The epistemic authority of international climate science has been constructed and defended by institutions, policymakers, and scientists. Mirroring these efforts, scholarship on climate change-related science–policy interactions has focused on how epistemic authority is reinforced, contested, or mobilised within policy arenas. Less well examined is what is represented as constituting that authority in policymaking settings, and how such representations vary across institutional contexts. This gap is examined through a comparative case study of UK and US legislative committees. Drawing on Gieryn’s concept of boundary work, as originally conceived, the article examines how committee members demarcated science from non-science through representations of qualities associated with the epistemic authority of climate science. The analysis identified four recurring categories through which what counted as authoritative science was specified: correspondence between theory and observations, handling of uncertainty, science as evolving or settled, and modes of determining validity. These categories appeared in both UK and US committee material, but the representations within them took different forms across the two settings. Jasanoff’s civic epistemology is then used interpretively to examine the public terms through which representations within those categories took different forms in the UK and US committee material. Of Jasanoff’s six dimensions, demonstration practices, public accountability, and participatory styles provide the clearest interpretive orientation. The findings suggest the value of analysing how the bases of epistemic authority are specified in institutional settings where climate science, including IPCC assessments, is interpreted and assessed.
Science routinely appeals to the idea of serving the common good, at least in part to justify public funding. Yet, there is growing recognition that current research structures and incentives impede the fulfilment of this ideal. This paper argues that this shortfall stems from the dominance of liberal conceptions of the common good, which position science as an external and instrumental service provider whose worth lies in producing measurable outcomes. Examples from synthetic biology show how such conceptions make science vulnerable to vested interests, reinforce its commodification and corrode the collaborative relationships on which scientific practice depends. We propose instead a network conception that regards science as internal to, and constitutive of, the common good. Drawing on the Aristotelian tradition, this view holds that the common good in science is generated through the relationships, practices, and values that enable communities to flourish together. Using research case examples, we illustrate how the network conception of the common good can guide science away from an outcome-driven orientation towards one grounded in community ideals. We conclude that reimagining science as a relational practice offers a more generative path toward reforming research culture, governance, and evaluation in service of human flourishing.
In this article, we discuss the emerging prominence of ‘strategic lawsuits against public participation’ (SLAPPs) across Europe and the United Kingdom as mechanisms for chilling academic discourse, particularly around topics considered unpalatable to foreign governments. We argue that the increased prominence of SLAPPs foreshadows a new form of abuse of legal process against universities that attempt to protect their researchers: vexatious or malicious complaints of research misconduct against academics and universities, using what we term here as ‘strategic complaints against researchers’ (SCAR). Identifying the possibility of SCARs as an emergent form of procedural abuse will assist universities in formulating policies and practices that separate legitimate grievances from acts of foreign interference. Together with government, funding agencies and industry partners, the higher education sector should take the lead in focusing research misconduct standards on identifying, triaging, and (where necessary) eliminating abuses of the research misconduct system aimed at chilling academic inquiry.
Chinese talent plans—policies and programs designed to recruit highly skilled individuals, particularly in science and technology (S T) and higher education (back) to China—have sparked considerable controversy in Western policy and academic debates. Research on these initiatives typically follows two perspectives: examining talent plans as instruments of research productivity and brain circulation in S T policy, or as vectors for technology transfer and research security risks. While valuable, these approaches tend to overlook the global context of competition for internationally mobile scientists across knowledge-based economies. This article examines how China’s talent plans have evolved to link science policy with migration governance and how this linkage is operationalized across national and subnational levels to attract “foreign talent.” The study draws on Ayelet Shachar’s concept of competitive immigration regimes to analyze talent plans as science–migration policy instruments connecting domestic innovation-driven development with China’s global positioning. Based on thematic analysis of 57 policy documents and 50 academic job advertisements, the findings show that China’s “talent regime,” which extends beyond comparable initiatives in other countries, uniquely combines research funding, extensive individualized incentive packages, and preferential migration pathways to recruit scientists who are expected to contribute to China’s S T development. At the same time, heightened geopolitical tensions have transformed these programs into sites of diplomatic friction. The fluidity and ongoing responsiveness of talent plans illustrate how science policy, migration governance, and foreign affairs have become deeply intertwined in contemporary China.
