Academic fraud in marine biology

[Quartz]

A major controversy in marine biology took a new twist last week when the University of Delaware (UD) found one of its star scientists guilty of research misconduct. The university has confirmed to Science that it has accepted an investigative panel’s conclusion that marine ecologist Danielle Dixson committed fabrication and falsification in work on fish behavior and coral reefs. The university is seeking the retraction of three of Dixson’s papers and “has notified the appropriate federal agencies,” a spokesperson says.

Star marine ecologist committed misconduct, university says

Finding against Danielle Dixson vindicates whistleblowers who questioned high-profile work on ocean acidification

www.science.org

That the fraud occurred is of course bad but that it was caught shows the rigour of the scientific system. My concern is that climate change deniers will jump on this.

 

[Quartz]

I see I have cast my net in good waters.

 

[Quartz]

A lot of data doesn't get checked or even verified at peer review level.

As I understand it, peer review simply means that the paper looks to be of interest and is not obviously wrong. As you say, peer review does not mean verification.

 

[Quartz]

I’d think it fair with your title to quote more than a single example

The article to which I linked gives more.

 

[Quartz]

I doubt it's a fluke.