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Citations are an important component in the assessment of academic performance. Yet, the growing literature, combined with format constraints of journals, encourage citation of reviews in preference to primary research. This diverts academic credit from the discoverer.
Silvio Berlusconi's government seems set on its course to reform Italy's troubled education system through heavy cuts in funding to schools, universities and scientific research, prompting a belated flurry of protests.
This year's Nobel Prizes mark the most significant technological advance in cell biology, GFP et al., as well as two discoveries in virology with major health implications.
Biological research is benefiting from an explosion of data. There is an urgent need to invest in bioinformatic infrastructure and education to interpret this data and guarantee its archiving.
At a time when change is necessary, French researchers are on the barricades resisting efforts to reform CNRS, the country's well respected basic research agency.
Funding agencies have set up dedicated schemes to help the plight of young principal investigators. But is the playing field level for all qualified scientists?
With a new national science academy, an 'excellence initiative', a roadmap for clinical research and a beefed-up science budget, 2008 looks rosy for German science.
