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Study finds pretty plants hog research and conservation limelight
New Curtin University research has found a ‘beauty bias’ may be holding science back. The study revealed a tendency among scientists to choose colourful and visually striking plants for scientific study, which then benefit from subsequent conservation efforts, regardless of their ecological importance.
The mountain Gentian (Gentiana nivalis) is a striking alpine species that is topical and well studied.
Co-author John Curtin Distinguished Professor Kingsley Dixon from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences was part of an international team that looked for evidence of an aesthetic bias among scientists by analysing 113 plant species found in global biodiversity hotspot the Southwestern Alps and mentioned in 280 research papers published between 1975 and 2020.
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IMAGE: One of the plant species, Gentinana nivalis, found to attract more than its share of research attention. view more
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New Curtin University research has found a bias among scientists toward colourful and visually striking plants, means they are more likely to be chosen for scientific study and benefit from subsequent conservation efforts, regardless of their ecological importance.
Co-author John Curtin Distinguished Professor Kingsley Dixon from Curtin s School of Molecular and Life Sciences was part of an international team that looked for evidence of an aesthetic bias among scientists by analysing 113 plant species found in global biodiversity hotspot the Southwestern Alps and mentioned in 280 research papers published between 1975 and 2020.
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Research finds increased trust in government and science amid pandemic
New Curtin University research has found a dramatic increase in people’s trust in government in Australia and New Zealand as a result of the COVID pandemic.
Published in the Australian Journal of Public Administration, the team surveyed people in Australia and New Zealand in July 2020 and found confidence in public health scientists to also be high and for this trust to be manifested in higher usage of government COVID phone apps.
Lead researcher Professor Shaun Goldfinch, ANZSOG WA Government Chair in Public Administration and Policy based at the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy at Curtin said the management of the pandemic by authorities led to a dramatic increase in trust in government.