Whistleblowers and Watchdogs: Panel on Scientific Integrity

Science depends on transparent data collection and rigorous analysis. But do we have sufficient safeguards to ensure scientific integrity? What protections exist for junior researchers who uncover evidence of fraud? What are our current mechanisms for investigating allegations of academic misconduct? Are they adequate? Moving beyond rare incidents of outright fraud, how can we reform our incentive structures and publication practices to promote rigorous and reliable research? 

The panel discussion will be followed by a moderated Q&A. Lunch will be provided after the event.Co-sponsored by Scientists Speak Up, the Stanford Program on Research Rigor & Reproducibility (SPORR), and the Stanford Department of Epidemiology. 

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Ken A. Thompson is a Human Frontier Science Program Long-Term Fellow at Stanford University and the Carnegie Institution for Science, where he conducts research in evolutionary biology with a particular focus on hybridization. His interest in scientific integrity was catalyzed by his realization that a former faculty supervisor had provided him with fraudulent data for a published article. His initial attempts to have the supervisor investigated for research misconduct were met with strong institutional resistance, which spurred a major investigation at Science and ongoing efforts to reform federal policies about the responsible conduct of research.

Jack M. Lawrence recently obtained a master’s degree from St George’s, University of London. His research is focused on improving pancreatic cancer treatment options. In early 2021 Jack discovered academic misconduct in an influential paper that purported to show strong benefits for using ivermectin to treat COVID-19. Since this discovery, he has continued looking for signs of fraud and data integrity issues in numerous other papers.

Stephanie M. Lee is a senior reporter at The Chronicle of Higher Education, where she covers the intersection of research and society. She was previously a science reporter at BuzzFeed News. She is a recipient of the 2022 Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting. A UC Berkeley graduate, she lives in San Francisco.