2nd World Conference on Research Integrity, Singapore (2010)

High standards for research

To deserve public trust and support, researchers must set and maintain high standards for integrity in all aspects of their work. While major breaches of research integrity are thankfully not common, small and large problems do occur throughout the vast global research enterprise. The World Conferences on Research Integrity represent effort to provide guidance for promoting integrity in research throughout the world.

Building on the discussions begun at the 1st World Conference on Research Integrity (Lisbon 2007), this second gathering of experts from many different countries, disciplines, and leadership roles had a proactive agenda. During the conference and post-conference workshops, participants exchanged information and views and worked together to develop guidelines and recommendations for promoting integrity in research on a global scale.

Four key aspects

The main work of the conference focused on developing recommendations for four key aspects of research integrity:

1. National and international structures for promoting integrity and responding to misconduct,
2. Global codes of conduct and best practices for research,
3. Common curricula for training students and researchers in best practices, and
4. Uniform best practices for editors and publishers.

A Singapore Statement on Research Integrity

Participants also discussed and considered affirming a general "Singapore Statement on Research Integrity" as a starting point for identifying the fundamental values and principles that are common to research wherever it is undertaken. 

The 2nd World Conference was aimed at:

• Leaders and key decision makers in research funding organisations (grant agencies and research councils)
• Presidents, Directors and Provosts of research performing organisations (national research laboratories and universities)
• Research faculty of research performing organisations
• Research Publishers (scientific and technical journal and book editors and reviewers)
• Researchers, Educators and Policy Experts
• Those responsible for research integrity in Ministries and agencies specifically dealing with such matters