Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Caballe, Martino Bardelli
Summary: Grant writing, science policy, and public engagement are crucial forms of science communication that are essential for research to function and benefit society. Scientists depend on competitive grant funding to finance their research, allowing them to communicate their scientific vision and engage funders in prioritizing public funds and government policies for research and innovation. Public engagement, often seen as perfunctory, is actually pivotal for scientists to have a societal impact and establish effective communication channels with the public in today's information-saturated world. Support through training and resources, especially for early career researchers, can help create a virtuous circle where public funds are allocated effectively for scientific progress embraced by the public and policymakers.
DNA AND CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Suresh K. Rana, Bhawana Dangwal, Vikram S. Negi, Indra D. Bhatt
Summary: This article systematically reviews and evaluates the scientific literature on the Himalayas, finding that agriculture and biological sciences are the dominant fields of research. The research output in the region has been steadily increasing, with the highest funding and scientific contribution from India, China, and the USA. The quality of research publications is generally high, with a significant portion being published in SCI indexed journals.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Michael S. Lauer, Deepshikha Roychowdhury
Summary: Previous reports have highlighted the worsening inequalities in NIH funding, with analyses now showing that recent trends have reversed to some extent for both investigators and institutions. The proportion of women funded as principal investigators is increasing, but parity has not yet been achieved. Inequalities in funding have consistently been greater within groups (by career stage, gender, race, and degree) than between groups.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hyunha Shin, Keungoui Kim, Dieter F. Kogler
Summary: This study used Web of Science publication data from European regions between 2008 and 2017 to investigate the impact of scientific collaboration on research novelty. The findings suggest a negative relationship between collaboration and novelty, as well as a significant moderating effect of funding on this relationship.
Editorial Material
Medical Ethics
Abigail Holmes, Hannah Rubin
Summary: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is increasing dissatisfaction with the distribution of science funding. Calls for fast funding to become the new standard are met with concerns over transparency and equity, as well as doubts about the promised benefits of increased creativity and efficiency.
ACCOUNTABILITY IN RESEARCH-POLICIES AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jason P. Landrum, Charlotte G. Hudson, Sarah L. Close, Emily Knight, Rachel-Marie Paquin, Victoria Bell, Kayla Ripple
Summary: This article presents one example of how a philanthropic grant-making program supports user-driven research through evaluation criteria and guidance questions. The case study provides practical information for other funders and researchers seeking to produce useful and usable science.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kaare Aagaard, Philippe Mongeon, Irene Ramos-Vielba, Duncan Andrew Thomas
Summary: This paper introduces a novel approach to studying research funding, analyzing funding acknowledgements in research outputs to distinguish between different levels of funding aggregation. Three levels are delineated, revealing the complexity of research funding across different countries and research fields.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Melika Mosleh, Saeed Roshani, Mario Coccia
Summary: One of the main objectives of this study is to analyze how research funding affects the citation-based performance of scientific output in vital research fields of life science. Results show that funded documents receive more citations than un-funded papers in all research fields of life science. The study also reveals that citations of both funded and un-funded published papers have a power-law distribution. The critical implications of the research policy suggest that R&D investments in Neuroscience can generate a higher impact in terms of citations compared to other research fields in medicine.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael Anger, Christian Wendelborn, Eva C. Winkler, Christoph Schickhardt
Summary: This article examines the challenges faced by international funding agencies in promoting and implementing data sharing policies. The study identifies the design of clear policies, monitoring of compliance, sanctions for non-compliance, incentives, support, and limitations for funders' own capabilities as major challenges. However, the interviews also show that funding agencies are exploring potential solutions, such as coordination with other agencies and adjusting evaluation metrics to incentivize data sharing.
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Stefano Bianchini, Patrick Llerena, Sila Ocalan-Ozel, Emre Ozel
Summary: This study examines the link between grant proposal peer-review and gender representation in research consortia. The findings show that consortia with a higher proportion of female principal investigators (PI) receive systematically unfavorable evaluations in terms of success rate and scores from panel members and external reviewers.
HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Management
Eric A. Fong, Allen W. Wilhite
Summary: False investigators are often included in research teams without actually contributing, raising legal and ethical concerns. Data analysis shows that grants involving false investigators receive more funding, with an average increase of about 70%. The impact of false investigators on research funding remains a topic of discussion.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Akira Matsui, Emily Chen, Yunwen Wang, Emilio Ferrara
Summary: This study uses open data from nearly 5,000 PeerJ publications to investigate the impact of peer-reviewing process on acceptance timeline and contribution potential of manuscripts. Findings suggest that peer reviewers choosing to reveal their names might influence review sentiment. Additionally, a taxonomy of manuscript modifications during revision sheds light on the changes authors make based on peer reviewer feedback.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhanyun Wang, Sam Adu-Kumi, Miriam L. Diamond, Ramon Guardans, Tom Harner, Agustin Harte, Natsuko Kajiwara, Jana Klanova, Jianguo Liu, Estefania Gastaldello Moreira, Derek C. G. Muir, Noriyuki Suzuki, Victorine Pinas, Timo Seppala, Roland Weber, Bo Yuan
Summary: The Stockholm Convention is crucial in addressing global threats posed by persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Although it successfully identifies new POPs, implementing the convention at the national level remains challenging, particularly for low- and middle-income countries. This analysis aims to identify and recommend the research and scientific support necessary for the convention's timely implementation, providing practical guidance and recommendations for sustaining scientific support.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Grazyna Wieczorkowska, Katarzyna Kowalczyk
Summary: The principle of sustainable development imposes an obligation on all entities receiving structural funds to demonstrate positive or neutral impact on sustainability in their project proposals. The evaluation process needs to be objective, unbiased, and transparent, but current processes have limitations. Overcoming these limitations requires analyzing the work of reviewers, ensuring consistency in reviewer panels, and implementing solutions to prevent problems like rating bias and lack of calibration. This would ultimately enhance the fairness and quality of grant proposal evaluations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Leho Tedersoo, Rainer Kungas, Ester Oras, Kajar Koster, Helen Eenmaa, Ali Leijen, Margus Pedaste, Marju Raju, Anastasiya Astapova, Heli Lukner, Karin Kogermann, Tuul Sepp
Summary: The study found that while data sharing has improved over the past decade, differences in data availability and willingness to share data still exist among different disciplines. It is recommended to incentivize researchers to share data through benefits such as recognition and rewards, with funding agencies covering data management costs and enforcing data sharing surveillance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nathan J. White, Andrew P. Beckerman, Rhonda R. Snook, Michael A. Brockhurst, Roger K. Butlin, Isobel Eyres
Summary: Local adaptation is an important evolutionary process that allows populations to adapt to their local environment. This study experimentally evolved rotifer populations under either unidimensional or multidimensional divergent selection. The results showed that populations exposed to multidimensional selection initially increased in local adaptation but later declined, while populations exposed to unidimensional selection had a slower but eventually stronger increase in local adaptation.
Article
Microbiology
Ehsan Sanaei, Yen-Po Lin, Lyn G. Cook, Jan Engelstadter
Summary: Research shows that the infection frequency of Wolbachia in scale insects is 43.6%, following an exponential decline distribution different from other taxa. There is no significant association between Wolbachia infection and scale insect traits, but a positive correlation with their ant associates is observed, indicating a possible route of horizontal transfer of Wolbachia.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Erik Sandertun Roed, Jan Engelstadter
Summary: Cytoplasmic incompatibility is a common mating incompatibility in arthropods, which can be unidirectional or bidirectional. Bidirectional cytoplasmic incompatibility may be stable in hybrid zones, and hosts are under selection pressure to resist their endosymbionts. Research has shown that hybrid zones can sustain stable coexistence of bidirectionally incompatible endosymbionts.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Samuel Perini, RogerK Butlin, AnjaM Westram, Kerstin Johannesson
Summary: Conflict over reproduction between females and males is generated by anisogamy and promiscuity, leading to antagonistic coevolution of female and male reproductive traits. The timing of sperm transfer plays a critical role in sexual conflict, with short matings not resulting in sperm shortage in females.
