Links

Some links collected over the last months.

• I am sure you have heard of the hybrid perovskite solar cells. Here the current Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart from NREL: the perovskite efficiencies improved quite rapidly to more than 22% power conversion efficiency (let’s hope the stability improves as well), but other thin film PV technologies such as CIGS also gain momentum again, as evidenced by the increasing slope in the chart;-)
  • related to efficiency reporting: NREL article Claims for Solar Cell Efficiency Put to Test at NREL featuring Keith Emery who is well known for coauthoring the Solar Cell Efficiency Tables
  • For a reading list on hybrid perovskite solar cells (and if you do not mind Mendeley so much), see a large collection at the corresponding Mendeley group initiated by Aron Walsh
• Matt Might’s Productivity tips, tricks and hacks for academics. I linked to this in 2012, but it is regularly updated and also worth to be read again. See also the other articles and howtos. Let me highlight the posts cripple your technology as productivity boost for focussed work, and How to get tenure in view of an academic career

• Terence Tao’s Career advice. While focussed on an academic career in mathematics, it is relevant also for natural sciences.

  • By the way, a nice portrait on Terence Tao can be found in the Ney York Times Magazine: The Singular Mind of Terry Tao
• I was reminded again by a post of Ross McKenzie of the Last Week Tonight Show by the comedian John Oliver on Scientific Studies

• tweet by F X Coudert on a paper retraction: resigning as (co)author afterwards should not be possible!

  • Related from the Retraction Watch Blog: Weekend Reads and a summary of recent posts
• The Feynman lectures on physics for free online reading (probably linked to them before)

• Kingsreview: How Academia and Publishing are Destroying Scientific Innovation: A Conversation with Sydney Brenner
  

• Patt Thomson on the pdf alibi syndrome. Know thyself…

• A Nature Editorial: Take more risks – Scientific innovation is being smothered by a culture of conformity

• Nature’s Monya Baker asks if there is a reproducibility crisis in science: 1,500 scientists lift the lid on reproducibility. Shows clearly that impact and reporducibility should have a better balance

• Anonymous academic writes in The Guardian, Academics are being hoodwinked into writing books nobody can buy – Interesting and somewhat depressing experience regarding the scientific publishing business

• For beginners and advanced referees: Niklas Elmquist on Mistakes Reviewers Make

I will be at the ISCPAC 2016 meeting next week. In case you are also there, meet up:-)

[2016-06-07 Some Updates in the afternoon;-)]