#researchethics

The ‘UM Platform for Research Ethics and Integrity’ has recently been established in order to raise attention to the challenges related to scientific integrity and ethical research principles.

In the wake of recent scandals stemming from renowned institutions and (until then) distinguished individuals in the field academia, we are now faced with the task of restrengthening the practice of - and faith in -  scientific inquiry. Such scandals which have shaken the academic world would include the case of Paolo Macchiarini, involved in research fraud and unethical surgeries during his tenure at Karolinska Institutet (which ironically awards Nobel prizes in Physiology and Medicine); Marc D. Hauser, an evolutionary biologist at Harvard University, who fabricated data and falsified findings; Diederik Stapel, professor of social psychology at Tilburg University whose scientific misconduct retracted some 55 publications.

As an academic institution, the Universiteit Maastricht must adhere to some duties of care with regards to its understanding and teaching of research ethics, ultimately to support and bolster its academic integrity.

The goal of this project is then to provide the university with a benchmark understanding of its current standing on scientific integrity, as well as to provide the university with best practices, methods, and recommendations up for consideration.

Anastasia was born and raised in a small city in Greece but since 2015 she is living and working in Maastricht. Currently she is an LL.M candidate in Maastricht university following the Globalisation and Law programme. Travelling is one of her passions and she tries to visit at least one different country per year. When in Maastricht, she enjoys reading crime books and cooking mostly Mediterranean dishes for family and friends. Her interest in the project derives from her own personal experience as a student in Maastricht University and she seeks -through this project- to help the University to incorporate the teaching of research principles into its academic curriculum.

Jeffrey was born in Maastricht, the Netherlands and has lived there ever since. Coming from a small village, he became very interested in the international world and foreign languages. Hence, he chose International Business at Zuyd University of Applied Science. After finishing his Bachelor, there was an unsatisfied feeling thus he chose to pursue a Master’s degree. Jeffrey is currently aims to follow and complete the Master International Business with a double track Strategy & Innovation and Business Intelligence. In his free time, he loves to read books and is usually on the go mainly doing sports. Ultimately, research equals learning yet there needs to be a practical element to it. That is why the Premium project well suited his profile given there needs to be a practical implementation for the end result.  

Leon was born in Germany and grew up on a little island in Malaysia. After a decade in South-east Asia, Leon now follows a Masters in Healthcare Policies, Innovation, and Management. He spends his free time as a competitive cheerleader and traveling. To Leon, the PREMIUM Project inspires his aspirations in preserving integrity of scientific evidence.  

Lisa was born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany. Firstly, she studied Online-Media-Management in Stuttgart and she is currently getting her Masters in “Media Studies – Digital Cultures” at Fasos. In her free time, she likes to travel, golf and most of all hang out with her friends. The Premium project “Research Ethics and Integrity” interested her, because she felt like those issues were not addressed during her Bachelors at all and since studying in Maastricht she gained some insights into the obstacles regarding ethical research and the importance thereof.

Pascal was born in Vienna to a Swiss father and Brazilian mother. His father was formerly a diplomat, consequently, much of his life has been spent traveling from one country to another. He obtained his bachelor in Commerce in University College Dublin and now studies Human Decision Science at Maastricht University. He believes in keeping a balance between a healthy mind and body, which reflects itself in his lifestyle. He enjoys doing sports - mainly running and gymnastics - and reading. His interest in the project stems from readings he did during his gap year, which during his studies discovered were no longer considered valid sometimes due to sloppy science.

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