Special Report in 2009

Feelings of inadequacy in one's field sometimes plague even the most accomplished scientists, especially women. Karen Kaplan analyses this apparent phenomenon and its impact.

Getting results from experiments can be difficult, especially if the materials you work with decide to fight back. Amber Dance investigates some of the unappreciated risks of being at the bench.

The hiring of US science faculty members has slowed considerably. Karen Kaplan tracks the administrators who are trying to keep programmes intact.

Ricki Lewis reports on biological anthropologists' branching out into crime forensics and science policy.

The government's assessment of UK colleges and universities sets up a waiting game for new funds and recruitment. Karen Kaplan reports.