Latest Comments on Science and Academia

  • Das Uni1 Projektkonzept (2016)

    Das Uni1 Projektkonzept (2016)

    Abstract: Die­ses Pro­jekt­kon­zept schil­dert, wie Hoch­schu­len mit Unter­neh­men Pro­jekte mit Stu­die­ren­den zu beid­sei­ti­gem Gewinn durch­füh­ren kön­nen. Unter­neh­men pro­fi­tie­ren durch Recruit­ing, Out­sour­cing und Inno­va­tion („ROI“), wel­che sich durch die Pro­jekte erge­ben. Hoch­schu­len gewin­nen neue Part­ner, ver­die­nen an den Pro­jek­ten und bie­ten attrak­ti­vere Lehre. Keywords: Industrie-Hochschul-Kooperation, Forschungstransfer, Geschäftsmodell, Lehre Reference: Dirk Riehle. “Das Uni1 Projektkonzept (2016).” Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg,…

  • Lost over call for open access for all scientific papers

    Lost over call for open access for all scientific papers

    I’m at a loss over the recent reports on the requirement for all research publications to be open access by 2020. Open access means that the research papers are accessible openly without a fee. There are plenty of confusing if not outright wrong statements in the press, but I’m not so much concerned with poor…

  • Follow-up on the discussions about knowledge for knowledge’s sake

    Follow-up on the discussions about knowledge for knowledge’s sake

    I’ve been enjoying the discussion around Patek’s recent video argument for knowledge for knowledge’s sake in several forums. I thought I’d summarize my arguments here. To me it looks all pretty straightforward. From a principled stance, as to funding research, it is the funder’s prerogative who to fund. Often, grant proposals (funding requests) exceed available…

  • The downside of the “knowledge for knowledge’s sake” argument

    The downside of the “knowledge for knowledge’s sake” argument

    On the PBS Newshour Duke University biologist Sheila Patek just made a passionate plea for “why knowledge for the pure sake of knowing is good enough to justify scientific research” using her own research into mantis shrimp as an example. While I support public funding for basic research, Patek makes a convoluted and ultimately harmful…

  • O RLY? LaTeX beautiful typesetting

    O RLY? LaTeX beautiful typesetting

    Too (professionally) funny not to share it.

  • At Dagstuhl for Agile Organizations workshop

    At Dagstuhl for Agile Organizations workshop