New Book "The Open Revolution: Rewriting the Rules of the Information Age"

The Open Revolution: Rewriting the Rules of the Information Age

by Rufus Pollock, A/E/T Press, June 2018, ISBN: 9781789263428.

About the Book: Will the digital revolution give us digital dictatorships or digital democracies? Forget everything you think you know about the digital age. It's not about privacy, surveillance, AI or blockchain -- it's about ownership. Because, in a digital age, who owns information controls the future. Today, information is everywhere. From your DNA to the latest blockbusters, from lifesaving drugs to the app on your phone, from big data to algorithms. Our entire global economy is built on it and the rules around information affect us all every day. As information continues to move into the digital domain, it can be copied and distributed with ease, making access and control even more important. But the rules we have made for it, derived from how we manage physical property, are hopelessly maladapted to the digital world. In this urgent and provocative book, Rufus Pollock shows that we must make a choice between making information Open, shared by all, or making it Closed, exclusively owned and controlled, and how today's Closed digital economy is the source of problems ranging from growing inequality, to unaffordable medicines, to the power of a handful of tech monopolies to control how we think and vote. Choosing Open is the path to a more equitable, innovative and profitable future for all.

About the Author: Dr Rufus Pollock is a researcher, technologist and entrepreneur. He has been a pioneer in the global Open Data movement, advising national governments, international organisations and industry on how to succeed in the digital world. He is the founder of Open Knowledge, a leading NGO with a presence in over 35 countries, empowering people and organizations with access to information so they can create insight and drive change. Formerly, he was the Mead Fellow in Economics at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge. He has been the recipient of a $1m Shuttleworth Fellowship and is currently an Ashoka Fellow and Fellow of the RSA. He holds a PhD in Economics and a double first in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge.

Table of Contents

1 Prologue: Monopolies of Attention

2 An Open World

3 Defining Information and Openness

4 Patents and Copyright as "Intellectual Property"

5 Face to Face with Power

6 Triumph over Closed Minds: The Internet

7 Music to our Ears

8 How the Secret of Life Almost Stayed Secret

9 Meet Jamie Love

10 Openness: The Best Medicine

11 Making an Open World

12 Help us Make it Happen

13 Coda: The Original Copyfight

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New Book "Journalism, 'Fake News' and Disinformation: A Handbook for Journalism Education and Training"

Journalism, 'Fake News' and Disinformation: A Handbook for Journalism Education and Training

edited by Cherilyn Ireton and Julie Posetti; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Paris, 2018, ISBN: 9789231002816.

About the Book: This new publication by UNESCO is a timely resource and highly topical subject for all those who practice or teach journalism in this Digital Age. UNESCO's new handbook is an essential addition to teaching syllabi for all journalism educators, as well as practising journalists and editors who are interested in information, how we share it and how we use it. It is mission critical that those who practice journalism understand and report on the new threats to trusted information. Political parties, health professionals, business people, scientists, election monitors and others will also find the handbook useful in navigating the information disorder. Written by experts in the fight against disinformation, this handbook explores the very nature of journalism - with modules on why trust matters; thinking critically about how digital technology and social platforms are conduits of the information disorder; fighting back against disinformation and misinformation through media and information literacy; fact-checking 101; social media verification and combating online abuse. The seven individual modules are available online to download that enables readers to develop their own course relevant to their media environment.

Table of Contents

Module One | Truth, Trust and Journalism: Why it Matters | Cherilyn Ireton

Module Two | Thinking about "Information Disorder": Formats of Misinformation, Disinformation and Mal-Information | Claire Wardle & Hossein Derakshan

Module Three | News Industry Transformation: Digital Technology, Social Platforms and the Spread of Misinformation and Disinformation | Julie Posetti

Module Four | Combatting Disinformation and Misinformation Through Media and Information Literacy (MIL) | Magda Abu-Fadil 

Module Five | Fact-Checking 101 | Alexios Mantzarlis

Module Six | Social Media Verification: Assessing Sources and Visual Content | Tom Trewinnard and Fergus Bell

Module Seven | Combatting Online Abuse: When Journalists and Their Sources are Targeted | Julie Posetti

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See Also

• Individual Modules
• Background Information

Journal of Scientometric Research, 7(2) 2018 issue is now online.

Journal of Scientometric Research

Vol 7, Issue 2, May-Aug, 2018

http://jscires.org/v7/i2

Research Articles

• Data-Mining the Foundational Patents of Photovoltaic Materials: An Application of Patent Citation Spectroscopy. by Jordan A. Comins, Loet Leydesdorff. Journal of Scientometric Research,7(2):79-83
  
• Robotics Research in India: A Scientometric Assessment of Indian Publications Output during 2007-16. by B. M. Gupta,S. M. Dhawan. Journal of Scientometric Research,7(2):84-93
  
• Journal Impact Factor Weighted by SJR and 5-Year IF indicators of Citing Sources. by Ramiz M. Aliguliyev,Narmin A. Adigozalova. Journal of Scientometric Research,7(2):94-106
  
• The Slow Progress of Library and Information Science Research in Africa. by Swapan Kumar Patra,G. Mahesh. Journal of Scientometric Research,7(2):107-113.
  