The essay remains a vital medium for speculative reflection on social, cultural, and political questions. Yet the learned essay has grown increasingly rare in academic publishing, a symptom of the shrinking institutional space for contemplative, discursive writing. This article examines the distinctive character of the learned essay, distinguishing it from long-form journalism and standardised scholarly articles. Drawing on thinkers across a range of national and disciplinary contexts, it situates the form within a long essayistic tradition stretching from Weber and Simmel through the engaged public intellectuals of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The article explores the learned essay's characteristic two-mindedness and contests the charge that it represents an outmoded 'practice of privilege', arguing instead that it functions as a generative mode of inquiry, complementary to empirical research and often its precursor. Its marginalisation is an institutional loss, rendered more acute as automated and formulaic writing proliferates across the social sciences and humanities worldwide.
This article evaluates morphological evolution and multidimensional metrics applied to the analysis of the urban landscape. Through the PRISMA protocol, a sample of 16 studies was analyzed, integrating a systematic review with bibliometric analysis. The results show a rapidly expanding discipline with an annual growth rate of 25.7\%, with the model projecting a stabilization of documentary growth in 2024, firmly anchored in architectural and spatial configuration. In this way, the methodological urgency of overcoming traditional purely descriptive approaches is revealed, in order to adopt causal analysis based on regression and advanced spatial evaluation technologies that allow urban dynamics to be predicted. In conclusion, to ensure effective territorial governance, it is imperative to implement these quantitative models. Their application will optimize evidence-based decision-making, allowing the development of built infrastructure to be strategically harmonized with the conservation of the natural environment in sustainable planning.
In some countries with limited domestic state scientific-institutional capacity, national meteorological and seismological services acquire characteristics that distinguish their history from those of Europe, the United States, and elsewhere. A well-known pattern in the latter is that of a central observatory or institute originally under academic or military management being transformed into an official state agency of meteorology or seismology during the second half of the nineteenth century or later. Against this backdrop, this essay offers a new, complementary perspective based on the unique circumstance that, in some countries, these services did not depend on state or government agencies, but on a private and religious institution: the Society of Jesus. Using examples of services in three different scenarios, both colonial and republican, that occurred in the Philippines and Cuba under Spanish and American rule, and in the independent republics of Colombia and Bolivia, this essay examines the variety of motivations behind the delegation of public services to the Jesuits, such as trust, familiarity, and scientific authority. While these categories partly explain the relational logic of such delegations, this article argues that the Jesuit epistemic network gave the Society a competitive advantage over the State. It became a negotiable asset—cognitive, technological, and institutional—whose value was perceived differently by the host State. These examples demonstrate how the asymmetry between the pre-existing Jesuit network and the lack of state infrastructure was the condition of possibility for the various modalities of delegation examined (colonial organic, co-optation, and sovereign delegation).
Pelvic floor dysfunction is a prevalent multifactorial condition that significantly impairs quality of life. Traditionally managed from a compartmentalized perspective, recent evidence highlights the connection between the pelvic floor and the gut-brain axis. This review analyzes the pathophysiological association between both and proposes an integrated diagnostic and therapeutic approach involving gynecology, gastroenterology, and general surgery. A narrative review of the literature was conducted. Bidirectional communication between the central nervous system, enteric nervous system, and gut microbiota influences pelvic tone, visceral sensitivity, and symptom perception. Chronic constipation, intestinal dysbiosis, and psychological stress can exacerbate or trigger pelvic floor dysfunction, which in turn alters bowel habits and contributes to anxiety and depression. An interdisciplinary model enables comprehensive management including dietary interventions, pelvic floor physical therapy, psychological support, and coordinated surgery, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy and expanding therapeutic options.