JOURNAL OF MOLLUSCAN STUDIES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biology
Marina Rafajlovic, Jake M. Alexander, Roger K. Butlin, Kerstin Johannesson
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biology
Marina Rafajlovic, Jake M. Alexander, Roger K. Butlin, Kerstin Johannesson
Summary: Understanding species' range modifications is crucial for predicting the impact of environmental changes on biodiversity. Different species may respond differently to the same environmental changes, and changes in species' ranges create feedbacks to the environment, populations, and communities. Understanding these links is essential for biodiversity management and conservation efforts.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Aurelien De Jode, Alan Le Moan, Kerstin Johannesson, Rui Faria, Sean Stankowski, Anja Marie Westram, Roger K. Butlin, Marina Rafajlovic, Christelle Fraisse
Summary: Understanding population divergence and speciation is crucial for evolutionary biology. High species diversity in the sea is considered a paradox due to the lack of geographical barriers. However, combining genome-wide data with demographic modelling has provided new insights. Studies show that barriers to gene flow exist in the sea but divergence can also occur without strict isolation.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Alan Le Moan, Marina Panova, Aurelien De Jode, Olga Ortega-Martinez, Marten Duvetorp, Rui Faria, Roger Butlin, Kerstin Johannesson
Summary: Understanding the genetic targets of natural selection is a challenging goal in population genetics. Using the marine snail as an example, this study explores the genomic architecture and adaptive significance of a candidate gene.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Roger K. Butlin
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anja Marie Westram, Roger Butlin
Article
Microbiology
Emma L. Berdan, Fabian Roger, Maren Wellenreuther, Alexandra Kinnby, Gunnar Cervin, Ricardo Pereyra, Mats Topel, Kerstin Johannesson, Roger K. Butlin, Carl Andre
Summary: Sandy beaches are important biogeochemical hotspots that connect marine and terrestrial ecosystems via organic matter transfer. This study investigates the microbial communities of wrackbeds and a primary consumer, the seaweed fly, along a well-studied ecological gradient. The results show the dominance of polysaccharide degraders in both microbiomes, with consistent differences between wrackbed and fly samples. Additionally, shifts in microbial communities and functionality between the North and Baltic Sea are observed, potentially due to changes in the composition of polysaccharides in different seaweed communities. This study highlights the complexity of wrackbed microbial communities and the trophic consequences of shifts in near shore algal communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James Reeve, Roger K. Butlin, Eva L. Koch, Sean Stankowski, Rui Faria
Summary: Inversions play a key role in adaptation and speciation, and the intertidal snail Littorina saxatilis exhibits strong associations between inversions and phenotypic differences. Inversion polymorphisms are widespread across the species range.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joao Carvalho, Hernan E. Morales, Rui Faria, Roger K. Butlin, Vitor C. Sousa
Summary: In this study, a new Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) method was developed to infer the demographic history using pool-seq data. The results showed that pool-seq data can distinguish between general scenarios of ecotype formation and infer relevant demographic parameters.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Joao Carvalho, Rui Faria, Roger K. K. Butlin, Vitor C. C. Sousa
Summary: Pool-seq is a valuable tool in population genomics and molecular ecology, but it has challenges in accurately estimating allele frequencies. Researchers have developed poolHelper, an R package that simulates SNP data, taking into account unequal individual contributions and sequencing errors. This tool allows users to optimize sampling schemes for Pool-seq studies.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Emma L. Berdan, Nicholas H. Barton, Roger Butlin, Brian Charlesworth, Rui Faria, Ines Fragata, Kimberly J. Gilbert, Paul Jay, Martin Kapun, Katie E. Lotterhos, Claire Merot, Esra Durmaz Mitchell, Marta Pascual, Catherine L. Peichel, Marina Rafajlovic, Anja M. Westram, Stephen W. Schaeffer, Kerstin Johannesson, Thomas Flatt
Summary: Inversions are structural mutations that have a significant impact on adaptation and speciation. However, their study has been challenging due to reduced recombination and the effects of drift and hitchhiking. This review examines the different mechanisms of selection that affect the evolution of inversions, emphasizing the complexity of analyzing the causes underlying their evolution.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)