Elsevier Launches Program to Educate Young Researchers about the Importance of Research Integrity

AMSTERDAM, September 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

A series of online training materials and interactive tools at http://www.ethics.elsevier.com  provides information on ethical boundaries and how to avoid violations including research fraud, plagiarism, and duplicate submissions.

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced the launch of a new Ethics in Research & Publication program, an initiative designed to help educate early career researchers on the importance of research integrity.  

The Ethics in Research & Publication program has come about through a collaboration between Elsevier and an advisory panel of experts recognized for their deep understanding of current ethical issues surrounding research and publishing and the evolving approaches to solving them.

Distinguished panel members include Dr. David Rew, Medical Chair SCOPUS Content Selection and Advisory Board; Prof. Alexander T (Sandy) Florence, Editor in Chief, International Journal of Pharmaceutics; Ole G. Evensen Assistant Director, University of Bergen Library, Norway; and Prof. Margaret Rees, Secretary of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

"Research integrity should be put into the culture at all levels and educating young researchers is a significant advance," commented Prof. Rees.

The program is inspired by real-world stories of researchers who have been the victims of misconduct. Researchers like Mary Kate Donais, Associate Professor of St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, who was once asked to review a manuscript and noticed the introductory paragraph was taken from her own grant proposal. "I wonder if that researcher was under pressure and decided to cut corners without thinking about the ethics behind it," said Donais.

With the goal of addressing the growing incidence of publishing ethics issues, the program emphasizes the individual researcher's contribution to advancing science through integrity and good ethical standards. At the same time the program also highlights the devastating impact misconduct can have on the science community as a whole, as well as on an individual researcher's career.

"Ethical issues are a shared problem for all involved in research and publishing. With the Ethics in Research & Publication program, Elsevier tries to play its part in addressing the problem by teaching young researchers the rules and how to comply with them," said Catriona Fennell, Director of Publishing Services, STM Journals at Elsevier. "Our existing services have focused on detection and resolution of ethical issues, while this new program focuses on preventing issues arising in the first place."

For more information, go to: http://www.ethics.elsevier.com.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, Reaxys, ClinicalKey and Mosby's Nursing Suite, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai's Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

Media contact
Tom Reller
Vice President, Global Corporate Relations, Elsevier
+1-215-239-3508
t.reller@elsevier.com