Veronique Kiermer
@verokiermer.bsky.social
Chief Scientific Officer @plos.org. Views are my own.
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
My new PLOS Bio piece about when one's work is misrepresented: "[T]here is a normative expectation within scholarly research that all parties are well-intentioned and truth-seeking...when invitations to engage genuinely are not accepted..scholarly discourse is ill-equipped to resolve the conflict."
Science becomes trustworthy by constantly questioning itself
What happens when the greatest strengths of science, such as openness, humility, self-criticism and self-correction, are exploited for political gain? This Perspective calls for scientists to affirm t...
journals.plos.org
August 4, 2025 at 12:15 PM
My new PLOS Bio piece about when one's work is misrepresented: "[T]here is a normative expectation within scholarly research that all parties are well-intentioned and truth-seeking...when invitations to engage genuinely are not accepted..scholarly discourse is ill-equipped to resolve the conflict."
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
In a thought-provoking @plosbiology.org Perspective article,
@briannosek.bsky.social asks whether science’s openness can be used against it, looking at how transparency and self-skepticism might be reframed in today’s discourse around golden standards
plos.io/4l8rNuE
#OpenScience 🧪
@briannosek.bsky.social asks whether science’s openness can be used against it, looking at how transparency and self-skepticism might be reframed in today’s discourse around golden standards
plos.io/4l8rNuE
#OpenScience 🧪
Science becomes trustworthy by constantly questioning itself
What happens when the greatest strengths of science, such as openness, humility, self-criticism and self-correction, are exploited for political gain? This Perspective calls for scientists to affirm t...
plos.io
August 11, 2025 at 11:49 AM
In a thought-provoking @plosbiology.org Perspective article,
@briannosek.bsky.social asks whether science’s openness can be used against it, looking at how transparency and self-skepticism might be reframed in today’s discourse around golden standards
plos.io/4l8rNuE
#OpenScience 🧪
@briannosek.bsky.social asks whether science’s openness can be used against it, looking at how transparency and self-skepticism might be reframed in today’s discourse around golden standards
plos.io/4l8rNuE
#OpenScience 🧪
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
🚨Still time to register. "Unconferences" are fun. And this one is about Responsible Research in Action, even better! A great opportunity to dig deep into important issues with people from different horizons.
Join the #ResponsibleResearchInAction Unconference in Berlin, Sep 22–24. The event brings together not just researchers, funders, publishers, patients and more, shaping the future of research together.
Learn more and register your place: plos.io/3JwdxP6
#ResponsibleResearch #RRiA2025 #OpenScience
Learn more and register your place: plos.io/3JwdxP6
#ResponsibleResearch #RRiA2025 #OpenScience
Responsible Research in Action Unconference: Rethinking How We Do Research – Together - The Official PLOS Blog
Learn how you can join global experts in co-creating solutions for responsible research, reproducibility, and open science.
plos.io
August 14, 2025 at 9:24 PM
🚨Still time to register. "Unconferences" are fun. And this one is about Responsible Research in Action, even better! A great opportunity to dig deep into important issues with people from different horizons.
Really excited to see this new partnership between MetaROR and PLOS Biology 👏 @metaror.bsky.social @plosbiology.org
We are proud to announce a new agreement with @rorinstitute.bsky.social and @aimosinc.bsky.social to become a partner journal with MetaResearch Open Review (MetaRoR) @metaror.bsky.social
#metaresearch #openscience 🧪
Learn more: plos.io/45wPZB9
#metaresearch #openscience 🧪
Learn more: plos.io/45wPZB9
PLOS Biology announces agreement to become a MetaROR partner journal - The Official PLOS Blog
Note: PLOS issued the following press release on Thursday, August 14th. SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Today, PLOS Biology announced a new agreement…
plos.io
August 14, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Really excited to see this new partnership between MetaROR and PLOS Biology 👏 @metaror.bsky.social @plosbiology.org
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
PLOS ONE metadata forms the basis of our study's Figure 1. We could only study PLOS ONE because PLOS made this metadata freely available (and in bulk XML, no less)!
Information is only useful if it is accessible!
plos.org/text-and-dat...
Information is only useful if it is accessible!
plos.org/text-and-dat...
August 13, 2025 at 10:27 PM
PLOS ONE metadata forms the basis of our study's Figure 1. We could only study PLOS ONE because PLOS made this metadata freely available (and in bulk XML, no less)!
