Publish and Perish–Pressure to Conform

Dr. Mary Korte of Concordia University in Wisconsin has now joined the AITSE consortium. Welcome! Dr. Korte specializes in environmental sciences and is passionate about scientific integrity. We look forward to receiving her contributions, especially to hearing more about her work and about the details of the corruption she has personally encountered in science (not at Concordia).

Sadly, her story of problems within the scientific establishment is not unique. Take the University of California medical school professor who said that all of “his” first author publications were written by his residents. Or the long-term pressure exerted on chemistry Nobel prize winner Dr. Dan Shechtman, when he published research results that did not fit in with the current scientific consensus. Dr. Shechtman, like so many others, was mocked, insulted, and even thrown out of his research group.

Although most scientists are more focused on doing good research than advancing their careers, lack of integrity in science abounds. Perhaps this is what spurred President Obama to sign a memorandum on scientific integrity. Of course, while statements may win votes, it is highly unlikely that they will significantly change the behavior of individuals who are faced with the publish or perish environment of science. Here, the temptation to prevent a competitor from publishing, kowtow to the powerful (see Cheating in Research), or steal another’s work is immense. The answer has to be scientists, engineers and physicians working together with like-minded people to advance integrity in science. This is the function of the AITSE consortium. Watch us grow and make a difference.