Research integrity: What it means, why it is important and how we might protect it

Dr Maura Hiney will be giving a lecture at the University of Iceland on scientific ethics and research integrity on Tuesday 5 June, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Litla Torg.

The lecture is interdisciplinary and will be followed by a workshop run by Maura on the same topics. Participants in the workshop will be divided into groups and asked to analyse recognised challenges discussed in the lecture, e.g. copyright, authorial responsibility for scientific articles, challenges related to interdisciplinary collaboration concerning sensitive information, competency and power relations (e.g. between doctoral students and their supervisors), and how to prevent and respond to a lack of integrity in research.

Places are limited and therefore those interested are asked to register for the event.

Program 

10.00-10.10                Opening comments by Rector, Jón Atli Benediktsson

10.10-11.00                Introduction to research integrity

11.00-11.20                Break for coffee

11.20-11.50                Case Study

11.50-12.00                Short break

12.00-12.30                 Developing RI Policy: The European Code of Conduct as a framework

12.30-13.00                 The Department of Bright Ideas is open

Seminar Ends - Lunch

---

Dr Maura Hiney has a PhD in Molecular Diagnostics and Epizootology from the National University of Ireland Galway and is also a qualified nurse. She is currently Head of the Post-Award and Evaluation Unit at the Health Research Board Ireland, which manages and evaluates the HRBs funding portfolio of approximately €200M, and develops appropriate policies for health research. From 1990-1999 she worked as a senior researcher and managed a disease diagnostics service for the Irish fisheries industry and from 2000-2007 Maura was Director of Research Support Services for NUI Galway.

Maura has a particular interest in research Integrity (RI) and has been influential in raising awareness of RI issues in Ireland since 2007 and was instrumental in establishing a National RI Forum of key stakeholders and developing a national RI framework for broad adoption. Internationally, Maura chaired a Working Group of ESF Forum on RI, is a member of the European Network of RI Offices (ENRIO) and chaired the Science Europe Working Group on RI which issues a number of key publications in this area. She was a key contributor to the European Competitiveness Council Conclusions on RI in 2015 on behalf of the Luxembourg Presidency. She is currently the Royal Irish Academy nominee on the All European Academies (ALLEA) Permanent Working Group on Science and Ethics, with whom she coordinated a revision of the European Code of Conduct on RI, which was launched by Commissioner Moedas in March 2017. She also sits on the Policy Advisory Boards of the EU-funded PRINTEGER, ENTiRE and VIRT2UE projects, which conduct research on RI climate.