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The National Autonomous University of Mexico ranked highly in a survey that examined Mexican universities' efforts to improve gender equality.Credit: NortePhoto/Alamy
Mexican science faces its #MeToo moment
An outpouring of women’s stories on social media has prompted fierce debate about sexual harassment and assault in Mexican academia. “We have serious problems in dealing with gender-based violence in higher education institutions,” says sociologist Ana Buquet, who last year published a damning survey of institutions’ gender equality policies. “The authorities can no longer shun the issue.”
UK mouse-research centre at risk
Less than a month after the controversial decision by the Wellcome Sanger Institute to close its world-leading animal facility, another top British mouse-research centre is under threat. Senior scientists at the MRC Harwell Institute’s Mammalian Genetics Unit have written an open letter decrying a recommendation to close the facility’s on-site academic research unit. Its large mouse-breeding facility — which houses 60,000 research mice — would remain open under the proposals.
Read more: Genomics institute to close world-leading animal facility (from May)
Discrimination hits LGBT+ physical scientists
Nearly one-third of physical-sciences researchers from sexual and gender minorities in the United Kingdom have considered leaving their jobs because of their workplace climate, says a survey of more than 600 people by British physics, astronomy and chemistry societies. The report calls for institutions to create an environment in which all scientists can flourish. “If you think you can just skim through [training] or put a rainbow flag up one day a year, you’ve not done your job well enough,” says astrophysicist and campaigner Alfredo Carpineti.
Reference: Exploring the workplace for LGBT+ physical scientists survey
Triumphant success of HPV vaccine
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has significantly cut rates of cervical cancer-causing infections in the ten years since it was launched in some countries. A review of studies covering 60 million people in 14 high-income countries showed that the jab had slashed HPV infections and the occurrence of anogenital warts and a type of pre-cancerous cells in the cervix. The results raise hopes that cervical cancer will be eliminated in countries where high vaccination coverage can be maintained.
FEATURES & OPINION
Ancient proteins reveal humanity’s history
When a jawbone found on Tibetan Plateau was revealed to be from a Denisovan, it was the first time a member of that group was found outside its namesake cave in Siberia — and the first time that an ancient hominin had been identified using only proteins. It is one of the most striking discoveries yet for the fledgling field of palaeoproteomics, in which scientists analyse ancient proteins in fossils that might have lost all traces of DNA.
Read more: Biggest Denisovan fossil yet spills ancient human’s secrets (from May)
Why I made PhD resource megalist for people of colour
As an aspiring first-generation PhD student, planetary scientist Lavontria Miché Aaron amassed a detailed list of scholarships, internships, fellowships, graduate application fee waivers, travel grants and mentors. “I’ve encountered more brick walls than anyone can count, but I made it to my goal, even if it was off the beaten path,” says Aaron. “I want people of colour to know about the opportunities that exist.”
Reference: Resources for POCs in STEAM spreadsheet
Surviving the biggest exam in the world
Every year, nearly 10 million students take the gaokao — China’s national university entrance exam. Particle physicist Yangyang Cheng tells her story of taking the test that “represents the best and worst of China, inducing the most aspirational of dreams and deepest cycles of despair”.
