– I know I’ll manage this
“When my first draft was finished, I sent it around to my supervisors. […] One corrected a few spelling mistakes. The other wrote “Thank you!” … To this day, my first article is the most quoted article by my supervisors. “
“I still have to participate in the same co-author in all my work as long as I am a PhD student, as they allegedly” contributed to me being able to become a PhD at all “. But they did not contribute anything. Did not help me. Did not guide me. Answered no questions. Nothing. “
The stories are taken from the campaign # Joy not to steal my workas a PhD fellow at the University of Copenhagen, Maria Toft, together with the Danish PhD Association Network of Denmark (PAND), has started.
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Abuses authorship to build careers
– The top of the iceberg
It is Danish Uniavisen which has published several of what is soon up in 100 stories that have come in so far since the campaign was launched on March 21.
Inspired by the #metoo campaign, Toft and PAND have set out to investigate the extent of and exposed cultures known as research theft or “ghost authoring”.
This may involve work on research articles in which one or more listed co-authors have contributed very little or not at all.
Or that older and meritorious researchers are looking for applicants based on a project developed by a younger researcher.
– People are very afraid to tell their stories, even anonymously. But there are over 100 who have either called, written or told me about their experiences directly. So this is probably just the tip of the iceberg, says PhD student Maria Toft to Khrono.
Toft has experienced the phenomenon in several different ways.
Want to see similar campaigns in other countries
The campaign has also received attention in the Danish national press, where Denmark’s radio has both written and told about the case on the radio.
Several unions in Denmark have also supported that this is not an unknown phenomenon for them.
Toft says that fellowship organizations in both Germany and the United States have contacted to initiate similar campaigns there.
The scholarship organizations in Norway (SiN) tell Khrono that they will also apply if such a campaign is necessary to set in motion in this country as well.
– This is an international problem, so there is something that must be done for things to really change, says Toft, who is personally very interested in seeing similar campaigns in other countries.
Debate Hilde Larsen Damsgaard
Co-authorship’s gray areas
– This is not about immoral people
She explains that the campaign has a purpose.
– One is to say that this culture exists, that it is something that actually happens, even though it is very taboo. These are some invisible structures that you have consciously or unconsciously closed your eyes to. And by making it visible, it is also about acknowledging those who now tell their stories their pain and saying that they are not alone, says Toft.
The second purpose is to make visible the research conditions that enable such a culture to develop.
– This is not about evil or immoral people, it is a system problem. I am completely convinced of that, says Toft.
She believes the system is so rigged that it supports this culture, that it roughly fills the researchers who drive called research theft.
– Even good people will take advantage of this system, because if they do not, they will lose in the competition, says Toft. A competition for research funding, promotion and recognition.
An environment where ideas thrive
Toft believes that people in Denmark are after the new one the University Act which was rolled out in 2003has acquired an «extreme top-down management model».
– This has created a culture of silence. In addition, in recent years there have been more and more temporary employments, which in turn reinforces this culture of silence. This is how you manage to create a perverse system, says Toft.
She believes it’s all about creating an environment where ideas thrive and where you can share ideas without fear of them being exploited.
– We really need to stand up and talk loudly about these terms so that we can create a good framework for ideas. We researchers have these days and very important societal mission. But I think it is a responsibility we can not take if we do not first look at ourselves in the mirror and look at our framework for conducting research, says Toft.
– It has been hard
– You say that very many are afraid to tell their stories. What was it that motivated you to come forward with your story and launch this campaign?
– I am idealistic and I knew that my case was unique because I could document everything, and I also knew that it could help to change this culture through this movement, says Toft, who himself researches how collective actors change environmental standards- and behavior.
– I did it too because I could not look myself in the eye and at the same time know how many people actually experienced this.
But she was also fully aware that it would have negative consequences for her personally.
She says she has met an incredible amount of resistance and the latter.
– I saw all this coming, but it has been hard. But at some point you win, because I know I’m right and I know I have to do this, says Toft.
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The University of Oslo is criticized for handling cases concerning research ethics
“Set the research free”
Toft explains that once the campaign has received 100 stories, everyone will be published anonymously.
– Once we have revealed how the system is connected, we will come up with solutions, says Toft.
Before the week is over, she and PAND will gather as many researchers as possible in Denmark to sign a letter that they must send to the Danish Ministry of Education and Research, with Minister of Education and Research Jesper Petersen at the helm.
The letter, entitled “Set the research free”, contains three requirements:
- About getting an evaluation and revision of the University Act
- That more basic funds will be allocated for free research
- About getting a review of the entire incentive scheme and the funding of research
– We can not just treat the problems with symptoms, says Toft.
– What if we can change the collective consciousness among researchers so that this is actually something we can change if we agree on it? Because we love our work, we love research and ideas for the sake of ideas? This is an experiment, says Toft.
Worth finding out
The scholarship organizations in Norway (SiN), led by President Nicolas Gibney, say he knows about the issues that the Danish campaign addresses.
– I think they have many good points here and I know that this is a problem that is not unique to Denmark. It probably also happens here in Norway, says Gibney.
He thinks it is good that they are now addressing this in Denmark.
– It is worth finding out how widespread this culture is also in Norway. We will first discuss the problem internally in the board of SiN and hear whether there are more who have either experienced this or someone who has experienced it, says Gibney. He adds:
– If we find that it is a widespread problem, I see no reason to arrange a similar campaign or survey here in Norway as well.
Science ombudsman
They are employed to prevent research scandals – have had over 100 cases on the table
Co-author conflicts
In Norway, cases of research theft or “ghost authoring” can end up on the table of the few science ombudsmen. If necessary, they will be promoted to the research ethics committees.
In 2020, only three universities in Norway had such representatives, the University of Oslo, the University of Stavanger and OsloMet.
The cases the science ombudsmen have had by far the most of, is precisely about disagreements and conflicts associated with co-authorshipwhich is one of the issues #Pleasedontstealmywork addresses.
– I think it’s as simple as writing is one of the most important criteria for merit. It is through this that researchers gain recognition. Having first authorship in reputable journals counts a lot. This is also where disagreement arises. Who has contributed the most? Who is most important? Who has written the most? All those things there, the science ombudsman at the University of Oslo, Knut W. Ruyter, told Khrono in 2020.
SCIENCE AGENT