This was originally posted at: http://blogs.plos.org/paleocomm/?p=487 OpenCon 2014 was an epic milestone for the global research community. OpenCon 2015 was different. OpenCon 2015 was a storm. Never have I seen such energy, such drive, such raw creativity unleashed than on the few days we had in Brussels. Designed to bring together students and early career researchers from […]
The impact factor is one of the most mis-used metrics in the history of academia. Stephen Curry and others have written much about the ‘impact factor’ disease, stating that if you use it in almost any form then you’re “statistically illiterate”, something which I’m inclined to agree with. But such conversations about the impact factor […]
A few months ago, we published the crowd-sourced Open Research Glossary, details of which can be found here. We’ve taken this to the next level now, and published the updated and much prettier version of this resource on Figshare. This means it is now openly licensed for re-use, and can also be cited like any […]
This was originally posted on the PLOS Paleo blog Crocodiles are freakin’ amazing animals. They’ve been around for about 250 million years, and throughout this time have survived two mass extinctions, and at least twice decided to hitch up and take to the seas. Their historical diversity, and general weirdness, was vast compared to what […]
Spinosaurus stormed into the public imagination when it was witnessed scrapping with T. rex in the wildlife documentary known as Jurassic Park III. It’s popularity subsequently boomed, as frankly, it is a totally bizarre dinosaur. It’s back is adorned with a large sail, it had long clawed arms for grappling, and a snout that resembles a […]
For those not into Twitter and Facebook, you might have missed the recent launch of the new PLOS Paleo network! PLOS is an open access publisher, and the overall aim is to combine access to published scientific articles with community-driven communication of that research. Which I think is pretty awesome, as you have both specialist and […]
For those who haven’t seen, recently a new ‘giant raptor from Hell’ was discovered! As a cousin to the infamous Velociraptor, it represents one of the largest members of the group known as Dromaeosauridae, which were the close relatives of early birds. The new giant raptor lived alongside other beasties like T. rex and comes […]