Email
Welcome to Signal Boost, our weekly roundup of blog posts over the past week.
Doctor Who science special
Last Saturday saw the launch of the new series of Doctor Who, with the Time Lord’s mantle being passed to Peter Capaldi. Dean Burnett gets inside his head, and looks at what makes the good Doctor such an intellectual powerhouse. Meanwhile, Kieron Flanagan looks at the sorts of science policies that could have given rise to the technical superiority of the Daleks. Over at Lost Worlds, guest blogger Marc Vincent chronicles the evolution of dinosaurs throughout Who’s history.
A global conference on science advice
The science advice to governments conference was held this week in Auckland, New Zealand. Delegates from over 45 countries came together to discuss the challenges facing evidence-based policy and decision-making. Political Science has provided some in-depth coverage, starting with an introduction to the conference from New Zealand’s chief scientific advisor, Sir Peter Gluckman. Roger Pielke Jr argues that scientific and political leaders need to look more closely at the integrity of the advisory process. James Wilsdon, Kristiann Allen and Katsia Paulavets provide an overview of the common lessons that can be taken from the conference about how to strengthen scientific advice. Meanwhile, Heather Douglas reminds us that the public has a crucial role to play when it comes to objective policy and decision-making. And Sir Mark Walport, the UK government’s chief scientific advisor, highlights how science needs to become a much more important component of foreign relations.
Grrlscientist’s caturday video highlights some true facts about marsupials. Brilliant stuff from the mind of Ze Frank.
Adam Ganz’s new radio play about Dorothy Hodgkin’s relationship with Margaret Thatcher aired recently. Hodgkin’s granddaughter Katharine, explains why she found it an uncomfortable listen.
Celebrity wolves Slavc and Juliet have just had a litter of seven cubs. Henry Nicholls highlights some spectacular footage of the new pups, recently broadcast in the Italian media.
Mo Costandi recently travelled to Japan to meet the pioneering researcher growing eyes and brain cells. This remarkable story highlights the work of Yoshiki Sasai.
Citizen science is an eggcellent idea. Grrlscientist looks at a recent project to test the evolution of camouflage in bird eggs.
A recent article in the Observer suggested that mental health stigma isn’t as bad as it used to be. Pete Etchells explains why that’s an overly simplistic view of a very complex issue.
Public and political confidence in Japan’s science system collapsed after the devastating earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011. Tateo Arimoto and Yasushi Sato describe the process of rebuilding trust and reforming Japanese science policy.
A report out this week looking into hospital food standards highlights the problems the system seems to have in providing nutritious food to patients. This wasn’t a problem in medieval times though. Vanessa Heggie asks what went wrong.
;