success of your research: staying up to date. Mendeley Research Network, part of the unified Mendeley ecosystem, gives you exactly what you need to remain current on industry news and trends, free and right at your fingertips.

Staying Informed and Connected Doesn’t Have to be a Chore

By creating a Mendeley account, you join a global community of more than eight million researchers active in virtually any STEM field imaginable. Once you establish your online research profile, Mendeley Research Network makes it easy to engage with one of the world’s largest and most diverse scientific communities. Elsevier has made it versatile and very convenient to use; you can securely access Mendeley on any computer via the desktop client, a web browser, or your mobile app.

Anyone with a Mendeley account can start or join a Public or Private Group. Public Groups are forums to share knowledge and discuss new research with peers having similar interests. You can also create Private Groups visible only to invited members, allowing you reveal and receive information securely. Dedicated to specific topics, groups enable you to find references, exchange ideas, discuss significant new developments, and even share curated reading lists. Based on your stated interests, Mendeley offers personalized suggestions of people to follow, to help you make the right connections and facilitate collaboration. And if you want to be alerted to new activity, you can ask Mendeley to do that too.

Suggest and Feed Expand Your Options

Based on the articles in your library and your research topics, Mendeley Suggest delivers tailored recommendations to broaden your view of topics of interest. You can receive these in weekly email updates, through the Mendeley app or when you sign into your account. With more than 30 million references to research papers and other literature, Mendeley Research Network gives you plenty of resources!

Mendeley Feed ensures that you stay up to date with your network and discover relevant new researchers. By simply signing in, you see notifications about new publications, profile updates from researchers, and comments from group discussions.

Never Be Out of the Loop Again

By constantly updating its index – and therefore keeping you up-to-the-minute on emerging trends –Mendeley’s Research Network supports discussion, discovery and innovation. Trusted by millions of your peers, it gives you the data you need when and where you need it. Never be afraid of falling behind again; with Mendeley Research Network, you’ll always be on the cutting edge.

Mendeley Can Help Your Research Career Take Off

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mendeley opportunities

In the previous article, we explored the ways Elsevier’s Mendeley can help you succeed as a researcher. In fact, you may already use Mendeley to manage your research. But did you know it can also help you manage your research career? Achieving recognition and advancing your career can seem like a full-time job, and often a struggle. But with the Mendeley Careers tool, part of the unified Mendeley ecosystem, you have a free assistant to help you build your career in science, technology, engineering or medicine and perhaps a better balanced lifestyle.

Despite Collaboration, Competition Still Exists

There are 10 million mid-level and senior researchers worldwide…not to mention the 100 million students trying to follow in their footsteps. Most of those researchers are working to become principal investigators (PIs) or have already reached that milestone. And it is a milestone – congratulations! You finally have proof that you’re moving up, and not out. You’re the head of a laboratory or a research group leader. And if you’re still on the path to being a PI, you are striving to demonstrate your value as a successful team member.

Many PIs are looking for their next career move. They are eager to know how they stack up professionally to their peers. In the US, researchers may be reaching for a spot in the top 200 institutions. Some principal investigators will transition into the corporate world; but many do not want to follow that track, at least not yet. They want to continue to experience the serendipity of discovery, and become leaders in their respective fields.

Mendeley Does the Job-Hunting While You Focus on Your Research

When you’re looking for a new chapter in your career, it’s hard to know where to begin. Trawling through lists on job boards is stressful and time-consuming. Mendeley Careers can do the hard work for you, eliminating that stress and the drain on your time. With more than 200 thousand posted opportunities across academia and leading industry corporations, it’s the world’s largest free online search engine for STEM careers.

Mendeley Careers is quick and easy to use: you sign up, upload your CV, and voila, you begin to receive job opportunity notifications. Mendeley is the perfect partnership between smart people and smart technology. Unlike other STEM job search engines and job boards that match candidates based solely on their search alerts, Mendeley Careers goes further. It uses human curation and sophisticated algorithms to match the most relevant opportunities with candidates, developed from a detailed understanding of their interests and expertise. Its built-in intelligence ensures that you’re alerted to all of the posts that are right for you – no more missed opportunities! You can start applying for positions right away, knowing your search is thorough, secure and confidential.