Information is only useful if it is accessible!
plos.org/text-and-dat...
Information is only useful if it is accessible!
plos.org/text-and-dat...
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
tl;dr — this EO co-opts the language of open science to implement a system of political control wherein presidential appointees are given broad latitude to designate any number of reasonable scientific activities and inferences as scientific misconduct, and to penalize those involved accordingly.
Restoring Gold Standard Science
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 7301 of title 5, United
www.whitehouse.gov
May 24, 2025 at 9:28 PM
tl;dr — this EO co-opts the language of open science to implement a system of political control wherein presidential appointees are given broad latitude to designate any number of reasonable scientific activities and inferences as scientific misconduct, and to penalize those involved accordingly.
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
When Do Scholarly Retractions Become a Form of Censorship?
A talk by our Ivan Oransky, adapted by @quillette.bsky.social
A talk by our Ivan Oransky, adapted by @quillette.bsky.social
When Do Scholarly Retractions Become a Form of Censorship?
Focusing on the handful of papers that are retracted for political reasons can obscure the more important problems afflicting the field of academic publishing.
quillette.com
April 22, 2025 at 1:05 AM
When Do Scholarly Retractions Become a Form of Censorship?
A talk by our Ivan Oransky, adapted by @quillette.bsky.social
A talk by our Ivan Oransky, adapted by @quillette.bsky.social
Newly published Perspective on why we should rethink publishing to support #openscience with @niamhoconnor73.bsky.social @amudditt.bsky.social itt.bsky.social It gives the context that led us @plos.org to embark on a research & design project with support from GBMF and RWJF
bit.ly/44of6af
bit.ly/44of6af
Rethinking How We Publish to Support Open Science
Click on the article title to read more.
bit.ly
April 14, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Newly published Perspective on why we should rethink publishing to support #openscience with @niamhoconnor73.bsky.social @amudditt.bsky.social itt.bsky.social It gives the context that led us @plos.org to embark on a research & design project with support from GBMF and RWJF
bit.ly/44of6af
bit.ly/44of6af
🚨Submission deadline is approaching for the #EinsteinFoundationAward for Promoting Quality in Research. A prestigious and unique award recognizing efforts to improve research rigor, reliability and transparency. Three categories: three opportunities to nominate research heroes!
#Reminder: The €350K #EinsteinFoundationAward aims to provide recognition & publicity for outstanding efforts that enhance the rigor, reliability, robustness and transparency of research in three categories. The #CallForEntries closes 30/04/2025: award.einsteinfoundation.de
April 9, 2025 at 7:58 PM
🚨Submission deadline is approaching for the #EinsteinFoundationAward for Promoting Quality in Research. A prestigious and unique award recognizing efforts to improve research rigor, reliability and transparency. Three categories: three opportunities to nominate research heroes!
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
What remains of the CDC after Tuesday’s cuts is a hobbled agency, with a smaller global footprint, devoting fewer resources to environmental health, occupational health and disease prevention.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/h...
C.D.C. Cuts Threaten to Set Back the Nation’s Health, Critics Say
www.nytimes.com
April 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
What remains of the CDC after Tuesday’s cuts is a hobbled agency, with a smaller global footprint, devoting fewer resources to environmental health, occupational health and disease prevention.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/h...
Very insightful piece by @ludowaltman.bsky.social on why publishing reform requires assessment reform AND vice versa. Coordination is crucial.
🤝 The need to reform research assessment and scientific publishing practices is widely recognized. However, @ludowaltman.bsky.social argues that the assessment and publishing reform movements will be successful only if they manage to align their agendas.
👇 Read about it in our latest blog post
👇 Read about it in our latest blog post
Assessment reform and publishing reform need to go hand in hand
The need to reform research assessment and scientific publishing practices is widely recognized. However, Ludo Waltman argues that the assessment and publishing reform movements will be successful onl...
www.leidenmadtrics.nl
March 27, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Very insightful piece by @ludowaltman.bsky.social on why publishing reform requires assessment reform AND vice versa. Coordination is crucial.
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
I was lucky to work with Tara when she co-led the ACD Working Group Re-Envisioning NIH-supported postdocs. If true, this is a real loss but there’s zero chance her leadership won’t be appreciated elsewhere.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/26/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/03/26/t...
