Gender discrimination continues to persist in STEM disciplines. In Volume I of the MIT Science Policy Review, Stephanie Kong and colleagues highlight the need to reduce gender bias in STEM. They suggest that it is important to persuade institutions to enact policies that improve workplace diversity and job accessibility by systematically addressing gender biases and providing better metrics for assessing gender equity. The front cover of Volume I, designed by Sofia Hanabergh, further emphasizes the fact that promoting diverse STEM role models could inspire the next generation of scientists.
Emissions of halocarbon refrigerants accelerate global warming. In Volume I of the MIT Science Policy Review, Martin Wolf and colleagues suggest that compiling inventories of refrigerants could help institutions develop practical plans to reduce their use. The authors also point out that it is important to find effective alternatives to halocarbons by investing in research on chemicals which might be more efficient and environmentally-friendly. The back cover of Volume I, designed by Martin Wolf, illustrates the negative impact of halocarbons on our environment.
Editorial
Editor’s Note | Aug. 20, 2020
Scientists have a responsibility to the public
Scientists should make their voices heard on matters concerning their expertise that affect the general public in a jargon-free way.
Reviews
Artificial Intelligence | Aug. 20, 2020
A self driving license: Ensuring autonomous vehicles deliver on the promise of a safer roads
Autonomous vehicles will only be safer than human drivers if appropriate support and testing protocols are provided and enforced.
Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare | Aug. 20, 2020
Current regulations will not protect patient privacy in the age of machine learning
Changing the current U.S. “reasonable expectation of privacy” doctrine and ending the restriction of HIPAA to only the healthcare industry are two specific steps local or federal governments can take to protect privacy in the age of ML
Climate Change & Energy | Dec. 15, 2020
Our remaining options for preventing a nuclear Iran
Returning to a cooperative agreement such as the Iran deal, though made challenging by mutual distrust, provides the best chance to prevent Iran from resuming a nuclear weapons program.
Climate Change & Energy | Aug. 20, 2020
Transmission transition: Modernizing U.S. transmission planning to support decarbonization
Federal policy changes may increase adoption of non-transmission alternatives, which can defer or replace the need for new transmission infrastructure.
Climate Change & Energy | Aug. 20, 2020
Institutions and governments can slow climate change by regulating and reducing halocarbon refrigerant use
There are gaps in federal regulation of halocarbon refrigerant use. This leaves room for state, local, and voluntary policies to reduce halocarbon use and emissions.
Climate Change & Energy | Aug. 20, 2020
Coral reefs are critical for our food supply, tourism, and ocean health. We can protect them from climate change
Coral reefs provide ecosystem services worth $11 trillion dollars annually by protecting coasts, sustaining fisheries, generating tourism, and creating jobs across the tropics
Healthcare | Aug. 20, 2020
Therapeutic gene editing is here, can regulations keep up?
Additional oversight is required for effective widespread implementation of genome editing therapies in a safe and ethical manner.
Healthcare | Aug. 20, 2020
Antibiotic resistance: How to prevent the next public health emergency
Governments can legislate policies to stimulate new antibiotic production, while mandating equitable development and sustainable usage.
Science Enterprise | Aug. 20, 2020
Reducing gender bias in STEM
Institutions can enact policies to improve workplace diversity and job accessibility by systematically addressing gender biases and providing better metrics for assessing gender equity.
Science Enterprise | Aug. 20, 2020
Federal R&D funding: the bedrock of national innovation
Federal research and development (R&D) funding has significantly declined as a share of GDP for several decades.
Space & Security | Aug. 20, 2020
A sustainable geostationary space environment requires new norms of behavior
The absence of norms of behavior in space poses a threat to peaceful satellite operations.