Need help figuring out your next move? Mendeley Careers has that covered, too. It features a Careers blog, written by experts, to help you consider the pros and cons, narrow down your options, and formulate a decision about the best step forward in your research profession.

Mendeley Can Help Assemble the Right Team

PIs and others who are heading up research teams want the best and the brightest to contribute to the success of their projects. They need to identify top talent, often in a short timeframe, and this is where Mendeley Careers comes in once again.

Discover Where You Could Be Working Tomorrow with Mendeley Careers

Most professionals would agree that they’re better at research than job-hunting. So it only makes sense that you employ the most helpful tools in identifying and securing new positions, either for yourself or in creating a team. Mendeley Careers lets you do what you know and love, while it finds the opportunities to enable you to move forward in your career. The innovative Elsevier team behind Mendeley is made up of former researchers, data scientists, and process engineers; they understand your domain, and many of them have walked in your shoes.

You want to be effective in your research and satisfied with your life. Don’t miss out on your perfect career opportunity! Check out Mendeley Careers today, and put it to work for you and your future.

 

 

Find the Funding Your Research Needs with Mendeley

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The second article in the series about Mendeley described how Mendeley Careers can help you manage your own research career or help you build an excellent research team. But no career or team can move forward without money to make the research happen. As you’ve undoubtedly seen, the landscape for research funding is changing. While local funding is still dominant, global funding is beginning to gain ground, especially in Europe. In addition, a larger percentage of funding is being directed towards emerging markets, adding to the competition for every dollar. You – and your institution – have to work more diligently than ever to identify and pursue financial opportunities to support your research. Did you know that Elsevier has a valuable tool to help you succeed in this quest? Mendeley Funding, part of the unified Mendeley ecosystem, can raise your batting average in finding and keeping the resources you need.

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The Odds Make Funding as Challenging as Your Research

Every researcher’s hypothesis has the potential to fundamentally change science, technology, engineering or medicine; unfortunately, many of them will never see the light of day. As you probably know, an average of only one in five grant proposals is funded. Most gamblers wouldn’t be crazy about those odds, yet you are forced to seek funding under that pressure throughout your research career. In addition, once you finally obtain funding, you have to work to sustain it throughout the life of your project. Knowing the odds you’re facing, why wouldn’t you want to use a free resource to gain a competitive advantage – and make your professional life a bit easier?

Mendeley Funding Aggregates Thousands of Options to Streamline the Process

Research, in general, is becoming more collaborative in nature, spanning domains and regions. In order to advance your science and your career, you need to succeed in – and fund – a collaborative environment. Mid-career researchers, in particular, experience this change as you shift from doing the work to leading teams. Mendeley Funding enables both individuals and team leaders to more easily acquire necessary funding, allowing you to increase your focus on the research itself.

So go to Mendeley Funding and start by creating a free account. You’ll find a collection of timely and relevant grant information from more than 2,000 organizations worldwide including US government agencies, the European Union, and UK Research councils. Each funding organization has its own Mendeley Funding page, which you can easily browse to view details about the most up-to-date opportunities: when they were posted, the deadlines for applications, the types and amounts of funding, and any restrictions on submissions. If you like what you see, bookmarking opportunities are easy; you just click the star to save your favorites for future reference.

With Mendeley Funding, You Don’t Need to Spend Money to Get Money

Mendeley Funding gives you access to a future-forward view of funding opportunities. Elsevier’s Mendeley team, which consists of former researchers, data scientists, and process engineers, is continuously gathering the latest information from funders, to offer you a unique collection of pertinent possibilities to finance your research. They know what you need and made Mendeley Funding robust and easy to use for funding searches. You know there won’t be a research career without proper funding, so let this tool from Elsevier help you make your dreams become reality. Take a look at Mendeley Funding today, and start to go for that funding that will move your research forward!

