Conduct and Misconduct in Science

Abstract

My career in Scientific Fraud began some years ago when, as Caltech's Vice Provost, I became aware that Federal regulations would soon make it necessary for us, for the first time, ever, to have in place formal rules about what to do if the unthinkable were to happen on our own campus, the very inner sanctum of pure science. Since then it has virtually become an academic sub-specialty for me. I have given lectures, written articles [1] and taught courses about it. I have written the regulations, seen them adopted by Caltech (and copied by other universities) and, much to my dismay, seen them put into action in a high-profile case at Caltech. During that case I had the remarkable experience of seeing a skilled lawyer, with a copy of my regulations highlighted and underlined in four colors, guide us in following every word I had written, whether I meant it or not. Through all of that, I have learned a few things about conduct and misconduct in science that I would like to share with you.

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