The recruitment of children and adolescents by armed groups and criminal organizations represents a serious violation of rights with significant social, educational, and legal repercussions. The objective was to analyze scientific and documentary evidence on the factors associated with child recruitment, its consequences, and prevention strategies in Ecuador. A qualitative documentary study was conducted through the review of 20 sources, including scientific articles, reports from international organizations, and national regulations. The information was organized through thematic coding and synthesized into four evidence clusters. The results identified poverty, educational exclusion, community violence, and the presence of criminal groups as the main risk factors, whose consequences affect psychological well-being, educational continuity, and social integration. It is concluded that prevention requires articulated public policies, interinstitutional coordination, and comprehensive protection based on shared responsibility.
Universities worldwide are increasingly committing to sustainability and sustainable development, but the two terms have distinct meanings and implications for practice. Drawing on a random sample of 3,000 universities worldwide, we carry out a concurrent mixed-method study that examines the factors associated with mentioning each term in a mission or vision statement and the meanings associated with each. Findings indicate that 11
Contemporary debates on technological futures are marked by disputes over epistemic authority and normative legitimacy—over what counts as responsible anticipation, relevant knowledge, or legitimate critique. This article shifts analytical attention to the epistemic–affective orientations through which technological hope and critique acquire normative force in such debates, shaping how uncertainty is framed and how responses to technological change come to appear credible, excessive, or irresponsible. In doing so, it reveals how science-based expertise legitimizes certain paths forward while marginalizing others. The article conceptualizes these patterned assumptions as asymmetrically structured forms of techno-optimism and techno-pessimism: socially distributed epistemic–affective orientations through which affirmative and critical relations to technological futures are articulated. To account for their persistence and internal diversity, the article situates contemporary techno-orientations within enduring Enlightenment and Romantic repertoires, treated as overlapping and selectively mobilized cultural traditions rather than fixed worldviews. On this basis, the article develops a fourfold typology distinguishing Enlightenment and Romantic variants of both techno-optimism and techno-pessimism. The typology functions as a diagnostic lens for examining how different forms of technological hope and critique acquire epistemic authority and normative legitimacy across scientific, policy, and innovation contexts. By clarifying the epistemic and affective grammars through which technological futures are evaluated, the article contributes to broader debates on the authority, legitimacy, and contestability of science-based futures, and supports more reflexive engagements with technological hope and skepticism attentive to how reason and affect jointly shape what futures become thinkable, governable, and desirable.
This study analyzed the impact of sustainable development strategies on poverty reduction and territorial equality in rural areas of Peru, using a quantitative approach with a non-experimental, cross-sectional, and correlational-explanatory design. The sample consisted of 368 rural households distributed across Arequipa, Moquegua, and Puno, in Perú. The results revealed a positive and significant relationship between sustainable strategies and poverty reduction, highlighting community participation, sustainable production, and infrastructure as the most influential dimensions. Additionally, relevant territorial differences were identified, along with a limited impact of financial inclusion and productive innovation when not integrated into comprehensive policies. The study concludes that sustainable development represents an effective mechanism for improving living conditions in rural contexts, provided it is implemented through multidimensional approaches tailored to territorial characteristics.
Legal certainty and effective judicial protection constitute fundamental principles for the protection of rights in Ecuador. The objective of this research was to analyze the evolution of scientific production related to these topics through a bibliometric study. A quantitative study with a descriptive-retrospective scope was conducted. Documentary retrieval was carried out in academic databases, institutional repositories, and scientific journals, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria based on PRISMA 2020. The final corpus consisted of 15 documents published between 2014 and 2026. The results showed limited scientific production, mainly concentrated on effective judicial protection, protection actions, precautionary measures, and constitutional guarantees. Likewise, limited thematic diversification and a reduced presence of studies related to digital justice and emerging technologies were identified. It is concluded that this line of research is in the process of consolidation and presents opportunities to expand its thematic and methodological approaches.
Digitalization has become a key factor in improving operational coordination and strengthening commercial relationships between suppliers and customers. This study analyzes its influence on service satisfaction and the continuity of the commercial relationship, considering the mediating role of logistics management. A quantitative research design was conducted in service establishments in Lima through surveys administered to those responsible for operational and commercial processes. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results show that digitalization strengthens logistics management, improves service perception, and fosters stable relationships.