Tara Schwetz, who oversaw creation of ARPA-H, placed on leave by NIH
The NIH has placed deputy director Tara Schwetz on administrative leave, marking the third senior leader to depart the agency since the Trump administration took power roughly nine weeks ago.
www.statnews.com
March 26, 2025 at 7:54 PM
I was lucky to work with Tara when she co-led the ACD Working Group Re-Envisioning NIH-supported postdocs. If true, this is a real loss but there’s zero chance her leadership won’t be appreciated elsewhere.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/26/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/03/26/t...
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
Seismic scoop from @lenasun.bsky.social: A long-time anti-vaxer who was disciplined for practising medicine without a license has been selected by #HHS to conduct the study RFK Jr. wants looking yet again at whether vaccines cause autism. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Vaccine skeptic hired to head federal study of immunizations and autism
A long-discredited researcher and vaccine skeptic will conduct a government study on whether vaccines cause autism.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 25, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Seismic scoop from @lenasun.bsky.social: A long-time anti-vaxer who was disciplined for practising medicine without a license has been selected by #HHS to conduct the study RFK Jr. wants looking yet again at whether vaccines cause autism. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
We've started a consultation with academic leaders to understand how publishing a more complete record of research can support better recognition and rewards for researchers. Great to see a lot of alignment in our first workshop. theplosblog.plos.org/2025/03/why-...
Why we need to go ‘beyond the article’ to transform research - The Official PLOS Blog
Over the course of 18 months, we are working on an ambitious new project to Redefine Publishing. Working with stakeholders from across…
theplosblog.plos.org
March 26, 2025 at 7:21 AM
We've started a consultation with academic leaders to understand how publishing a more complete record of research can support better recognition and rewards for researchers. Great to see a lot of alignment in our first workshop. theplosblog.plos.org/2025/03/why-...
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
RFK Jr. has suggested allowing the H5N1 virus to spread on poultry farms, so as to identify birds that may be immune. Such an experiment would be disastrous, scientists say.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/h...
RFK Jr.’s Prescription for Bird Flu on Farms: Let It Spread (Gift Article)
The health secretary has suggested allowing the virus to spread, so as to identify birds that may be immune. Such an experiment would be disastrous, scientists say.
www.nytimes.com
March 18, 2025 at 7:17 PM
RFK Jr. has suggested allowing the H5N1 virus to spread on poultry farms, so as to identify birds that may be immune. Such an experiment would be disastrous, scientists say.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/h...
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
The Texas-New Mexico-Oklahoma #measles outbreak could be a long one, local public health official warns. www.statnews.com/2025/03/18/m...
Texas public health official predicts the measles outbreak could take a year to contain
The director of public health for the city of Lubbock said Tuesday that uptake of the measles vaccine “has definitely been a struggle,” and that the outbreak will be "large."
www.statnews.com
March 18, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The Texas-New Mexico-Oklahoma #measles outbreak could be a long one, local public health official warns. www.statnews.com/2025/03/18/m...
Once again a splendid line up of winners for this important award. The focus of the Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research is unique yet so important. If you can, join the live stream to honor the winners!
The 2024 Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research will be presented next Thursday, March 13! Join the @einsteinberlin.bsky.social livestream to be part of the ceremony and celebrate the winners: plos.io/3QOovQr
March 12, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Once again a splendid line up of winners for this important award. The focus of the Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research is unique yet so important. If you can, join the live stream to honor the winners!
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
openRxiv has arrived!
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of openRxiv as an independent, researcher-led nonprofit to oversee bioRxiv and medRxiv, the world’s leading preprint servers for life and health sciences.
openrxiv.org/introducing-...
#openRxiv #OpenScience #Preprints #bioRxiv #medRxiv
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of openRxiv as an independent, researcher-led nonprofit to oversee bioRxiv and medRxiv, the world’s leading preprint servers for life and health sciences.
openrxiv.org/introducing-...
#openRxiv #OpenScience #Preprints #bioRxiv #medRxiv
March 11, 2025 at 1:18 PM
openRxiv has arrived!
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of openRxiv as an independent, researcher-led nonprofit to oversee bioRxiv and medRxiv, the world’s leading preprint servers for life and health sciences.
openrxiv.org/introducing-...
#openRxiv #OpenScience #Preprints #bioRxiv #medRxiv
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of openRxiv as an independent, researcher-led nonprofit to oversee bioRxiv and medRxiv, the world’s leading preprint servers for life and health sciences.
openrxiv.org/introducing-...
