New links on research integrity

The promotion of gender equality has been anchored in the mission statements of numerous research institutions for several years. Recently, more attention has been paid to considering diversity, too. This also applies to reflecting on the relevance of gender and diversity in research. Goethe University Frankfurt am Main has published a ten-point paper on these issues and as a contribution to the nationwide discourse.

The International Science Council (ISC) has set down eight principles on how publishing as a public good can best serve scientific progress. These principles are highly consistent with the relevant DFG Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice and also with DFG funding practice.

The Leibniz Association has adopted Recommendations for safeguarding good scientific practice in the context of co-authorship. Picking up on Guideline 14 of the DFG’s Code of Conduct and its accompanying explanations, the Leibniz Association recommendations state that those involved in a research project should document their individual contributions in writing. This documentation primarily serves to clarify the allocation of contributions among project participants themselves, but it also helps ensure identifiability when attention is focused on the research project and its authors’ contributions at a later stage.

The European Network of Research Integrity Officers (ENRIO) has published a handbook with recommendations on how to protect whistleblowers in research. The handbook is aimed at research institutions wishing to set up a whistleblowing system, at researchers considering reporting a suspicion of scientific misconduct, and at the interested public.

The Network of Ombudspersons in Science and the Humanities has developed a handout for ombudspersons to support them in carrying out their tasks. The handout provides information on GRP-relevant documents and committees as well as on networking opportunities for ombudspersons. In addition, practical aspects of ombudsman work, e.g. counselling and mediation in GRP conflicts, are dealt with in detail. The handout is aimed at ombudspersons at Higher education institutions and non-HEI research institutions in Germany. The handout is available as a sample template and can be adapted to institution-specific regulations and instructions.