Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced the launch of a new Ethics in Research & Publication program, an initiative designed to help educate early career researchers on the importance of research integrity.
The Ethics in Research & Publication program has come about through a collaboration between Elsevier and an advisory panel of experts recognized for their deep understanding of current ethical issues surrounding research and publishing and the evolving approaches to solving them.
Distinguished panel members include Dr. David Rew, Medical Chair SCOPUS Content Selection and Advisory Board; Prof. Alexander T (Sandy) Florence, Editor in Chief, International Journal of Pharmaceutics; Ole G. Evensen Assistant Director, University of Bergen Library, Norway; and Prof. Margaret Rees, Secretary of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
“Research integrity should be put into the culture at all levels and educating young researchers is a significant advance,” commented Prof. Rees.
The program is inspired by real-world stories of researchers who have been the victims of misconduct. Researchers like Mary Kate Donais, Associate Professor of St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, who was once asked to review a manuscript and noticed the introductory paragraph was taken from her own grant proposal. “I wonder if that researcher was under pressure and decided to cut corners without thinking about the ethics behind it,” said Donais.
With the goal of addressing the growing incidence of publishing ethics issues, the program emphasizes the individual researcher’s contribution to advancing science through integrity and good ethical standards. At the same time the program also highlights the devastating impact misconduct can have on the science community as a whole, as well as on an individual researcher’s career.
“Ethical issues are a shared problem for all involved in research and publishing. With the Ethics in Research & Publication program, Elsevier tries to play its part in addressing the problem by teaching young researchers the rules and how to comply with them,” said Catriona Fennell, Director of Publishing Services, STM Journals at Elsevier. “Our existing services have focused on detection and resolution of ethical issues, while this new program focuses on preventing issues arising in the first place.”
For more information, go to: www.ethics.elsevier.com.
