Ethics Journal Club: Physics Grad Program, Emory University

  Possible future papers:

• Historical creation of the Letters format paper: "Form follows need", Editorial in Nature Physics (2016, 12, 285. doi:10.1038/nphys3731
  http://www.nature.com/nphys/journal/v12/n4/full/nphys3731.html?WT.ec_id=NPHYS-201604&spMailingID=51053373&spUserID=MTc2NjI4MDEyOQS2&spJobID=900078073&spReportId=OTAwMDc4MDczS0
  PDF in case link is lost


• Blog post (...long, thoughtful rant) discussing pressures on scientists to publish articles in high-profile journals, and how that results in pressures to simplify your story, leave out details, basically focusing on story over science.
  http://socialbat.org/2015/08/12/goals-of-science-vs-goals-of-scientists-a-love-letter-for-plos-one/
  PDF in case link is lost


• Issues and Perspectives from Science: "The Ethics of Authorship: Policies for Authorship of Articles Submitted to Scientific Journals" by Marlene Noble, March 30, 2001
  http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2001_03_30/nodoi.9203462371499238483
  PDF in case link is lost


• Merits and issues with ranking scientists by the H-index.
  "Ranking scientists", S.N. Dorogovtsev, J.F.F. Mendes, Nature Physics (2015), 11, 882–883. doi:10.1038/nphys3533
  http://www.nature.com/nphys/journal/v11/n11/full/nphys3546.html
  PDF in case link is lost


• Academic urban legends, Ole Bjørn Rekdal, Social Studies of Science 2014, 44, 638–654.
  Abstract: Many of the messages presented in respectable scientific publications are, in fact, based on various forms of rumors. Some of these rumors appear so frequently, and in such complex, colorful, and entertaining ways that we can think of them as academic urban legends. The explanation for this phenomenon is usually that authors have lazily, sloppily, or fraudulently employed sources, and peer reviewers and editors have not discovered these weaknesses in the manuscripts during evaluation. To illustrate this phenomenon, I draw upon a remarkable case in which a decimal point error appears to have misled millions into believing that spinach is a good nutritional source of iron. Through this example, I demonstrate how an academic urban legend can be conceived and born, and can continue to grow and reproduce within academia and beyond.
  PDF link


• NY Times article on how it can be difficult to debunk incorrect science once it has entered the mainstream consciousness, and how bad science can perpetuate itself.
  "No, You Do Not Have to Drink 8 Glasses of Water a Day" by Aaron E. Carroll from Aug 24, 2015
  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/25/upshot/no-you-do-not-have-to-drink-8-glasses-of-water-a-day.html?_r=0
  PDF in case link is lost


• Short summary of several biographies about famous physicists during World War II.
  "Heroes, monsters and people: When it comes to moral choices, outstanding physicists are very ordinary" by Jon Butterworth in the Guardian from Aug 24, 2015
  http://www.theguardian.com/science/life-and-physics/2015/aug/24/heroes-monsters-and-people-when-it-comes-to-moral-choices-outstanding-physicists-are-very-ordinary
  PDF in case link is lost


• Annals of Science, "The Truth Wears Off: Is there something wrong with the scientific method?" by Jonah Lehrer, The New Yorker, Dec 13, 2010
  PDF link


• "The Transition to Independent Research: Who Makes It, Who Doesn't, and Why", Barbara E. Lovitts, The Journal of Higher Education 2008, 79, 296-325. DOI: 10.1353/jhe.0.0006
  PDF link