1 Good scientific practice

The Academy’s operation is geared to promoting the best interests of science and research. Misconduct and fraud in science have serious consequences for science. Although they are rare, the quest for prestige or other benefits in the research community may sometimes lead to the use of dishonest means. The research community must itself work to strengthen adherence to good scientific practice. In reviewing funding applications it receives, the Academy will consider how the
researcher in charge of the proposed project and the research group have demonstrated their ability to manage research funds and in general to adhere to the principles of good scientific practice.

In keeping with the guidelines of the National Advisory Board on Research Ethics, the Academy has the following requirements for good scientific practice:

“For scientific research to be ethically acceptable and reliable and its findings credible, the conduct of research must conform to good scientific practice. Good scientific practice entails, among other things, that researchers and scientific experts

• follow modes of action endorsed by the research community, that is, integrity, meticulousness and accuracy in conducting research, in recording and presenting results, and in judging research and its results;
• apply ethically sustainable data collection, research and evaluation methods conforming to scientific criteria, and practise openness intrinsic to scientific knowledge in publishing their findings; and
• take due account of other researchers’ work and achievements, respecting their work and giving due credit and weight to their achievements in carrying out their own research and publishing its results.

Further, it is in keeping of good scientific practice that

• research is planned, conducted and reported in detail and according to the standards set for scientific knowledge;
• questions relating to the status, rights, co-authorship, liabilities and obligations of the members of a research group, right to research results and the preservation of material are determined and recorded in a manner acceptable to all parties before the research project starts or a researcher is recruited to the group;
• the sources of financing and other associations relevant to the conduct of research are made known to those participating in the research and reported when the findings are published; and
• good administrative practice and good personnel and financial management practices are observed.”

In addition to these requirements set out by the National Advisory Board on Research Ethics, the Academy requires that all application documents, including CVs and lists of publications, are compiled with care and that the information presented in the documents is accurate and truthful.