“A major controversy in marine biology took a new twist last week when the University of Delaware (UD) found one of its star scientists guilty of research misconduct. The University has confirmed to Science that it has accepted an investigative panel’s conclusion that marine ecologist Danielle Dixson used fabrication and falsification in work on fish behavior and coral reefs. The university is seeking the retraction of three of Dixson’s papers and ‘has notified the appropriate federal agencies’, according to a spokesperson at UD.”
Martin Enserink. “Star marine ecologist committed misconduct, university says”. Science, 9th August 2022. https://www.science.org/content/article/star-marine-ecologist-committed-misconduct-university-says?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyLatestNews&utm_content=alert&et_rid=349697626&et_cid=4349005 Accessed: 16th August 2022
The concerns raised by a group of whistleblowers against several papers published by a star marine ecologist researcher have paid off with the retraction of a paper published in Science in 2014 and many others being investigated. This case shocked the marine biology community and co-authors of the target papers, who claimed Danielle Dixson (the researcher accused of falsification and fabrication) to be a brilliant female researcher with high professional and ethical standards. The case has split opinions, with some researchers claiming the lack of professional behaviour from the whistleblowers and “witch hunting”. At the same time, the University of Delaware’s Committee, which investigated the allegations, praised the courage of former members of Dixson’s lab to report and provide evidence of the several research malpractices observed at the lab.
This case opened a discussion about the transparent procedures employed by universities when investigating allegations of research misconduct, the editorial process of retracting papers and the role of whistleblowers.
Click here to learn more about this case, the allegations of research misconduct against Danielle Dixson and the investigation process employed by the University of Delaware.
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● Do you think universities have clear and transparent procedures for dealing with allegations of research misconduct?
● Do you think journals pay attention to expressions of concern raised by researchers on published papers?
● In your opinion, what should be the consequences for researchers found guilty of research misconduct?
● What are your views about the role of whistleblowers in this case?
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