#openRxiv #OpenScience #Preprints #bioRxiv #medRxiv
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
We (AIMOS and RORI) launched a metascience platform, MetaROR.org, several months ago 😀. Submit your metascience-related preprints and get peer reviews! André Brasil articulates the vision here, reflecting the hard work he's done to get the platform working for us. katinamagazine.org/content/arti...
Rethinking How Research is Reviewed, Curated, and Communicated
MetaROR uses the publish-review-curate model to share work in the field of metaresearch. In this Q and A, Moumita Koley and André Brasil discuss the platform in the context of a scholarly publishing s...
katinamagazine.org
March 11, 2025 at 12:58 AM
We (AIMOS and RORI) launched a metascience platform, MetaROR.org, several months ago 😀. Submit your metascience-related preprints and get peer reviews! André Brasil articulates the vision here, reflecting the hard work he's done to get the platform working for us. katinamagazine.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
More on the NIH termination of vaccine hesitancy studies.
The NIH is abruptly terminating at least 33 research grants for projects studying vaccine hesitancy. Projects studying mRNA vaccines may be next.
Important story by my colleague Sara Reardon in @science.org
🧪 #IDsky
Important story by my colleague Sara Reardon in @science.org
🧪 #IDsky
NIH to ax grants on vaccine hesitancy, mRNA vaccines
Move reflects vaccine skepticism of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
www.science.org
March 11, 2025 at 12:43 AM
More on the NIH termination of vaccine hesitancy studies.
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
As President Trump seeks to purge the federal government of “woke” initiatives, agencies have flagged hundreds of words to limit or avoid, according to a compilation of government documents.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The Words Federal Agencies Are Discouraged From Using Under Trump (Gift Article)
Federal agencies have issued guidance to employees on hundreds of terms to limit or avoid using. An analysis of government websites shows many of the same words being removed.
www.nytimes.com
March 9, 2025 at 3:30 PM
As President Trump seeks to purge the federal government of “woke” initiatives, agencies have flagged hundreds of words to limit or avoid, according to a compilation of government documents.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
Thank you for all the input so far on the Metascience Alliance! A wide range of perspectives is crucial for informing future development.
🗣️ Please continue to share this call. The feedback form is open through 3/16/25. (See further info in the thread below.)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
🗣️ Please continue to share this call. The feedback form is open through 3/16/25. (See further info in the thread below.)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
March 5, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Thank you for all the input so far on the Metascience Alliance! A wide range of perspectives is crucial for informing future development.
🗣️ Please continue to share this call. The feedback form is open through 3/16/25. (See further info in the thread below.)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
🗣️ Please continue to share this call. The feedback form is open through 3/16/25. (See further info in the thread below.)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
📢 New Report: Implementing Narrative CVs - 5 recommendations for Funders
These CVs can diversify the scientific workforce, broaden academic values, and drive societal impact 🌱 The report offers actionable strategies for funders.
Read the full report here: rori.figshare.com/articles/rep...
These CVs can diversify the scientific workforce, broaden academic values, and drive societal impact 🌱 The report offers actionable strategies for funders.
Read the full report here: rori.figshare.com/articles/rep...
March 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
📢 New Report: Implementing Narrative CVs - 5 recommendations for Funders
These CVs can diversify the scientific workforce, broaden academic values, and drive societal impact 🌱 The report offers actionable strategies for funders.
Read the full report here: rori.figshare.com/articles/rep...
These CVs can diversify the scientific workforce, broaden academic values, and drive societal impact 🌱 The report offers actionable strategies for funders.
Read the full report here: rori.figshare.com/articles/rep...
Reposted by Veronique Kiermer
FFS!
CDC Staff Prohibited From Co-Authoring Papers With World Health Organization Personnel
www.huffpost.com/entry/cdc-wh...
CDC Staff Prohibited From Co-Authoring Papers With World Health Organization Personnel
www.huffpost.com/entry/cdc-wh...
CDC Staff Prohibited From Co-Authoring Papers With World Health Organization Personnel
It’s just the latest “Orwellian” crackdown on government scientists.
www.huffpost.com
February 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
FFS!
CDC Staff Prohibited From Co-Authoring Papers With World Health Organization Personnel
www.huffpost.com/entry/cdc-wh...
CDC Staff Prohibited From Co-Authoring Papers With World Health Organization Personnel
www.huffpost.com/entry/cdc-wh...