Investor has pledged $1 million over 4 years
A Silicon Valley investor has pledged $1 million to help pay the legal costs of scientists being sued for flagging fraudulent research. Yun-Fang Juan, an engineer and data scientist by background, hopes the new Scientific Integrity Fund—the first of its kind—will make speaking up about wrongdoing less intimidating. The fund comes after a spate of cases in which high-profile scientists have retracted papers after whistleblowers made allegations of research fraud.
Many researchers who expose potentially shoddy research do this work in addition to their day jobs, without support from their funders or institutions. In many cases, the threat of costly legal action can silence critics, leaving the scientific record uncorrected, which risks other researchers wasting funding by chasing down blind alleys.
The Scientific Integrity Fund says it will accept applications from whistleblowers who made evidence-based claims in good faith and are now facing a concrete legal threat. It will provide grants of up to $25,000 to help researchers get legal advice or administrative help at the initial stages of legal action. If costs continue to mount, Juan says the fund will consider sponsoring a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds, offering donors a tax-deductible way to support the cause.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Science Fiction is Learning About Exoplanets From ScienceSpace and astronomy news
Read more »
Permanent Researcher Positions for Materials Science - Japan (JP) job with National Institute for Materials ScienceOverview National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS, Tsukuba, Japan) invites international applications from researchers who can conduct research in materials science. NIMS employs outstanding scientists from various countries who have abundant knowledge and strong research skills in materials science.
Read more »
Southern University of Science and Technology: Advancing Science and Technology in ChinaSouthern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) is a public research university in Shenzhen, China. It aims to be a globally-renowned university that excels in interdisciplinary research and contributes to the advancement of science and technology. SUSTech's School of Medicine, founded in 2018, focuses on integrating medicine with sciences, engineering, and humanities to train leading medical talents.
Read more »
Chris Borroni-Bird Has Spent His Career Pushing Past the Boundaries of AutomobilityScientist and engineer went from natural science to expanding automotive science.
Read more »
SpaceX Starship mega rocket launches successfully but is lost on re-entryDenise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on general science and climate change.
Read more »
In Miami with the world's first chief heat officerDenise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on general science and climate change.
Read more »