ABSTRACT
This paper presents the findings of our fourth annual horizon-scanning exercise, which aims to identify topics that increasingly may affect conservation of biological diversity. The 15 issues were identified via an iterative, transferable process by a team of professional horizon scanners, researchers, practitioners, and a journalist. The 15 topics include the commercial use of antimicrobial peptides, thorium-fuelled nuclear power, and undersea oil production.
Subject(s)
Conservation of Natural Resources/trends , Animals , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides , Aquaculture/trends , Aquatic Organisms , Autoimmune Diseases/etiology , Biodiversity , Cocos , Coral Reefs , DNA/analysis , Extinction, Biological , Extraction and Processing Industry/trends , Forestry/trends , Humans , Hypersensitivity/etiology , Nuclear Power Plants/statistics & numerical data , Nucleic Acids/chemical synthesis , Printing/trends , Solar Energy/statistics & numerical data , Thorium , Water CycleABSTRACT
Horizon scanning identifies emerging issues in a given field sufficiently early to conduct research to inform policy and practice. Our group of horizon scanners, including academics and researchers, convened to identify fifteen nascent issues that could affect the conservation of biological diversity. These include the impacts of and potential human responses to climate change, novel biological and digital technologies, novel pollutants and invasive species. We expect to repeat this process and collation annually.
Subject(s)
Conservation of Natural Resources/trends , Ecosystem , Aerosols , Animals , Atmosphere , Charcoal , Climate Change , Environmental Pollution , Forecasting , Genetic Engineering , Humans , Nitrogen , Oceans and Seas , Oxygen , Seawater , Telemetry , Tissue Engineering , Volcanic EruptionsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare data on the employment profiles (such as grade, place of work, etc.) of male and female clinical academics. METHODS: We carried out a comparative review of workforce data within academic medicine for 2004 and 2005, pertaining to the workforce in all specialties in UK medical schools. RESULTS: We identified 3255 and 3365 lecturers, senior lecturers, readers and professors in 2004 and 2005, respectively, of whom 21% were women. In 2004 and 2005, 12% and 11%, respectively, of 1157 and 1364 UK medical professors were women. The number of women filling such positions in individual schools ranged from 0% to 33% across schools. The total numbers of women post-holders and their full-time equivalents were similar, indicating that the majority of posts were full-time. CONCLUSIONS: In England only 1 in 10 medical clinical professors are women. At the onset of the study period, 6 medical schools employed no female professors, with a consequent lack of female role models at these institutions. Large variations between schools suggest that some workforce practices may be detrimental to women's academic careers.
