Global Body Seeks Unified Approach to Assessing Science

Global Body Seeks Unified Approach to Assessing Science

The leaders of about 50 national research agencies in both the developed and developing worlds have announced the establishment of a Global Research Council (GRC) intended to examine issues of importance to science-funding agencies worldwide. 

According to a report on Nature News Blog, the GRC has already agreed to observe six principles for using peer review to assess and fund scientific research projects — including transparency, integrity, impartiality and confidentiality. Subra Suresh, head of the US National Science Foundation, which has spearheaded the creation of the new council, said that its formation was “the first step toward a more unified approach to the scientific process.”