This systematic review analyzed the main barriers and solutions related to teacher training in artificial intelligence in higher education. Following the \textit{PRISMA} protocol, 428 records were identified in \textit{Scopus}, \textit{Web of Science}, \textit{ERIC}, and \textit{ScienceDirect}, from which 18 studies of high methodological quality were finally selected. The findings revealed technological, pedagogical, organizational, and ethical barriers, with particular emphasis on insufficient digital infrastructure, the lack of specific didactic strategies, and limited institutional governance. The most effective solutions included communities of practice, continuing professional development, teacher mentoring, and sustainable institutional policies. The review concludes that the integration of AI in higher education requires a systemic transformation of universities, rather than isolated technical training alone.
This study analyzes compulsory suffrage in Latin America and its influence on electoral participation, the quality of political representation, and democratic legitimacy. To this end, a systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, with searches in Web of Science, SciELO, and Scopus, considering articles published between 2021 and 2025 in the fields of political science and law. As a result, 18 studies were selected. The findings made it possible to identify patterns, recent gaps in the literature, and areas of convergence. It is concluded that compulsory suffrage constitutes a significant mechanism for expanding electoral participation.
This study analyzes the impact of gamification on academic performance, intrinsic motivation, and academic engagement among university students, also considering the role of mediating variables and differences across age groups. A quantitative approach with a non-experimental, correlational-explanatory design was employed. The research was conducted in two complementary phases: an analysis of an open-access dataset and an empirical validation with a reference sample in a blended-learning university context. The results showed positive and significant relationships between gamification, engagement, and intrinsic motivation, as well as an indirect effect of gamification on academic performance mediated by motivational and behavioral variables. Significant differences were also identified among age groups, suggesting that responses to gamified environments vary according to individual characteristics. The findings highlight the potential of gamification as a pedagogical strategy in higher education, especially in high-demand blended-learning contexts, where digital and face-to-face environments are integrated.
The sugar industry generates large volumes of filter cake, whose inadequate disposal causes significant environmental impacts, especially through greenhouse gas emissions. However, this by-product has a high content of essential nutrients and considerable energy potential that has not yet been fully utilized, due to technical limitations and the limited implementation of valorization technologies. This literature review analyzed the production, management, and sustainable utilization alternatives for filter cake based on the examination of 39 specialized scientific sources. The information was collected through a systematic and analytical review of literature indexed in international databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, SciELO, and Web of Science. Publications from 2020 to 2025 were prioritized. The studies addressed physicochemical properties, agronomic applications, and valorization strategies, such as composting, biofertilizers, and energy recovery, providing a basis for sustainable management.
Customs digitalization has become a strategic factor for enhancing operational efficiency and strengthening competitiveness in foreign trade. This study analyzes its implementation in the Peruvian context through a qualitative, descriptive, and analytical approach, based on a systematic review of specialized scientific literature. The documentary selection followed the PRISMA method and enabled the examination of contributions related to single window systems, risk management, interoperability, document automation, and emerging technologies applied to customs operations. The findings show that these tools contribute to accelerating customs clearance, improving traceability, reducing administrative burdens, and increasing institutional transparency. Likewise, barriers associated with technological infrastructure, interinstitutional coordination, staff training, digital security, and regulatory updating were identified. The study proposes a strategic model aimed at modernizing Peruvian customs management and strengthening its competitiveness in relation to international standards.
This study focused on examining the current state of corporate social responsibility implementation in Ecuador, specifically in the province of Santa Elena. In addition, it analyzed the relationship between institutional and territorial sustainability, social inclusion, and responsible resource management. To this end, a SWOT analysis was conducted in contrast with a documentary analysis. The findings reveal a lack of formal planning in social responsibility policies, limited budgets, and an insufficient comprehensive vision regarding the strategic impact of such policies. These results led to the formulation of a strategy matrix aimed at guiding the effective integration of social responsibility into institutional management.
