Scientific Integrity

1. Scientific Integrity

2. Scientific Integrity Integrity in science is a basic moral attitude. Scientific integrity, in the comprehensive sense, cannot be separated from the responsible handling of the human desire for knowledge and human curiosity.

3. Scientific Integrity • presupposes ethical reflexion, self discipline and a self-critical assessment • is essential for researchers and their institutions • is a precondition for sustainable dialogue between science and society • promotes the reputation of research, the understanding for new developments and the acceptance of innovations

4. Cases of scientific misconduct • Cyrill Burt, 1976, Psychology: ‚Evidence‘ of inherited intelligence based on largely contrieved data. Fölsing A.: Der Mogelfaktor. Hamburg 1984, 31ff. • Francois Dermange, 2001, Theological ethics:Two publication including plagiarism. The University of Geneva leaves him as ‚Professor on parole‘.La Liberté 05.12.01

5. Cases of scientific misconduct • Friedhelm Herrmann/Marion Brach, 1997, Biomedicine:Cancer-researchers fake data over years - in 94 publications manipulation of data was proven. Moreover, they used their reviewer-positions to steal data and ideas of other researchers. F.H. was a member of the DFG and awarded with over 800‘000 CHF of research funding. He was suspended from the University.Die Zeit 10.06.98 • Karl Illmensee, 1977-84, Zoology:States to have cloned the first mice (1981). Inaccurateness in research grant to the NIH, manipulation, inconsistencies.Suspended as Professor from the University of Geneva reversed, but financial support was halted Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntags Zeitung 21. 10. 07

6. Cases of scientific misconduct • Jon Sunbo, 2005, Medicine:‚Evidence‘ that anti-inflammatory drugs decrease the risk of oral cancer. Patients as well as case histories for the study were fictional and the data were faked. The Lancet 2005; 366:1359-1366 • Woo Suk Hwang, 2005, Stem cell-research:,Cloning‘ of human blastocytes and production of stem cells thereof. The data were faked. Moreover, female researchers in the own lab had supplied eggs for this research.Science 2004; 303: 1669 ff. und 2005, 2308: 1777ff.

7. Scientific behaviour of integrity Scientific behaviour of integrity requires: • respect for the limitations of freedom of research • veracity • openness within the research group • transparency and dialogue with the scientific community and the general public 4

8. Research projects in the planning phase • Feasibility of the research plan • Definition of the roles of the persons involved • Decision on the financing of the project and on the financial sources • Decision on the handling of data and materials • Definition of interest conflicts • Documented definition of agreements 5

9. The carrying out of research projects • Accuracy and reliability of the documentation • Storage of data and materials, so that their loss or manipulation can be excluded • Disclosure of information on the project within the research group • Support in the checking of the results of the project

10. Publication of research results • Timely regulation of the authorship and the specific responsibilities of the authors • Unbiased and complete publication of the results • Presentation of the results in separate publications, only for the purpose of increasing the number of titles published, is to be avoided • Originality, accuracy, reliability and relevance are more important than rapid results and a large number of publications

11. Misconduct in the scientific context Deliberate or negligent deception • Falsification of data • Invention of data • Plagiarism • Unjustified authorship • Non-mention of important contributions of third parties • Damage to, and obstruction of, research activity • Deliberate false evaluation of projects and results • Violation of duties of discretion etc.

12. Scientific misconduct is not to be tolerated • If an infringement of scientific integrity is suspected, a check must be carried out, by means of a specific procedure, to determine whether misconduct has occurred. • Research institutions and research-promoting institutions should have an organisation for the protection of integrity, that is, an ombudsman and a person with responsibility for the protection of scientific integrity (integrity protection commissioner).

13. Principal conditions of the procedure • Hearing of the incriminated person • Confidentiality for all parties involved in the procedure • Protection of the person making the allegation • No participation in the procedure of persons who may be biased • Documentation of the individual steps of the procedure • Possibility of appeal

14. Suggestion for organisation of the procedure • Ombudsman • Person with responsibility for protection of integrity (integrity protection commissioner) • Investigational instance • Decision-making instance • Appeals instance

15. The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences SAHS, SAMS, SATW, SCNAT • build bridges between science, politics and society • offer foresight to society-relevant subjects in the fields of education, research and technology • focus on early detection, ethic and the dialogue between science and society • advocate scientific integrity

16. The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences advocate scientific integrity • They have their own integrity protection organisation. • They have drawn up a “Memorandum” and “Principles and procedural rules for scientific integrity”, which are addressed to research institutions under public law and private research institutions and research-promoting institutions (www.swiss-academies.ch). • They have set up a “Scientific integrity commission” which advises research institutions and research-promoting institutions on questions of scientific integrity.