 

 

 

Mendeley: Everything a Researcher Needs to Succeed

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Researchers work very hard, often for little reward, and usually under considerable stress. While the satisfaction of discovery, and the prestige of developing a scientific breakthrough are certainly fulfilling, you can rarely sit back and celebrate. Have I shown independent thought? Does my discovery stand out? What if someone else is working on this same problem? Will the results of my research make a difference to society? Am I building a career here? Will funding sources consider this exciting enough to merit financing? Am I working as efficiently as I can?

Elsevier understands that you’re forced to do more with less. You have to chart your own course, promoting yourselves to a multitude of people and seeking recognition wherever possible. As your career progresses, you have to succeed both as individuals and team leaders. But you don’t have to do it alone, thanks to Elsevier’s online research workflow ecosystem known as Mendeley. Mendeley adds value to every step of your career, whether you’re a doctoral student, post-doc, assistant professor or principal investigator. It makes you feel empowered, organized, confident and connected. And best of all, it’s free!

The Research Landscape is Changing

The life of a researcher is a study in contradictions. You have more opportunities than ever to discover, to make an impact and to interact with their peers. But with all the conveniences that have made research easier – online resources, technology-driven tools, open access, virtual professional communities – you still face many of the same challenges…some with a new twist. First, while there is still a scramble for research funding, it is beginning to shift from local to global. While Europe is ahead of the United States in this trend, it’s a factor to be considered when you’re seeking financial backing. Broad-based collaboration is also more prevalent, especially among younger researchers. Depending upon the problem being explored, the location and the source(s) of funding, a collaborative approach may be best for a new research project.

Research from emerging markets is increasing in volume and value. Researchers from these areas are more egalitarian and likely to collaborate, and need more resources in their own languages as well. Open science continues to be a priority among researchers, as it enables you to collaborate and see a shared impact more easily. However, you also continue to search for more entry points to open science. In addition, the increasing importance of using new technologies, like artificial intelligence, challenges you to keep up with the latest developments without losing focus on your research topics.

Many universities also are changing their model relative to research, with entrepreneurship becoming a growing initiative. Forming companies out of research initiatives is a draw to younger researchers, and an investment for the institutions. It can provide them with a revenue stream, a partnership with outside corporations or both. At the same time, universities are competing harder than ever for every research dollar. They need to attract, and keep, top-tier faculty and students, whose success stories will in turn propel them into the forefront for the next generation of researchers.

When You’re Leading the Charge, Choose a Multi-Faceted Tool

Given this scenario, it’s more important than ever for you to be supported in all facets of your career, from organizing your research and collaborating with other researchers worldwide to sharing datasets and seeking career opportunities. Think of Mendeley as the Swiss Army Knife® of resources for a research vocation. Just like a Swiss Army Knife, Mendeley is a single entity with multiple parts, a unified environment. And it’s likely that you will use the “knife” portion of Mendeley, Reference Management, most often. But there are other convenient tools within Mendeley – Research Network, Data, Careers and Funding – that are unique and equally valuable in enabling your success. For every research need, Mendeley has a solution.

Focus on Doing Your Research, Not Managing It

While you’re busy shaping the future, Mendeley Reference Management makes you more efficient. You spend less time on document management and more time on your research. The Mendeley Reference Manager enables you to easily organize and search a personal library, annotate documents and cite as you write. It automatically captures information such as authors, title and publisher, which makes organization and browsing easy. You can create a profile, as well as start and join groups to find inspiring people and information.

Mendeley’s Citation Plugin is compatible with Word and LibreOffice, so you can generate citations and bibliographies while you write. You can also annotate on documents as you read, or share documents with groups of colleagues and annotate them together. Reference Manager gives you the option to easily import papers and other documents from your desktop, your existing libraries or websites.

Communities Keep You Connected – and In the Know

Mendeley Research Network hosts a global community of more than eight million researchers in every field from institutions worldwide. You can create a research profile, including a curated list of your publications and affiliations, and discover others in your research network. Then you can join groups or start one of your own – either public or private – to engage with your peers.

Based on your interests, Mendeley delivers personalized suggestions for articles to read and people to follow. You can also set alerts to make sure you don’t miss any activity in your network, keeping you connected and informed.

Do You Know Where Your Data Is?

