Name: Chan Heung Tang (11900996r)

Title: Plagiarism and Fraudulence in the field of Science

In the 21st century, it is of most convenience through technology information can be obtained easily on internet. However, technology not only provided us with convenience but also raised different infringement such as plagiarism, fraud. Fraudulent is not uncommon in different industry, let alone in the field of Physics. People who are offending plagiarism and fraudulence may due do different reason. Some may face difficulties in their living but some may simply due to their wants. However, little did they understand the results for their fraud and affect further developments. This also revealed that in front of crucial benefits, it is hard for everyone to keep their integrity simultaneously. Hence, it is the reason why we need to learn ethics. In the following few paragraphs, a thorough analysis for the former case will be done. Basically, ethics contains six elements which are Autonomy, Nonmaleficence, Beneficence, Fidelity, Justice and Confidentiality. Autonomy means one who gives oneself their own laws [1]. Nonmalefcience refers to harmless, free to choose and being honest [2]. Beneficence states that the researchers should have welfare of the research participant as a goal of any clinical trial [3]. Fidelity is when we being faithful or loyal [4]. Justice is an action to keep everything around us fair [5]. Confidentiality is a kind of communication between a person and the professionals are “privileged” which may not be discussed or divulged to other parties [6].

In recent years, the development of science research in mainland China is rapid. However, a coin have two sides, the fraudulence happened in China is also of large amount. The more advancement is made by China, the higher is the stress applied on the local researchers. In order to maintain their values in particular area or fields of study, researchers are urged to produce as many papers or founding as possible, otherwise, their incomes would be as low as a normal blue collar worker in the factory. Researchers were pushed to make success in their research so as to get more funding to live a better life. Whereas Rome is not built in one day, research is also a long term business which cannot be made in a few days. This implies that most researchers were under poverty if they do not have any publication or breakthrough in their field. Life is not easy for them, especially when they were put to a dilemma between fidelity and to live better. There are quite a lot of researchers in mainland scarify their fidelity to their living. They happened to produce as many papers and production as possible no matter their findings was fraud or copy from the other. It is common saying between the researchers that quantity is outweighed quality. Obviously, the research production in mainland China is increased drastically but whether the findings can be trust and used for further study is still remain uncertain.

In the above case, the researchers in mainland China were experiencing different difficulties which make them to be unethical. The main elements the researchers encountered were autonomy, nonmaleficence and fidelity. Even though they have their sense of autonomy, they are unable to make a right choice due to the pressure come from their parents and other family members for lack of salary. Besides, they may neglect the behaviors they present may lead to

tremendous influence for the progress of technology and science. Typically, researchers may utilize the result generated by other researchers to start a new direction. Their time supposed to be devoted to something that is truly possible and of high correctness instead fraudulence. Researchers in this case are of nonmaleficience and lack of fidelity.

Plagiarism and fraudulence are not only common to be happened mainly in mainland China. Fraudulence is also not rare to be seen in Europe. Researcher in Europe is a respectable occupation compared to that in Hong Kong and mainland China. They have relatively higher salary and better quality of living condition. People may ask for the reason why they still committing such mistakes even if they are not very stressful in their research. The truth is people are being selfish and have their own desires, and we will never satisfy with our present situation. In order to win more prizes, gain higher reputation and rise to prominence, people try to make up new data and invention to earn as much recognition as possible from the others. This is not difficult to analysis their psychological status that they treat fame as success. The more fame they get from other parties, the more successful they are to themselves.

In last decade, a notarial case known as Schon Scandal was happened in 2001 and provoked among science communities. Schon scandal was originated from a German Physics Jan Hendrik Schon who was born in 1970 in Verden [7]. His reputation was gradually built after several explosions made in the field of semiconductors which were finally discovered to be fraudulent. He was so talented that he received many awards from different parties including,”Otto-Klung-Weberbank Prize for Physics in 2001, the Braunschweig Prize in 2001 and the Outstanding Young Investigator Award of the Material Research Society in 2002” [7]. But then his flaw had come to light , all the prizes Schon obtained were called for rescindment. The discussion for his case was last for almost ten years and his P.H.D had also been revoked by the University of Konstanz due to “dishonorable conduct”. The spokesman of Department of Physics of The University of Konstanz Wolfgang Dieterich named this case as “the biggest fraud in physics in the past 50 years and the credibility of science had been brought to disrepute” [7]. Since the revoked of Schon’s doctorate was also stated by the court ruled in 2011, no appeal is possible and the revokes will remain. Apart from that, the scandal also raised controversial debate for the responsibility of coauthors and reviewers of his papers.

The unethical behaviors presented by Schon were fatal to his future in the research industry and is extremely unacceptable for researchers. However, he was not the only one who should take the responsibility but also his reviewer and coauthor. A publication cannot be made simply by one single person and cannot be published without any permission from the reviewer or coauthor. Come back to ethics, little did they have autonomy to make a choice to do the right things? Obviously not, they have the freedom to choose a right choice but they took a risk to chase for fame or power in the Physics. The fidelity of Schon and his reviewer and coauthor will be under suspicion after the fraud he made no matter in what industry. There were five famous academic magazines, Science, Physical review, Applied Physics Letter, Advanced Materials and Nature withdrew eight papers that was written by Schon in 2002, six papers written by Schon in 2002, four papers written by Schon, two papers written by Schon in 2003, seven papers written

by Schon in 2003 respectively [7]. He may have ignored the ethical behavior that he offended may result in extensive influence for the progress in the technology and science industry. Typically, other researchers utilize his result for further studies or to start a new direction. The time they supposed to be devoted to something that have high accuracy and high correctness instead of fraudulence. Schon in this case are of nonmaleficence as his absent-minded move had waist others many efforts.

Over the about two cases, people in academy may commonly offend three elements out of the six ethical elements which are known as autonomy, nonmaleficence and fidelity. People are facing ethical issue whenever they are in a dilemma and struggle with the money, fame and power. However, people always have their right to choose a right thing to do in a right way at the right time. In front of the problem we are going to encounter, we always need to face a dilemma between ethics and reality. It is of most important that we can fix the problem in a way that is most acceptable by yourself, hopefully is also ethical. Please remember, when you are making a decision, substitute yourself into the one who will be affected by your decision and think of their feeling after receiving such a decision made! It is a way to prevent you from being unethical.

References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomy 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonmaleficence 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beneficence_(ethics) 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidelity 5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice 6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confidentiality 7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sch%C3%B6n_scandal