Power

Power and Power Abuse in Academia

Academia – we would like to imagine, is a place where collaboration outweighs competition, recognition is tied only to merit and resources are equally distributed. However, we know in reality that the playing field is not equal for all participants and a select few often possess more power and privilege than others. This power imbalance does not only promote egocentric practices, inequalities and hierarchies, but also diminishes opportunities for innovation and good scientific practice, as well as increases the likelihood of mental health issues.

We look forward to hearing about your personal experiences as well as your reflections on the experiences of academics in general, institutional practices and system-level trends.

Contribute!

What’s the Content of Fact-checks and Misinformation in Germany?

May 16, 2024 | #AIinResearch, #Power

In this short analysis, Sami Nenno takes a closer look at the content of fact-checks and misinformation in Germany.

Do you dare? What female scientists expect when communicating

Nov 14, 2023 | #Authorship, #OpenScience, #Power

Scientists are increasingly expected to engage with the public. At the same time, they face increasing hostility when they speak out. Female scientists, as a more frequent target of sexist hostility, fear being attacked and enjoy speaking out less than their male counterparts. The question arises: Is science communication really feasible for everyone in the current hostile environment? This short analysis focuses on female scientists as a subgroup of a large survey sample and how their assessment of public engagement differs from that of their male counterparts.

What happens to science when it communicates?

Nov 7, 2023 | #OpenScience, #Power

In August 2023 Benedikt Fecher conducted an interview with Clemens Blümel from the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) on the topic of ‘what happens when science opens up and communicates’ and the emerging challenges for future scientific communication.

Gender Disparity in Science

Sep 11, 2023 | #Power

Bao & Huang on gender biases in Chinese scientific committees, calling for policy reforms in academia.

Now it is time to build up the pressure! How to improve working conditions in academia

Mar 20, 2023 | #Ethics, #Power

Kristin Eichhorn, co-initiator of #IchbinHanna, on fair working conditions in research and the failed reform proposal in Germany.

A call for an alliance between female academic leaders and early career researchers to improve the academic STEM system

May 4, 2022 | #GlobalScience, #Power

This opinion piece draws attention to the disadvantage of the academic STEM system, especially for female academics.

Another Year in Elephants

Dec 22, 2021 | #COVID-19, #Power

A wrap up of 2021 on Elephant in the Lab by the Editorial Team

Snails on the chase: How to cope with anxiety in an academic career

Oct 19, 2021 | #Power

Zhao et al. on an individual’s role in the scientific system and some coping mechanisms to alleviate the stress of the precarious working conditions of early career academics.

Breaking the status quo – The role of a small funding organization in gender mainstreaming

May 12, 2021 | #Power

Donia Lasinger on the contribution of the Vienna Science and Technology Funds (WWTF) as a compareably small funding organization to equality of all genders

When your journal reads you

Apr 14, 2021 | #Infrastructure, #Power

Renke Siems on user tracking on science publisher platforms, its implications for their individual users and ways to face this issue

On creating a good research environment

Mar 31, 2021 | #Power

Sabine Müller on the hierarchical system of German academia and why it could be a problem for the wellbeing of young academics and Ph.D. candidates. She compares it to her experiences at Oxford University and sheds light on the differences between the two research cultures.