28/12/12

Top controversies of 2012

The year is drawing to a close Copyright: Flickr/ArtbyRetta

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SciDev.Net revisits some of the hottest controversies in science and development in 2012: scientists at loggerheads, flawed studies, missing data, forgery, angry neighbours, environmental experiments, magic mountains and toxic gold.

Which SciDev.Net articles do you find the most intriguing? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us @scidevnet using #bestof2012

Scientists dispute basis for malaria deaths claim

Critics have questioned the methods of a study claiming that the WHO has greatly underestimated the number of malaria fatalities.

Plan to divert Indian rivers angers neighbouring nations

India’s Supreme Court has approved a multi-billion dollar plan to divert water from more than 30 Indian rivers to dry regions, angering the country’s neighbours.

GM cassava study retracted over ‘missing’ data

A study that claimed to boost cassava’s protein content has been retracted after the research team found they could not repeat its results.

Thai official in plagiarism dispute found guilty of forgery

Thailand’s academic credibility has been put in the spotlight again, with opinion divided over a government official’s forgery conviction.

Jordan’s nuclear programme comes under fire

Opinion in Jordan is divided over the country’s planned nuclear reactor and training centre, which protestors say jeopardises public safety.

Use of mercury in gold mining stirs controversy in Brazil

Scientists are challenging a decision to allow small-scale to continue to use mercury to separate gold from other minerals.

Review claims ‘poor science’ in deep-sea mining report

The environmental threats posed by the world’s first deep-sea mining project may have been poorly assessed, says a campaign group review.

Study claims west Java formations are ancient buildings

Controversy has arisen over claims that mountain formations in Indonesia are manmade structures capable of withstanding earthquakes.

Environmental concerns for Red Sea-Dead Sea project

Plans to channel more than a billion cubic metres of water each year from the Red to the Dead Sea have been challenged by environmentalists.

Boost to Venezuela’s science funding remains under fire

A controversial science reform that gave the Venezuelan government more control over a private sector R&D tax has boosted science funding.

 

See also: The most debated stories of 2012

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