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The findings of a series of engagement activities exploring THE CULTURE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE UK DECEMBER 2014 Contents Foreword 2 Executive summary 3 Background 6 Project origins and activities 7 The Steering Group 12 Introduction to scientific research in HEIs in the UK 13 What we heard 18 What is high quality science? 19 Concerns about the culture of scientific research 21 Competition 21 Funding of research 23 Assessment of research 25 Research governance and integrity 29 Career progression and workload 31 Observations and suggestions for action 34 THE CULTHE CULTURE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE UKTURE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE UK 11 Foreword Given public investment in UK science and and promotions panels, for example, can affect the potential benefits it can bring, it is vital that what science is carried out and by whom. And the culture of scientific research supports and changes in the way that science is disseminated encourages science that is high quality, ethical and critiqued can influence how scientists work and valuable. and behave. Debates about different features of research culture have been running for many We welcome the aims of this project to gather years. Given the overlapping nature of many of evidence and promote debate about whether these features, the culture-wide approach of this the current culture of scientific research in project provides a more integrated view. the UK is successful in this respect. A wealth of information has been gathered during the By taking this broad approach, the project project from the hundreds of scientists and highlights that all those involved in the practice others who took part. It is the people engaged of scientific research play a role in shaping in scientific research who are in the best position its culture, and therefore all should take to tell us what it is like to be a researcher, responsibility for building a culture conducive whether a post-doctoral researcher on a short- to high quality, ethical and valuable research. term contract, or a well-established professor. This report concludes with some suggestions for those who fund, publish, host, organise The diverse opinions and evidence gathered and do science. As Chairs or Presidents of during the project are not readily synthesised organisations that carry out a number of these into a unified picture. However, the findings functions, we will consider these suggestions of the project confirm that the culture of in the context of our own communities, as well scientific research is shaped by a wide range as encourage and support funding bodies, of interconnecting factors, each exerting their research institutions, publishers and researchers own influences and raising their own challenges. to recognise and fulfil their roles in shaping an How research is assessed by funding bodies ethical culture for scientific research. Professor Jonathan Montgomery Professor Dominic Tildesley Chair, Nuffield Council on Bioethics President, Royal Society of Chemistry Sir Paul Nurse Professor Sir John Tooke President, Royal Society President, Academy of Medical Sciences Professor Dame Jean Thomas President, Society of Biology
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