With our focus on good scientific practice, we at CERes aim to:

• provide resources and support for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to navigate ethical dilemmas and maintain research integrity
• collaborate with partners to provide training on good practices in various areas of research (e.g., documentation and publication of research findings, research funding acquisition)
• promote the dissemination and application of legal and ethical standards in research throughout the University

We understand good scientific practice as the fundamental prerequisite for excellent and credible scientific research, requiring respectful and constructive interactions (see, e.g., DFG 2019: 7, Code of Conduct of the University of Münster). Compliance with good scientific practice enables us to remain true to general human and social values, such as trust in science, prosocial behaviour, integrity, and the respectful and efficient use of public resources.

• Good scientific practice

  The values inherent in good scientific practice, such as the acknowledgement of originality and quality, honesty, openness to new findings, responsibility, and independence, are firmly embedded in our scientific ethos. These values ensure that, as scientists, we work lege artis, conducting research according to ethical, legal and discipline-specific obligations and standards. Examples include the meticulous handling and documentation of all data in line with recognised standards and practices within the respective discipline, a rigorous questioning of all findings, and maintaining strict honesty as regards one’s contributions and those of other people (ensuring the protection and recognition of intellectual property).

• Scientific misconduct

  Not every infringement of good scientific practice should be immediately categorised as scientific misconduct. Scientific misconduct involves intention or gross negligence and encompasses the following categories: 1) making false statements intentionally or due to gross negligence, such as fabricating or falsifying data or sources; 2) interfering with other people’s research activities (e.g., through sabotage or the destruction of documents or chemicals); 3) infringement of intellectual property, such as plagiarism or claiming other people’s authorship without their consent; and 4) bearing co-responsibility (e.g., by knowing about falsification and failing to take action or through a gross neglect of supervisory duties).

All researchers at the University of Münster are responsible for exhibiting the fundamental values of good scientific practice in their conduct, and for advocating for them. In July 2023, the Senate passed the Statute “Securing good scientific practice”, which obliges researchers and academic staff of the University to exercise fairness and honesty in academic work. They are also obliged by the Statute to continuously update their knowledge about the standards of good scientific practice and to engage in dialogue with other scientists. There are numerous events organised by the individual faculties and Münster Centre for Emerging Researchers (CERes) for that purpose. Doctoral supervisors play an especially important role in teaching good scientific practice because, as heads of individual research units, they are responsible for supervising emerging researchers and supporting their careers. In line with the Statute, doctoral researchers and their supervisors can also be obliged to comply with the rules of good scientific practice through doctoral regulations and supervision agreements within the faculties.