World View in 2013

The new head of the European Research Council will have more power and focus than former presidents, says Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker.

Self-criticism is a virtue seldom possessed by men, and never by the leaders of Western science, says Colin Macilwain.

The United States must not follow through with its plans to scale back its Federal Emergency Management Agency, argues Donald Moynihan.

With ambitious expansion plans, China must work to create a robust and reliable nuclear regulatory system, says Qiang Wang.

Misinformation forms an inevitable part of public debate, but scientists should always focus on informing the decision-makers, advises Lynn Dicks.

To make misconduct more difficult, the scientific community should ensure that it is impossible to lie by omission, argues Daniele Fanelli.

Because confidentiality of health data cannot be guaranteed, people should consider both the risks and advantages of sharing them, argues Misha Angrist.

Scientists in restless territories such as Scotland, Quebec and Catalonia should embrace change, Colin Macilwain suggests.

Health systems must transcend clinical medicine and emphasize public-health approaches aimed at the drivers of disease, argues James D. Shelton.

Pilot schemes launched this year could be the start of a world-class system — if the country can solve its data-gathering problems, says Qiang Wang.

Work on how rumours arise and spread could help to dampen the effects of damaging misinformation circulating on the Internet, says Nicholas DiFonzo.

Scientists in the United States are often perceived as a Democratic interest group. For science’s sake this has to change, argues Daniel Sarewitz.