China to track down dishonest science researchers

A leading Chinese science official on Tuesday warned researchers nationwide to be careful to avoid "dishonest conduct" -- such as plagiarism and fabrication of proofs -- because the country is mulling methods to crack down on unethical practice.

"Complaints about forgery, fabrication, theft of scientific research and other ethical problems have mounted over the years. An honesty profile might restrain rampant fraud," said Deng Nan, vice chairwoman of the China Association for Science and Technology.

Speaking at an academic conference, Deng urged science associations at all levels to enhance supervision of academic morality and treat whistle blowers properly.

"We will establish an honesty profile for each academic. Dishonest acts will be recorded, made public, condemned and punished," Deng said.

But she did not reveal the details of the plan at the conference.

China has set up a science ethics committee and a supervision office to stem academic fraud and plagiarism. A moral code was released in academic circles this March, banning a range of "misconduct" including plagiarism and taking part in advertising as an "expert."

Du Xiangwan, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said in a previous interview that academic misconduct "has damaged China's scientific development, blocked the progress of young researchers and hampered the national innovation drive."

These efforts follow a string of scandals involving academic fraud and plagiarism in the country as China continues to advocate and invest in innovation.

In the most prominent case, leading scientist Chen Jin was sacked from the prestigious Shanghai Jiaotong University last May for fabricating data relating to a digital computer chip that was developed with state funding.

Source: Xinhua