Danish Research Agency to Evaluate DCSD, January 15, 2003
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Working Group on Scientific Dishonesty

On 13 January 2003 the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. Helge Sander, asked the Danish Research Agency to evaluate the need to adjust the regulatory basis of the Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty (DCSD). This step was taken in the light of the Committees' work up until now and the current debate about e.g. the Lomborg Case.

Consequently, the Danish Research Agency wishes to announce that:

the Agency will set up a working group with representatives from the national research councils, the universities, the hospitals, governmental research institutions, the business sector and science communication.

Among other things, the working group will be asked to assess whether there is any need to

• adjust the present definition of the concept of ”scientific dishonesty”
• specify the types of products that can be included in the evaluations of the Committees
• request the national research councils to draw up joint or area-specific guidelines for good scientific practice to support the decisions of the Committees and the behaviour of researchers
• publish the investigations, reports and voting, on which the decisions of the Committees are based and which, up until now, have been regarded as internal working papers. And if so, how this material should be published in the future
• adjust the form and communication of the Committees’ decisions.

A more specific description of the tasks of the working group and its composition will be drawn up in the course of the next days. For further information please contact Head of Information, Birgitte Ehrhardt, The Danish Research Agency, Copenhagen. Tel. +45 35 44 63 56, e-mail be@forsk.dk

Jens Morten Hansen

Director

The research advisory system of The Danish Research Agency comprises: The Board of Danish Research Councils (Forum), The six Danish Research Councils, The Danish Research Training Council (FUR), The Central Scientific Ethical Committee (CVK) and The three Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty (DCSD/UVVU).