Calls for more Covid-19 cash for universities, and an open access plea stutters
United States
University groups in the United States have said a $2 trillion stimulus package approved for dealing with Covid-19 does not go far enough to support higher education, putting at risk research efforts for tackling the pandemic.
UK
Former science minister Chris Skidmore writes exclusively for Research Professional News, saying that the coronavirus pandemic highlights the need to take investment in R&D seriously. In another exclusive opinion piece, the head of the Science Media Centre, Fiona Fox, says the crisis shows scientists have learned to communicate.
In news, the chief executive of Universities UK has moved to deny claims that its board has agreed to back the return of student number controls due to the Covid-19 crisis. This comes as the prime minister’s chief adviser is now self-isolating due to Covid-19, according to media reports, and a think tank paper has called for a huge increase in quality-related funding to boost sector confidence.
There have also been calls for epidemic modellers and advanced imaging and progress on desperately needed ventilator development.
Europe
Attempts to persuade publishers to free up content to help researchers, students and academic staff during the coronavirus pandemic are having mixed success, according to UK higher education IT company Jisc. The warning comes as the rapid spread of coronavirus has laid bare the cracks in digitalisation at Swedish universities, as lecturers are struggling to cope with online tools and distance learning.
Australia
Australia’s top medical research funding agency has cancelled the 2020 round of a $50 million grant programme designed to fund teams of chief investigators tackling critical health problems. The National Health and Medical Research Council has shelved its Synergy Grants programme in response to increased pressure on medical researchers involved in Covid-19 projects.
New Zealand’s government must use its $12 billion Covid-19 rescue package to protect the economy and create social change when the pandemic recedes, a leading financial crisis academic has said.