Doing Global Science: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in the Global Research Enterprise

Inter-Academy Partnership

Princeton University Press

£12.95

The number of people and countries involved in scientific research has expanded rapidly in recent years, and this will bring great benefits to society. Most scientists want to make their contributions in a responsible way, but human beings are fallible, and fraud, falsification, plagiarism and other forms of irresponsible behaviour do occur. Such conduct interferes with the progress of research and can bring science into disrepute. So what do you do if you encounter irresponsible activity?

Indeed, what does your institute do to prevent and deal with irresponsible conduct? Fifty years ago it might have been enough to expect scientists to absorb the norms of responsible research from more senior scientists as their careers progressed, but that is clearly inadequate now in a world of large, international research teams and diverse means of publication by multiple authors.

Doing Global Science is an excellent concise guide produced by the new umbrella organisation of the inter-academy networks for science, research and health. It is addressed to all those involved in the global research enterprise – researchers, administrators, funders and policymakers – and sets out in an interesting way what kinds of irresponsible conduct may be encountered, and the means to prevent and deal with such behaviour. It should become essential reading for all of us.

Professor MalcoLm Dando CBiol FRSB