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The Best Way To Blow the Whistle
bmahersciwriter writes "Helene Hill thought she was close to retirement when, on a whim one day, she decided to check on a junior colleague's cell cultures. They were empty, she says, yet he produced data from them soon after. Blowing the whistle on what she thinks was research misconduct cost her 14 years and $200,000. See how she and other whistleblowers fared in this story from Nature."
Poorly. Rock the boat, and you can expect to be thrown off. It's the Human Way.
It happens in the government too. I lost a career doing it.
to wind up swimming. The vast majority of folks are willing to pipe down in the face of consequences and repercussions. Call the other option what you will: foolhardy, insubordinate, obstinate, or brave... all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.
Ernest Hemingway
1. Research assistant at a friend's lab was fabricating data in order to shirk off. They discovered it because the variance of the fabricated data was weird. He admitted it when challenged and was fired.
2. PhD student I know fabricated data in order to do less work. He did a bad job of it, though, and was easily caught. He admitted it but further action wasn't taken because the lab wanted to avoid a scandal and the results weren't published. Eventually he produced a shitty thesis and was told to re-submit. He failed to do this but is writing on his CV that he has the degree.
3. Post-doc currently on my floor claimed to have produced a set of data but we all know it's a lie because: a. he didn't us the equipment at any point. b. he doesn't know how to use the equipment. c. he can't show the raw data. Was challenged by his boss and denied it. That was last year, he's still here, he's done no work, he's an arrogant prick, everyone hates him and nobody talks to him any more.
4. Post-doc in a friend's lab manipulated raw data out of all recognition. He was caught because the raw data looked nothing like his claims. He was challenged and fired.
I'm sure this sort of thing happens all the time.
soylentnews.org
Take a look at the Prof Sanna's ratings as a teacher: sounds like a real asset to the faculty, right?
Now notice when most of the flattering reviews were posted.
Now look at when Sanna resigned.
This was a case of the academic world and also the 14 years and costs were also self imposed on her by her relentless bid to expose the lies. While I applaud her efforts the tone of the summary here is somewhat misleading as it sounded like she was unfairly punished for revealing the truth.
You are assuming that her claims that her colleague falsified data were valid. She made her accusations and presented her data to numerous people, including people outside her institution. NONE of them agreed with her analysis. It is likely that she was simply wrong. TFA is only telling her side of the story.
Whole cultures are based on that. The Spanish speaking world, my own, goes by this rule: one thing is what is said and faked and other what is thought and done. And what they hate the most from immigrants and visitors from other cultures is that they take what is said in its strict meaning. Believe it or not.