Monument to peer review unveiled in Moscow

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the unveiling of a monument to peer review at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. Participants explore the significance of the monument's design, its implications for the peer review process, and the use of English in a Russian context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express surprise at the concept of a monument to peer review, questioning the randomness of using a die as a representation.
  • There is a discussion about the use of English on the monument, with some participants suggesting it reflects the language of science and the practice of Russian researchers publishing in English.
  • A humorous remark is made regarding the implications of peer review in a Soviet context, indicating a playful engagement with the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the appropriateness of the monument's design or the implications of its use of English, indicating multiple competing views remain.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes varying interpretations of the monument's symbolism and the cultural implications of language in scientific discourse, but these interpretations remain unresolved.

DrClaude
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Peer review immortalized in concrete A Russian university unveiled the world’s first monument to peer review on 26 May. The 1.5‑tonne tribute (pictured) at the Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow consists of a derelict concrete block fashioned into a die, displaying on its five visible sides the possible results of review — ‘Accept’, ‘Minor Changes’, ‘Major Changes’, ‘Revise and Resubmit’ and ‘Reject’. The director of the HSE’s Institute of Education asked his faculty last year for ideas about how to turn the block into something meaningful. A suggestion by HSE sociologist Igor Chirikov to turn it into a ‘monument to an anonymous peer reviewer’ struck a chord, gathering US$2,500 in funding from an Internet campaign. The work is also carved with the titles of 21 papers, most by the researchers who made the largest contributions to the campaign.
https://www.nature.com/news/monument-to-peer-review-unveiled-in-moscow-1.22060
 
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Wow, I didn't know Peer Review was Russian.

Was he related to the Frenchman Bourbaki?
 
A die? Something completely random? That's an interesting comment on peer review...
 
Ibix said:
A die? Something completely random? That's an interesting comment on peer review...

That was my thinking as well.
 
If its in Russia, how come its in English?
 
BillTre said:
If its in Russia, how come its in English?
Because it is the language of science? Russian researchers publish in English and get peer-reviewed in English.
 
BillTre said:
If its in Russia, how come its in English?
<Puts on Russian accent> Has to be in English. In English, peers review you. But in Soviet Russia, you review... oh... wait... never mind.
 
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