We welcome the aims of this project to gather
evidence and promote debate about whether
the current culture of scientific research in
the UK is
... [Show More] successful in this respect. A wealth
of information has been gathered during the
project from the hundreds of scientists and
others who took part. It is the people engaged
in scientific research who are in the best position
to tell us what it is like to be a researcher,
whether a post-doctoral researcher on a short term contract, or a well-established professor.
The diverse opinions and evidence gathered
during the project are not readily synthesised
into a unified picture. However, the findings
of the project confirm that the culture of
scientific research is shaped by a wide range
of interconnecting factors, each exerting their
own influences and raising their own challenges.
How research is assessed by funding bodies
and promotions panels, for example, can affect
what science is carried out and by whom. And
changes in the way that science is disseminated
and critiqued can influence how scientists work
and behave. Debates about different features
of research culture have been running for many
years. Given the overlapping nature of many of
these features, the culture-wide approach of this
project provides a more integrated view.
By taking this broad approach, the project
highlights that all those involved in the practice
of scientific research play a role in shaping
its culture, and therefore all should take
responsibility for building a culture conducive
to high quality, ethical and valuable research.
This report concludes with some suggestions
for those who fund, publish, host, organise
and do science. As Chairs or Presidents of
organisations that carry out a number of these
functions, we will consider these suggestions
in the context of our own communities, as well
as encourage and support funding bodies,
research institutions, publishers and researchers
to recognise and fulfil their roles in shaping an
ethical culture for scientific research. [Show Less]