Category Archives: musings

The Economist on science

The Economist goes in hard on science, with plenty of compelling insights:

  • VC’s believe half of published scientific research cannot be replicated, though the figures cited from Amgen and Bayer are even more dismal
  • between 2000 and 2010, 80,000 patients took part in clinical trials based on research later retracted
  • 1 in 3 researchers know of a colleague who has fudged results
  • Negative results now account for 14% of papers, down from 30% in 1990

The false trails laid down by shoddy research are an unforgivable barrier to understanding.

Source: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21588069-scientific-research-has-changed-world-now-it-needs-change-itself-how-science-goes-wrong

PDF: Problems with scientific research

Salary = BS Blood Money

It seems to be that the more pay a job demands, the more BS that job is required to defend.

On the face of it, lawyers, medical proceduralists, bankers, corporate CEOs and directors general all appear to be highly skilled, dedicated and talented leaders. Up close, I can’t help thinking they are more often just supreme merchants of bluff, opportunism and chutzpah – perhaps also the core qualities of modern leadership. The more BS you have to spruik, the more you get paid.

Surely that’s all a really good thing.