Virginia Tech provides expertise at the National Dialogue on Research Integrity event
Four Virginia Tech experts provided their perspectives on improving the state of research integrity education at the National Dialogue on the State of Research Integrity Education held at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 8-9.
“The National Dialogue provided an opportunity to promote accountability through collaborative problem-solving. The conversations we had will help Virginia Tech continue its role as a leader in trustworthy research and innovation,” said Lisa M. Lee, associate vice president for research and innovation who also served as the co-chair of the event.
Lee was joined by Virginia Tech colleagues Aimee Surprenant, dean of the Graduate School, and Kory Trott, director of the Research Integrity and Consultation Program. Rockwell Clancy, a research scientist from Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering and Department of Engineering Education, also attended the meeting will produce the meeting’s report.
“Ensuring that the next generation of researchers understand and embrace their responsibility to conduct research with integrity is a major goal of graduate education,” said Surprenant.
Convened by the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, the two-day workshop gathered leading research integrity education scholars with colleagues from federal funding agencies, higher education accreditation organizations, professional societies, and research universities. Together, they reviewed current practices and strategies, identified gaps, and developed practical approaches to strengthen accountability for the ethical conduct of research.
“Virginia Tech has been an innovator in the way we educate trainees to understand and execute their research ethics responsibilities. Sharing what we have learned over the past four years was affirming,” said Trott, who presented Virginia Tech’s experience during the event.
Along with identifying current issues, the group also generated strategies to address existing shortcomings in promoting integrity across the research enterprise.
In the coming months, the meeting report, which will include suggested next steps for federal funders, universities, accreditation organizations, and professional societies, will be disseminated to participants, the research enterprise, and the public.
