As a result, the social and economic damage of lost learning could consequently prove devastating to a whole generation. Based on a study to assess the impact of skills differences on earning potential by Hanushek and Woessmann (2020)—where data was correlated between studies from the OECD’s Survey of Adult Skills (PIACC) from 32 countries, and the latest assessment scores on the labour market income—a loss of just one third of a school year ultimately represents a loss of potential income of between 2.5 per cent to 4 per cent over the student’s adult working life.
ON-MERRIT is a 30 month project funded by the European Commission to investigate how and if open and responsible research practices could worsen existing inequalities. Our multidisciplinary team uses qualitative and computational methods in order to examine advantages and disadvantages in Open Science and Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI). ON-MERRIT aims at eventually suggesting a set of evidence-based recommendations for science policies, indicators and incentives, which could address and mitigate cumulative (dis)advantages, so called Matthew effects. The project acronym stands for Observing and Negating Matthew Effects in Responsible Research & Innovation Transition.
The library technology industry, broadly speaking, shows more affinity toward utility than innovation. Library automation systems are not necessarily exciting technologies, but they are workhorse applications that must support the complex tasks of acquiring, describing, and providing access to materials and services. They represent substantial investments, and their effectiveness is tested daily in the library. But more than efficiency is at stake: These products must be aligned with the priorities of the library relative to collection management, service provision, and other functions.
Outdated automation systems can reinforce work patterns that no longer reflect priorities as core library activities change. Bursts of innovation can create new products better aligned with current library realities. The products that emerge out of these creative booms then become mainstays that support the next phase of library operations. The academic library sector can be seen as a cycle of innovation that began eight years ago with the inception of an automation product substantially different from previous systems. The trajectory of innovation for public and school libraries has followed a different course, characterized by incremental change layered on top of longstanding systems with aging architectures […]
21st Century Information & Library Network 