Mendeley Data optimizes the discoverability of your data and fosters teamwork, by facilitating the improved management of your datasets. It’s a secure cloud-based open science repository, so your data is easy to share, access and cite from any location. When you use Mendeley Data, you control who gets to use your data; you can share your data only with colleagues and co-authors before publication, or publish your data to the world. Mendeley Data also supports versioning, simplifying longitudinal studies. Best of all, your data is accessible and archived for as long as you need it by Data Archiving & Networked Services.

Move Up or Move Out

Realistically, that’s the mantra of a researcher’s career.  Mendeley Careers is the world’s largest free online search engine for career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and medicine. It enables you to match your profile and expertise to more than 200 thousand posted opportunities. You can upload your CV and get job alerts via the smart notification system, ensuring that you don’t miss any golden opportunities. You can also use Mendeley Careers to identify the top talent you’d like to add to your team.

Show Me the Money

How much time do you spend trying to find the funding that you and your team members need? If you use Mendeley Funding, it could be a lot less. Elsevier aggregates and catalogs relevant grant information from more than two thousand organizations worldwide – including US government agencies, the European Union, and UK Research councils – to help you find the right fit for your research. Each organization has its own Mendeley Funding page, and you can easily browse and bookmark favorites for future reference. Timely opportunities are key; Elsevier constantly updates the Mendeley funding index to ensure that you have the latest opportunities at your fingertips.

It’s a Personal Assistant, a PR agent and a Milestone Enabler

As your research career advances, you take on more managerial responsibility, leaving you less time to devote to hands-on work. But to move your research forward, and succeed in your career, you need to focus more on the success of your work with your collaborators and less on personal “doing.”

Mendeley is designed to assist you in making this shift. The Elsevier team behind Mendeley is made up of former researchers, data scientists, and process engineers, who are dedicated to empowering you and taking the friction out of teamwork. Mendeley can help you organize your work, assemble a talented team, connect and collaborate, share data, get funding, and stay up to date on trends – so you can maximize the value of your work with your collaborators and the impact of your research.

You’ll form many partnerships during your career, and Mendeley should be one of them. If you haven’t tried Mendeley yet, what are you waiting for?

Get Started!

Mendeley Brainstorm – Science and Politics – We Have a Winner!

Christian DeFeo
When politics and science collide, is it time to go on the march?

Many thanks to all those who entered the Mendeley Brainstorm related to Science and Politics; picking a winner given the well thought out answers was particularly difficult this time, however in the end, we selected Isaac Alcón Rovira’s post:

To me the problem is a bit deeper. I think something that must change in science today is the capacity to reach people who is out of science. By “reaching” I mean being able to transmit what science is. Out of the scientific world, people have no idea what science is, and I believe that if everyone would have a scientific point of view (even not being a scientist at all) that would be very beneficial in their life in many senses. However, scientists, at the moment, have not idea about how to transmit science. In fact, to all conferences that I have been so far (not many, but some) around 80% of talks have been so opaque that I have not got more than a glimpse of what that person tries to achieve with his/her research. As a consequence, I come back home with the feeling I have wasted 80% of my time. Now, if scientists are not able to fully transmit, even to the colleges of their own field, their research, then, let’s forget about transmitting our science to the rest of the world, to people who are not familiar with what an atom, or a molecule, is (now thinking in Chemistry, of course).

In my opinion, the day scientists are capable of transmitting what science is to the rest of the world, we will get the power to reach people, to touch people and, eventually, to move people. That day, probably, we will not really care what politics do or whether they believe in science or not, because 80% of people will do care of science, and that will be far enough.

Isaac is a PhD student at the Universitat de Barcelona, He wrote:

My research is not about communication skills, or politics, I am a chemist and I am designing 2D materials for possible future applications in organic electronics. What inspired me? … I have become quite passionate with Beatles during the last year and, to me, there is a common factor in all most successful songs by Lennon and McCartney: all of them are tremendously good but, at the same time, tremendously simple. I am sure many scientists would tell me that Science cannot be transmitted in such a simple way as Music, because of its more complex nature. Well, I think it is possible, and it is just a matter of caring about it, and putting the effort to make it happen.