Research Notes

• Use of NoSQL Database and Visualization Techniques to Analyze Massive Scholarly Article Data from Journals. by Gouri Ginde,Snehanshu Saha,Archana Mathur,Harsha Vamsi,Sudeepa Roy Dey,Swati Sampatrao Gambhire. Journal of Scientometric Research,7(2):114-119.
  
• Genealogy Tree: Understanding Academic Lineage of Authors via Algorithmic and Visual Analysis. by Sandra Anil,Abu Kurian,Sudeepa Roy Dey,Snehanshu Saha,Ankit Sinha. Journal of Scientometric Research,7(2):120-124.
  

Commentary

• A.V. Hill and Shaping of Modern Science in India. by Anasua Mukherjee Das. Journal of Scientometric Research,7(2):125-126.
  

Book Reviews

• The Innovation Paradox- Developing-Country Capabilities and the Unrealised Promise of Technological Catch-Up. by Ashish Gosain. Journal of Scientometric Research,7(2):127-129.
  
• Changing Context of Labour from Agro+Industrial Society to Knowledge Society. by Bidyarthi Dutta. Journal of Scientometric Research,7(2):130-132.
  
• Conflicts of Interest: My Journey Through India's Green Movement. by Anwesha Borthakur. Journal of Scientometric Research,7(2):133-135
  
• India as a Pioneer of Innovation. by Ashish Gosain. Journal of Scientometric Research,7(2):136-141.
  
• Data Management: A Practical Guide for Librarians. by Raj Kumar Bhardwaj. Journal of Scientometric Research,7(2):142-144.

Further Details

Science, Technology & Society special issue "Pharmaceutical Industry in the Global South" is now online.

Science, Technology and Society

Volume 23 Issue 3, November 2018

Special Issue "Pharmaceutical Industry in the Global South"

http://journals.sagepub.com/toc/stsa/23/3

Editorial

• Pharmaceutical Industry in the Global South: Introduction to Special Issue. Saradindu Bhaduri; pp. vii–viii. 
  

Articles  

• The Creation and Evolution of the Donor Funded Market for Antimalarials and the Growing Role of Southern Firms | Fabienne Orsi, Sauman Singh, Luis Sagaon-Teyssier | pp. 349–370
  
• Therapies Out of Reach: Anticancer Drugs and Global Trade Regimes | Dwaipayan Banerjee, James Sargent | pp. 371–387
• Why is Growth More Difficult to Achieve for Biopharmaceutical Latecomer Firms? Evidence from Taiwan | Mei-Chih Hu, Wen-Ching Hsu, Ching-Yan Wu | pp. 388–417
• Seizing Opportunities for Markets of Discovery: The Reconfigurations of Value Chains in Pharmaceutical Industry in the Global South | Muriela Hinard De Pádua, Margarida Fontes, Cristina Sousa | pp. 418–443
• 'New Drugs' Approvals in India: An Institutional Perspective | Saradindu Bhaduri, Thangminlen Kipgen | pp. 444–462
• Demythologising the 'Liberalisation' of Clinical Trial Regulations in India: A Practitioner's Perspective | Brijesh Regal | pp. 463–484
• Regulation Multiple: Pharmaceutical Trajectories and Modes of Control in the ASEAN | Mathieu Quet, Laurent Pordié, Audrey Bochaton, Supang Chantavanich, Niyada Kiatying-Angsulee, Marie Lamy, Premjai Vungsiriphisal | pp. 485–503
• Regulating Access and Protecting Traditional Health Knowledge through Intellectual Property Rights? Issues from a Holistic Health Systems Perspective | Ritu Priya, Chris M. Kurian | pp. 504–529.

Further Details

New Book "Many Sparks but Little Light: The Rhetoric and Practice of Electricity Sector Reforms in India"

Many Sparks but Little Light: The Rhetoric and Practice of Electricity Sector Reforms in India

by Prayas (Energy Group), Pune, 2017.

