Ensuring Scientific Integrity
Scientific integrity includes values as transparency, conscientiousness and honesty with regard to one's own research as well as respect for people, animals and the environment. It is a prerequisite to accomplish outstanding scientific achievements at KIT. At the same time, scientific integrity is the basis for society's trust in the results of our research.
In order to ensure scientific integrity, KIT has committed itself to comply with the rules of good scientific practice (German acronym: GWP = "gute wissenschaftliche Praxis") and adopted the legally binding Statutes for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice in October 2021. In September 2023, some regulations were adapted in an amended statute.
The statutes define quality standards to assure research in compliance with the basic principles of good scientific practice. The quality standards are based on the proposals for safeguarding good scientific practice from the German Research Foundation and the Helmholtz Association as well as recommendations from other organizations in the science and higher education sector.
According to the statutes, tangible suspicions of scientific misconduct must be reported!
Support for Implementing the Rules of Good Scientific Practice
KIT offers a range of services and advice for all those who study, research and teach here. Take a look at the following pages and find out more!
Here you will find
- General information on good scientific practice at KIT
- Support services for questions in the research process
- Information on teaching good scientific practice in teaching
- Specific offers for doctoral candidates/postdocs and students
Your question is not answered? Please contact the Office for Good Scientific Practice and Ethical Principles for further information!
KIT also offers support and structures to address scientific misconduct:
If scientific misconduct is suspected, a formal investigation procedure can be initiated via the Ombudspersons for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice. If the suspicion is substantiated, they will forward the case to the Commission for Good Scientific Practice.
The Ombudspersons for Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors will be happy to assist you with any problems you may encounter in resarch and writing as well as supervising doctoral theses. The Ombudspersons for Ethical Principles provide support with questions about KIT's ethical principles and applications for a vote of the Ethics Committee.