SfN Reaffirms Commitment to Scientific Integrity

SfN Reaffirms Commitment to Scientific Integrity

The integrity of the scientific mission is a collective responsibility, and the Society for Neuroscience plays an integral part in ensuring the public's trust in the scientific enterprise. SfN takes seriously the role of leading the field in its commitment to professional and ethical conduct, and in light of a number of recent high-profile scientific misconduct cases, the importance of this commitment is more vital than ever to ensuring the public's ongoing understanding of and trust in the scientific enterprise.

SfN believes that progress in understanding the brain and the nervous system greatly benefits human welfare. This progress depends on the honest and ethical pursuit of scientific research and the truthful representation of findings. While recognizing that both error and differences among individuals in the interpretation of data are natural parts of the creative process, the Society for Neuroscience affirms that the success of the entire scientific endeavor is gravely jeopardized by misconduct, whether it is in the form of plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification of data. By entering the profession, neuroscientists assume an obligation to maintain the highest level of integrity in all scientific activities.

The entire scientific endeavor is put at risk by misconduct, including fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, unethical treatment of animals or human subjects, sexual and gender harassment, and other harassing or harmful behaviors that are contrary to a healthy scientific enterprise. The Society for Neuroscience believes strongly in the importance of professional conduct for the good of field, the integrity of science, and earning and keeping vital public trust in science.

SfN serves neuroscience and society at large in many ways, including publishing JNeurosci, eNeuro, and the annual meeting abstracts, all of which present the results of scientific research. SfN knows it's vital to establish and disseminate guidelines and policies regarding responsible professional behavior and to specify the relevant obligations of SfN members to one another and to the public. Such guidelines and policies derive from a desire to maximize benefits to the profession as a whole, as well as to the general society, and to limit actions that might serve only the narrow self-interests of individuals.

Members of the Society for Neuroscience have an obligation to maintain the highest level of integrity in their scientific activities, including compliance with the policy herein and expanded in the Guidelines for Responsible Conduct Regarding Scientific Communication, Policies on the Use of Animals and Humans in Neuroscience Research, and the Code of Conduct at SfN Events.