Scientists can be under-appreciated in Australian culture. Here are eight great fictional scientists to get you thinking about labs, test tubes and bold experiments.
Physics laureate Donna Strickland receives the prize from King Carl Gustaf of Sweden during the Nobel Prize award ceremony in Stockholm on Dec. 10, 2018.
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The winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize in physics says scientists shouldn't feel pressured to do research that has economic or commercial ramifications. Science for the sake of science is more important.
Money always seems tight for university scientists. A sociologist conducted hundreds of interviews to see how they think about funding sources and profit motives for basic and applied research.
A diversity of voices is important in science communication.
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Four scientists talk through the ways they now build outreach into their work as a way to spread their research's impact – something that wasn't the norm for past generations of academics.
There’s no blueprint for excellence, but some building blocks are crucial.
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Research institutes and "centres of excellence" exist around the world to draw talent and to share resources - all with the aim of solving important problems.
Mothers need support to manage the demands of a scientific career with their family responsibilities.
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Not much attention has been given to how mothers who want to attend workshops and conferences are supported. This simple intervention can boost the presence of women in science.
Understanding how and why things happen can help people make sense of the world.
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In the age of 'fake news' it's more important than ever to make sure that what's being published is the truth – especially when it comes to reporting research and science.
The inventor at rest, with a Tesla coil (thanks to a double exposure).
Dickenson V. Alley, Wellcome Collection
Scientist Nikola Tesla died 75 years ago, after a rags-to-riches to rags life. The eccentric inventor had an amazing intellect and set the stage for many modern technologies.
Dr Chris Barnard remains the only South African scientist who ever achieved global celebrity status.
Heart of Cape Town Museum
The unprecedented media interest in the first human heart transplant 50 years ago transformed many of the rules that governed the relationships between medicine and the media.
Science communication: it’s not rocket science.
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Science isn't cold, hard facts uncovered by emotionless robots. Acknowledging how and where values play a role promotes a more realistic view and can advance science's reputation for reliability.
National science academies must do more to draw women in.
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Academies simply don't know how they're doing when it comes to the representation of women compared to their counterparts within the science-policy environment.
Planning a communication strategy isn’t unethical.
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Scientists who engage with the public may have goals about influencing policy or behavior. But they also need to think about the short-term objectives that will help get them there.
In Europe, scientists will be marching on Earth Day largely as a sign of support for their silenced American colleagues.
Yves Herman/Reuters