Toward a Climate of Scientific Integrity

P eriodically the media is fi lled with articles about scientifi c misconduct—fabricated data, misrepresented protocols, and questionable authorship. Are these incidents anomalies or indicators of inadequate attention being paid to creating a climate of integrity? We do not know. However, it is clear to us that there is much we can do to improve the climate in which we do our science. In this regard, Scientifi c Integrity is an important tool. In the ten years since publication of the fi rst edition, Scientifi c Integrity has become an indispensable text on the responsible conduct of research (RCR). and now in its third edition, this book refl ects the knowledge and perspectives of an individual who is both an accomplished scientist and an educator. Anyone who conducts research, trains researchers, or is otherwise interested in the practice of science is likely to benefi t from reading Scientifi c Integrity. Macrina assumes little prior knowledge on the part of the reader, and provides a comprehensive and engaging introduction to what some might otherwise perceive as a dry subject. The content is tailored to the needs of practitioners of science, and covers the nine core RCR topics that the United States Public Health Service recommends including in RCR training: (1) data acquisition, management, sharing, and ownership, (2) mentor/trainee responsibilities, (3) publication practices and responsible authorship, (4) peer review, (5) collaborative science, (6) research misconduct, (7) confl ict of interest and commitment, and (8) the use of humans and (9) animals as research subjects [1]. The book is well organized. Two initial chapters introduce the concept of responsible conduct and its philosophical underpinnings. These are followed by chapters that cover the core issues in RCR. Each contains a set of features that are useful for students and instructors alike: a list of discussion questions and a number of brief case studies in which the reader is presented with an ethical dilemma and asked to respond. Also included in each chapter is a select list of resources that Macrina has identifi ed for readers as the essentials to start with. Through the book's Web site (http://www. scientifi cintegrity.net), readers will be able to access any updated or new links to resources and reference material. Case discussions make a valuable contribution to RCR training as they require students to apply what they are learning to a specifi c problem. This helps students process and …