What I learned in 2020
This year, COVID-19 brought science to the forefront, and we learned how impressive and resilient the U.S. scientific enterprise is. Continue Reading
Health & Science
Lessons from 2020: To avoid future disasters, improve science communication
To increase both the quantity and quality of science communication we must invest in communication training, incentives for public communication by scientists and jobs focused on sharing science. Having a society that is better informed about and more engaged in science will best position us to face the challenges of the future. Continue Reading
Child and youth suicidality during the pandemic and opportunities for prevention
Though we cannot yet definitively say whether the pandemic is associated with an increase in suicide attempts, available evidence suggests that we should not rule it out and that increased suicide prevention efforts are needed. Fortunately, mental health professionals and policymakers have developed and are currently implementing ways to address these concerns. Continue Reading
Student Blog: The Gap Between COVID-19 and the Hispanic Community in Houston
An examination of COVID-19 coverage by Spanish-language media in Houston shows that language barriers are making some of the city’s marginalized communities even more vulnerable to the virus. Continue Reading
CRISPR/Cas9 developers awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna have been awarded the 2020 Chemistry Nobel Prize for developing a process that makes the editing of genetic sequences simpler, faster and more precise. It is the first science Nobel ever awarded to a team of women, and only the third all-female Chemistry Nobel award in the 119 years of existence of the Nobel Prize. Continue Reading
Medicine Nobel Prize goes to Hep-C researchers
The 2020 Nobel Prize winners in medicine highlight that all scientific research is collaborative, even if only a select few are recognized as the winners. Continue Reading
Where Have All the Domestic Graduate Students Gone?
University professor Moshe Vardi condemns the actions taken by the U.S. government to restrict the immigration of technical workers into the country but also questions why the U.S. has become so dependent on international students as the major workforce for its science and engineering research enterprise. Continue Reading