SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY the role of academies of sciences and humanities

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SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITYthe role of academies of sciences
and humanities

• Prof. Dr. Pieter J.D.Drenth
• President All European Academies (ALLEA)

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Trust in science

• Trust is the most important pillar on which
  science rests
• Eurobarometer 2005 Europeans consider themselves
  poorly informed, resulting in sceptical
  attitudes.
• Paradox People expect science to solve most
  current and future problems. At the same time
  fear, scepticism and negative sentiments.
• Not all criticism is objectionable. Questions and
  criticiisms have to be given serious attention

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7th Framework programme

• Academies and other scientific organisations and
  agencies have an important role with respect to
  public opinions
• FP7 - Embedding throughout 7th FP
• Focussing on core themes
• Co-ordination of national programmes

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Communication

• Insufficient and unfair communication is part of
  the problem
• Much of our knowledge with respect to pressing
  questions and problems is uncertain,
  probabilistic and contingent
• Important task for ALLEAs Working Group on
  science and the media.
• Not for all socio/ethical difficultiesin science
  the blaim can be laid at the door of
  (mis)communication problems can be related to
  nature of scientific endeavour, or to (lack of)
  integrity of scientist.

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External social/ethical problems in science

• Justification of choice of subject
• Independence from interested parties
• Responsibilioty for what is being done with the
  research results
• Ethical problems raised by the scientific
  developments themselves (stem cells, g-m food,
  nuclear fission)
• No go decisions?
• Abuse of science not to be blamed on science
  itself
• Constraints to be imposed on science is dangerous
  path
• Some no go decisions incontestable
• More room for slow go decisions?

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Internal ethical problems

• Improper behaviour viz-à-viz subjects of research
• Improper dealing with general public and media
• Disregarding rules of good practice
• Manipulation of data or interpretation (fraud and
  deceit)
• Infringement of intellectual property rights

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Occurrence of misconduct

• Hard data difficult to obtain
• Number of reported cases in public media growing
• Fully-fledged cases still rare, but smaller
  lapses may not, and often go unnoticed
• Causes vary (external pressure, financial
  incentives, vanity), but increasing pressure on
  researchers to produce and to publish certainly
  important cause.
• Many corrective or preventive measures have been
  proposed and introduced, but development of
  scientific conscience and fostering proper sense
  of values most important

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Role of ACADEMIES ?

• Academies have an important advisory role, also
  regarding ethical issues
• Scientific misconduct case of growing concern
• Often no official protocol
• Many academies have already developed
  prescriptive set of rules, code of conduct,
  procedure for handling reported cases of
  misconduct
• ESF - National academies should draw up national
  codes of good scioentific practice
• National academies shopuld initiatie discussions
  on procedures for investigating scientific
  misconduct

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Associations of Academies

• Placing issue on the agenda
• Stimulation, information and advice with respect
  to individual academies
• International coordination alignment around
  common principles?
• Dealing with misconduct in international research

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ALl European Academies (ALLEA)

• Memorandum on scientific integrity
• Proposal National Committee on Scientific
  Integrity advisory board / science court of
  appeal
• Model to stimukate discussion and to coordinate
  European approach

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