Column in 2010

Tough choices lie ahead in UK research policy, and they need to be debated openly in the general election campaign, says Colin Macilwain.

Bad risk management contributed to the current financial crisis. Two economists believe the situation could be improved by gaining a deeper understanding of what is not known, as Philip Ball explains.

The US defence department should be at the centre of the nation's energy policy, says Daniel Sarewitz.

The Human Genome Project attracted investment beyond what a rational analysis would have predicted. There are pros and cons to that, says Philip Ball.

Scientists must engage with the European Union's redesign of its research programmes to shore up the continent's competitive position.

Effective action on climate requires better politics, not better science, explains Daniel Sarewitz.

Automated recommender systems need to put some jokers in the pack, if we're not going to end up with narrow-minded tastes, says Philip Ball.

Scientists and the media are trapped in a cosy relationship that benefits neither. They should challenge each other more, says Colin Macilwain.

To sustain innovation, pharmaceutical companies will have to change the way they do research, says Derek Lowe. But does anyone know what changes to make?

Innovation policies are more likely to be successful if they leverage existing capabilities, argues Daniel Sarewitz.

Quantitative research assessment is a bad idea whose time has come, argues Colin Macilwain.

Can a link between speech patterns and downbeat music prove that minor keys are intrinsically sad, asks Philip Ball?

Science should focus more on understanding the present and less on predicting the future, argues Daniel Sarewitz.