Chronological index and latest events.
science in the 21st century: social, political, and economic issues
Through this Perspective report, I have tried to eliminate the idealized and simplified vision of science promoted during the last century, and present to my readers a more realistic conception.
This Perspective handles some social, political, and economic problems that affect the heart of scientific endeavour and are carrying important consequences for scientists and the rest of society.
However, there exist reasons to be optimist. Scientists continue providing us captivating responses to open questions about Nature –including ourselves–. Moreover, the main problems have been identified and several solutions proposed. Some of the proposals are already on use, as reported on the announcement launch of new canonical science journal.
I supposed that the list of thirty four Nobel Laureates whose awarded work was rejected by peer review would be a complete shock for readers. However, it seems other issues received much more attention! For instance, expressed her surprise and indignation when read that the main association of physicists, the American Physical Society, withdrew its initial offer to publish two studies in Physical Review Letters because the authors did not want to transfer the copyright of their work to the society. The current policy for Physical Review Letters prevents authors from posting their own figures on Wikipedia (external link), for example.
The reception of several colleagues to my determination to propose solutions to the problems of real science, rather than ignoring them, is well summarized in the words of :
I have read your paper with great interest and sympathize with your views 100%
The Perspective may be downloaded from Science in the 21st century: social, political, and economic issues.
(2005 – 2009) some rights reserved
