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Volume I

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.