Institutional racism in the higher education, universities and scientific research sectors

Institutional racism refers to one community suppressing the other. Stokely Carmichael and Charles V. Hamilton first used the term in their 1967 book Black Power: The Politics of Liberation. In my opinion, institutional racism in the higher education, universities, and scientific research sectors is a pervasive issue. It involves systemic discrimination and bias permeating institutions, policies, practices, and attitudes. This type of racism is often subtly embedded within the fabric of these systems, making it challenging to identify and address.

The history of racism in higher education dates back to the founding of colleges and universities in America. Many of these institutions were established to explicitly train white men, excluding black students from societal leadership positions. As a result, students of colour were excluded from higher education for centuries. Even after formal segregation ended in the mid-20th century, significant barriers to access and success persisted for minority students. Read more

New jobs in science. Options for graduates in the age of artificial intelligence (AI)

The rise of AI and its impact on job opportunities for science graduates.

The dawn of the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has created a paradigm shift in various industries, significantly altering the job landscape for science graduates. As machine learning algorithms evolve, the demand for experts in AI and related fields keeps growing. One of the most significant impacts of AI on job opportunities is its ability to automate tasks that were once considered purely human domains. This has led to a surge in new jobs requiring a solid understanding of technology and human interactions - "AI-safe" jobs- which balance AI operations and human intervention.

In addition to these specialised roles, AI is creating new job opportunities in interdisciplinary fields requiring cross-disciplinary solid skills.  Science graduates can find exciting career paths in fields such as data science, AI research, and development, where they can apply their skills to advance the capabilities of AI systems. For example, computer science or mathematics graduates may be particularly well-suited for roles involving algorithm design, machine learning models, and natural language processing. Graduates with expertise in science and the arts can find rewarding positions as user experience (UX) researchers or interaction designers, where they can help ensure that AI systems are designed with human needs and preferences in mind. Read more

7 best science fiction books every virologist and virus enthusiast should read after the pandemic

Introduction to Best Science Fiction Books on Viruses

Science fiction has long been a popular genre for exploring the impact of viruses and viral infections on our world. From classic novels like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to more modern works like Richard Preston’s The Hot Zone, science fiction writers have often used virus-related stories to explore complex themes around technology, human behaviour and morality. 

 In this article, we will look at 7 of the best books that examine these topics in detail through thrilling plots involving viruses or their effects. The world has witnessed, after the COVID-19 pandemic, a virus like the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can do.  Earlier, the world has seen the viral infections caused by HIV and Ebola virus, though not to the extent of world lockdown.  Here, I list the best books that offer unique insights into how an outbreak can affect society and individuals while providing plenty of entertainment value along the way!

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