High-level discussion:

A  workshop to inform the European Commission-funded: PRO-RES Project

Concept 

Around the world, some mistrust of research and scientific work seems to be on the rise. While citizens’ expectations for innovation and scientific progress are growing, so are people’s fear for what problems might come with it. Increasingly, this fear is capitalised upon by some politicians who develop policies based on populist discourses, rather than on scientific evidence. Simultaneously, traditional methods of organising and promoting research are facing changes with new sources of funding and an increasing number of actors participating in research processes. Globalisation and new digital technologies have also transformed the way research is conducted and disseminated. Research is now more open and its results easier accessible to citizens so science and research come under increased public scrutiny.

In this context, it is more important than ever to ensure that research activities are not compromised by fraudulent and unethical practices such as fabrication, falsification and plagiarism. Ethics issues can also arise in relation to experiments, for example when vulnerable groups are involved. Research misconducts may not only undermine the quality of research but also significantly impair societies’ trust in research and science.

PRO-RES is a project funded by the European Commission aiming at PROmoting integrity in the use of RESearch results. With the support of a full range of stakeholders, the aim of the project is to develop a guidance framework fostering the highest standards of research ethics and scientific integrity, covering all non-medical sciences including finance and economics.