About the Book: 1991 was an inflection point in the history of modern India. The country embarked upon wide-ranging economic reforms in what came to be known as the Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation or LPG era. The electricity sector - indeed, the entire energy sector - has seen multiple waves of reforms since then. It has been a quarter century since the beginning of the reforms and there are indications that a fresh wave of reforms are in the offing in the electricity sector. Over this period, Prayas (Energy Group) has keenly followed and participated in the reforms process as a proactive, independent organisation offering constructive critique and suggestions to further public interest. Prayas (Energy Group) has authored a book born out of this unique engagement and understanding of the sector. The book critically examines many of these reforms and the impacts they have had, to understand if they achieved their expected objectives and if they helped in achieving the desirable socio-environmental outcomes. The in-depth analysis over eight chapters covers thermal, hydropower and renewable generation, electricity distribution, and associated fuel sectors of coal and natural gas. We hope that the book contributes to improve the design and implementation of further reforms, so that the sector overcomes its challenges in an equitable and sustainable manner. The book is dedicated to Girish Sant, founder coordinator of Prayas (Energy Group), who continues to inspire our work. Preview of the book (with details such as index, preface, foreword etc.) is available at http://tinyurl.com/ManySparksButLittleLight.

Table of Contents

The Long and Winding Road of Electricity Sector Reforms in India

Too Good to be True: The Story of Thermal Generation

Reforms in Hydropower: Missing the Woods for the Trees

Renewable Energy: The Imperative for the Future

Electricity Distribution: On Square One, Even with Reforms after Reforms

The Indian Coal Sector: A Black Past and a Grey Future

Natural Gas: Running on Empty

What's Past is Prologue

More About the Book

See Also

• Renewable Energy Data Portal, by Prayas
  

A Draft Strategy for the African Open Science Platform is released

Title: The African Open Science Platform: The Future of Science and the Science of the Future

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1407488

Authors: Participants of African Open Science Platform Strategy Workshop, March 2018; Advisory Council, African Open Science Platform Project; Technical Advisory Board, African Open Science Platform; Boulton, Geoffrey; Hodson, Simon. 

This document presents a Draft Strategy for the African Open Science Platform, and makes the scientific case for the African Open Science Platform (AOSP). 

Download Full-text PDF (Open Access)

Call for Applications: Globelics Academy 2018: The 13th International PhD School on Innovation and Development

Globelics Academy 2018: The 13th International PhD School on Innovation and Development

3rd to 8th December 2018, Tshwane, South Africa

Event Details

The thirteenth International Doctoral Academy of Global Network for the Economics of Learning, Innovation, and Competence Building Systems (GLOBELICS) will be convened from the 3rd December until the 14th December 2018 in the City of Tshwane, in the Republic of South Africa. The 2018 edition of the International GLOBELICS Doctoral Academy is organised by the Institute for Economic Research on Innovation (IERI) of Tshwane University of Technology which co-hosts the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Scientometrics and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (SciSTIP) together with the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) of Stellenbosch University.

The International GLOBELICS Doctoral Academy specifically aims to enhance the capacities, capabilities, and competencies of doctoral candidates who are undertaking theoretically-informed and policy-relevant empirical studies on innovation, learning, and the interactive dynamics of competence-building for development. In the context of the concurrent, global and interconnected challenges confronting contemporary world-systems, participants are expected to gain critical insights into the complex processes of sustainability and in framing emergent alternative futures.  The broad theme of the 15th International GLOBELICS Doctoral Academy will be "National Systems of Innovation in the Next (also known as the 4th) Industrial Revolution: Conceptual Challenges and Policy Implications".  The training will be based on critical keynote addresses, scholarly lectures, and presentations from the selected candidates. Student presentations are expected to focus explicitly on their on-going research, methodological challenges, and their contributions to the advancement of knowledge on innovation.

To qualify for participation, the PhD candidate should fulfil the following four requirements:

• Registration at a recognised degree-granting higher education institution as a Doctoral candidate;
  
• Successfully defended their Research Proposal and be at least in their second year of study;
  
• Research Proposal explicitly covers issues related to science, technology, innovation, and development;
  
• Capacity and capability to present an original academic paper derived from their doctoral studies.
  

Student selection will be based upon evaluation of (1) an Extended Abstract of four pages describing the candidate's research, (2) the applicant's C.V., and (3) a recommendation letter from the supervisor and/or from another senior scholar. Participants will be selected on the basis of the alignment of their doctoral research with the theme of the 13th International GLOBELICS Doctoral Academy. A maximum of fifteen (15) participants will be selected for the 2018 edition.  Selection aims at encouraging participation from countries of the global South. Applicants from and based in OECD member states are not excluded but may be required to cover some of their costs whilst those from lower-middle- and low-income countries can apply for supportive funding.

Extended Abstracts must be typed double-spaced in English using a 12-point Time-Roman font. They must include research objectives, methodology, expected results, and emergent conclusions, from their Doctoral research, including supporting figures, and references (this could be in addition to the four-page limitation). Extended Abstracts and Applications should be sent, by the 1st October 2018, to the Local Secretariat Office (e-mail: MadiaIL[@]tut.ac.za).  If approved, students must provide their full academic paper by no later than the 15th November 2018.  Funding will be selectively awarded on the basis of applications – students must specify in their application letter whether they require funding and provide an estimate of the least-cost amount required for travel expenses. As available funds cannot cover all students' expenses, all applicants are encouraged to raise their own funding.

Further Details