The Conversation

Let’s Play Fantasy Football for Big Thinkers
Impact
February 23, 2015

Let’s Play Fantasy Football for Big Thinkers

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If Only MOOCs Could Add an eHarmony Component
Higher Education Reform
February 18, 2015

If Only MOOCs Could Add an eHarmony Component

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Shine a Light on Academic Journals’ Dark Arts
Communication
February 10, 2015

Shine a Light on Academic Journals’ Dark Arts

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The Tyranny of Excellence is Hurting Research
Higher Education Reform
February 6, 2015

The Tyranny of Excellence is Hurting Research

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U.S. Presidents Have Long Touted the Joys of Junior Colleges

U.S. Presidents Have Long Touted the Joys of Junior Colleges

While critics of President Obama’s call for universal community college for Americans imply federal intrusion into the local institutions was unprecedented, there’s actually a long line of feds who have seen the benefits of the two-year schools.

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In the Anthropocene, Every Discipline Has a Role

In the Anthropocene, Every Discipline Has a Role

Grappling with climate change going forward won’t be so much grappling with climate as it will be grappling with human reactions to the forces already in motion. Universities have a role to play in marshaling all their disciplines in this endeavor, says Matthew Nisbet.

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MOOCs + Meetups = Better Learning

MOOCs + Meetups = Better Learning

The man behind the ‘Beyond Silicon Valley’ MOOC is very enthusiastic about these massive online courses, but he sees adding a dash of the human touch as making the resulting learning experience even better.

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Make a Charitable Donation of Your Personal Data

Make a Charitable Donation of Your Personal Data

You donate your money to charity, your blood to other and your time to special causes. So why not give of your data for science research?

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When Chasing Prestige Becomes the Prize

When Chasing Prestige Becomes the Prize

A survey by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics suggests that researchers appreciate the benefits of competition but also fear how it can emphasize prestige over quality

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Colin Firth: Author, Actually

Colin Firth: Author, Actually

Authorship of an article seems like it ought to be straightforward, but of course it’s not. Even with greater scrutiny, abuse of the process — both adding the wrong people and subtracting the right ones — continues.

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Playing the Game of REF

Playing the Game of REF

A very strong overall REF performance signifies a large concentration of outstanding work. It is an unambiguous plus. All the same, precise league table positions in the REF, indicator by indicator, should be taken with a grain of salt.

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With the REF, We Can Evaluate the Impact of Impact

With the REF, We Can Evaluate the Impact of Impact

Measuring impact was a key feature of the just-released Research Education Framework in the UK. But ‘impact’ isn’t as fair a measurement as we could hope.

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