The second meeting of the committee took place on 11 July, Louise Dunlop reflects on the day. The full minutes of the business meeting will be made public once they are approved. You can find previous meeting minutes on the web page.
Louise Dunlop, UK Committee on Research Integrity member.
“The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD) generously hosted the UK Committee on Research Integrity for its second meeting. As the committee is still in its formative stage, the successful workshop approach that was deployed at the inaugural meeting was utilised again – facilitating a free flowing, open and respectful discussion. A lunch-time tour of RCSSD provided an invaluable insight into research within Performing Arts, undoubtedly members were much better informed for the experience. The formal business meeting enabled approval of the committee’s Terms of Reference, Code of Conduct and immediate programme of work.”
Indicators of research integrity
Assessment of research integrity is a key area of interest for the UK Committee on Research Integrity. Recent work by Research Consulting on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, GuildHE and Cancer Research UK sought to explore whether indicators are being used, if they are effective, and if they offer a potential opportunity for the UK to develop an agreed approach to integrity. The committee will work closely with the project sponsors to consider how to take this work forward. Documents that set out the feasibility and possible uses of indicators of research integrity can be viewed and downloaded here.
Listening to the research community
The UK Committee on Research Integrity have engaged with several groups, including the Concordat Signatories, Universities UK, the UK Reproducibility Network and attendees at the UK Research Integrity Office annual conference. These are helping to shape the strategy and work of the committee in view of the current landscape. Upcoming engagements include the Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA) conference. If you would like the committee to attend or speak at one of your events, please contact the secretariat on secretariat@ukcori.org
The 7th World Conference on Research Integrity
The 2022 World Conference on Research Integrity took place in May 2022, this year’s theme was ‘Fostering Research Integrity in an Unequal World’. The UK Committee on Research Integrity co-chairs attend remotely and were pleased to be part of global conversations about research integrity. Of note was the launch of the African Research Integrity Network and ongoing work to develop the Cape Town Statement on Fostering Research Integrity in an Unequal World. Once published the document will be available here.
Research assessment
The committee have been engaging with the Future of Research Assessment Programme, to support consideration of issues relating to research integrity during the revision of the research assessment programme. You can read about the Future of Research Assessment Programme here.
Upcoming consultation
The committee is currently developing strategy and plans. Later in 2022, we will be inviting input into these and hope that you will be interested in contributing when the consultation starts.
Opportunities across the sector
UK Research Integrity Office
The UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) is recruiting volunteers for their charity’s advisory community. UKRIO is looking for those with experience in providing support and guidance to individuals or institutions on good research practice, research culture and related issues. The community offers an opportunity to contribute to UKRIO’s shaping of research integrity policy in the UK and to help people faced with challenges to good research practice. Find out more and volunteer here.
Peer Review Week
You may be interested to know that Peer Review Week 2022 will start on 19 September 2022. Demonstrating how important the research integrity agenda is, the theme for this year is “Research Integrity: Creating and supporting trust in research”. You can find out more about Peer Review Week here.
Science and Technology Select Committee: call for future inquiry topics
The House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee has recently launched an open call for potential topics of inquiry in the areas of science and technology. ‘My Science Inquiry’ invites proposals on what the committee should investigate next and why, including what action is needed from the government. Find out more here.