Thank you, Isaac!

Those who didn’t win this time are encouraged to respond to the latest Mendeley Brainstorm, regarding Cloning. Thanks again to all our participants.

Mendeley Brainstorm: Science and Politics – Unhappy Together?

Christian DeFeo24 Comments
Is it time for researchers to adapt or go on the march?
Is it time for researchers to adapt or go on the march?

The worlds of science and politics appear to be in conflict. Britain voted for Brexit; it’s estimated 90% of British academics voted Remain. Recent policy announcements by the Trump administration have provoked scientists to plan a “March for Science” on Washington DC. Are science and politics destined to clash? We are looking for the most well thought out answer to this question in up to 150 words: use the comment feature below the blog and please feel free to promote your research! The winner will receive an Amazon gift certificate worth £50 and a bag full of Mendeley items; competition closes March 8, 2017.

Post-Factual Versus Evidence Based

The world of politics introduced new terms into the lexicon in 2016, including “post-factual”, “post-truth” and “fake news”; the world of science continues to rely on evidence, data and peer reviews. In 2016, politics erupted with statements that denounced “experts”; science depends on expertise to achieve its advances.

Funding Pressures

The Trump Administration has instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to freeze all grants. This could be a prelude to more cuts for research in environmental and other sciences. Mick Mulvaney, President Trump’s choice to head the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, apparently asked in September 2016 after considering studies done about the Zika virus, “…do we really need government funded research at all”.

What’s Next?

Can science learn to live with the new political environment, or is it time for researchers to march? Will “post factual” politics be compelled to yield to cold, hard data? Will science shift from countries like the United States and Britain to elsewhere? What are your thoughts on what will happen and what will you do? Tell us!

Need to Store & Publish Your Data?

Mendeley Data is a secure cloud-based repository where you can store your data (including open data governmental datasets and websites), ensuring it is easy to share, access and cite, wherever you are. Click here for more information.

About Mendeley Brainstorms

Our Brainstorms are challenges so we can engage with you, our users, on the hottest topics in the world of research.  We look for the most in-depth and well thought through responses; the best response as judged by the Mendeley team will earn a prize.

References

AHUJA, M. (2017). Scientists planning their own march in Washington. CNN. [online] Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/25/politics/scientists-march-dc-trnd/index.html?sr=twCNN012617scientists-march-dc-trnd0530AMStoryPhoto&linkId=33790680 [Accessed 26 Jan. 2017].

BELLUZ, J. (2017). Trump’s budget director pick: “Do we really need government-funded research at all”. [Blog] Vox. Available at: http://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2016/12/21/14012552/trump-budget-director-research-science-mulvaney [Accessed 26 Jan. 2017].

KASPRAK, A. (2016). FACT CHECK: Trump’s Budget Director Pick Asked “Do We Really Need Government-Funded Research at All?”. [online] Snopes. Available at: http://www.snopes.com/trumps-budget-director-pick-asked-really-need-government-funded-research/ [Accessed 26 Jan. 2017].

WAPNER, J. (2017). Trump Freezes Grants, Approves Pipelines and Considers Sharp Budget Cuts At the EPA. Newsweek. [online] Available at: http://europe.newsweek.com/trump-freezes-grants-approves-pipelines-and-considers-sharp-budget-cuts-epa-547738?rm=eu [Accessed 26 Jan. 2017].

On Mendeley Careers: Brexit & Science – Brexit Means What?

Christian DeFeo
As the United Kingdom departs the European Union, what is the future of British science and research?
As the United Kingdom departs the European Union, what is the future of British science and research?

On Mendeley Careers, we’ve just published an interview with Dr. Anne Forde of Cambridge University; we’re trying to get to the bottom of the complex issue of Brexit and Science in the United Kingdom:

“Brexit means Brexit” according to Prime Minister Theresa May; however, this statement masks a series of complex questions. For example, what will be the future relationship between the United Kingdom and European Union? Will Britain participate in European funding programmes such as Horizon 2020? Will researchers from the European Union still flock to Britain’s globally renowned universities to do their work? How are the universities adjusting to these seismic changes?

Click here to read the full interview.