If the variability of lab animals contributes to the failure to replicate experiments, should this lead to further standardisation? The microbiome can significantly affect experimental results and this presents an interesting challenge. A perspective from philosophy of science offers clarification and investigates the alternative avenue of embracing variation. Our new publication is a close cooperation with biomedical researchers.

Witjes, Vera, Annemarie Boleij, & Halffman, W. (2020). The Microbiome of Laboratory Mice: Reducing versus Embracing Variation, Animals, 10(12), 2415. doi: 10.3390/ani10122415.

Scientific publishing in China is differs from international scientific publishing: journal licenses are restricted, administrative control is complex and cumbersome, but the system is far less oligopolistic. Our overview is out in Learned Publishing.
Wang, J., Halffman, W., & Zwart, H. (2020). The Chinese scientific publication system: Specific features, specific challenges. Learned Publishing, n/a(n/a). doi: 10.1002/leap.1326

🖋

Ik vind het best moeilijk om “positief te zijn” als ik het over het wetenschappelijke publicatiesysteem heb. Want de verhalen over wat er zoal mis gaat zijn wel erg bizar af en toe. Mijn column in Vox.

🖋

Editorial procedures, including peer review, could do with some more transparency and better documentation. Our article in Learned Publishing explains how our Platform for Responsible Journals could help.

Horbach, S. P. J. M., Hepkema, W. M., & Halffman, W. (2020). The Platform for Responsible Editorial Policies: An Initiative to foster Transparency in Scholarly Publishing. Learned Publishing. doi: 10.1002/leap.1312

🖋

Why are journals innovating peer review? Innovations are proposed with a wide variety of arguments, ranging from fairness to objectivity.

An overview for a general science audience in this guest editorial:

Halffman, W., & Horbach, S. P. J. M. (2020). What are innovations in peer review and editorial assessment for? Genome Biology, 21(1), 87. doi:10.1186/s13059-020-02004-4

Lezing voor Studium Generale, thuis opgenomen vanwege de corona crisis.

🖋

New publication:

Horbach SPJM, Breit E, Halffman W, Mamelund S-E: On the Willingness to Report and the Consequences of Reporting Research Misconduct: The Role of Power Relations. Science and Engineering Ethics 2020.

http://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-020-00202-8

Empirical investigation of how researchers claim their reporting of misconduct cases was affect by power relations, based on the survey conducted by the PRINTEGER project. Produced in cooperation with our Norwegian partners.

🖋

Misschien moeten we in het hoger onderwijs trekkers huren van de boeren om ons punt te maken. Column in Vox.

🖋

“Bezint er gij bezet! (Of niet)” Vier jaar na de Maagdenhuisbezetting, een essay review in Krisis naar aanleiding van de boeken van Joost de Blooijs en Casper Thomas daarover, met lijnen naar WOinactie.

Halffman, W. (2019). Bezint eer gij bezet! (of niet). Krisis, (1).