The basic components of data management including data ownership, collection, selection, recording, analysis, storage, retention, destruction, and sharing. A number of important principles underlie best practices for each of these components; these include recording details such that another can repeat the experiment, keeping the data safe, managing storage in such a way as to facilitate easy retrieval for the period of time required by regulatory agencies and establishing data sharing principles with colleagues before collaborations begin. Experience as practicing scientists and (...) teachers has aided in developing helpful strategies and approaches for communicating these principles, policies and practices to trainees and colleagues. We recommend didactic instruction focused by discipline, combined with the use of teachable moments in a student’s career, as well as teaching principles versus rules, because changing methods of data collection and storage have implications for data management practices. (shrink)

The goal of collegial ethics is to actively support our colleagues and to develop the skills needed to do so. While collegial interactions are key for our careers, there is little or no training in this. Many of our actions and reactions with our colleagues are instinctive. Human nature has evolved to be self-protective, but many evolved and automatic responses to others are not always in the best interests of our society or of us. Developing courage and a style of (...) supportive language, avoiding destructive acts, and adhering to the golden rule will improve our relationships and provide a more positive environment for all. (shrink)

In 1999 Science and Engineering Ethics published a special issue “Scientific Misconduct” in which James Lubalin and Jennifer Matheson discussed the sequelae of allegations of scientific misconduct [1]. An important finding highlighted in their analysis is that a substantial majority of both those accused but exonerated of scientific misconduct and whistleblowers experienced negative consequences in their personal and professional lives. Professional reputation is critically important to career advancement and personal well-being. This Letter to the Editors discusses blacklisting, an insidious, ethically (...) problematic process which is likely to produce the negative consequences described by Lubalin and Matheson. It is a topic that merits attention by the scientific community—SJB. (shrink)