Universities, the epicenters of knowledge creation and dissemination, pulsate with the dual heartbeat of education and research. In research, a pathway to elevated academic degrees, accolades, and professional advancements, the pursuit of novelty stands as a beacon.
Yet, within this realm, echoes of a challenge persist—a crisis in reproducibility, where the replication of research elsewhere falters. In response, the call for academic integrity and research ethics resounds, a shield against deviations like data manipulation, plagiarism, and falsification.
This call found resonance at the Seminar on Scientific Integrity and Research Ethics, a scholarly gathering hosted on Wednesday (Dec. 6) at the UGM Integrated Research and Testing Laboratory (LPPT) auditorium.
The seminar, orchestrated by the UGM Directorate of Research, summoned three distinguished voices: Professor Teruna J. Siahaan, Scientific Integrity Course Coordinator at the University of Kansas, USA; Professor Gunawan Indrayanto, Emeritus Professor at Airlangga University; and Professor Abdul Rohman of the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy.
In a dynamic address, Professor Siahaan underscored the sacred responsibility that every student and researcher bears for their research endeavors. He illuminated the overarching purpose of research—to unravel solutions to societal quandaries—and distinguished it from scientific research, which aims to untangle problems entrenched in nature.
“Today, research in universities often aspires for recognition, awards, scholarships, and promotions,” he lamented.
Beyond personal accolades, Professor Siahaan extolled research endeavors with a transformative impact on regional and global communities, lauding breakthroughs such as vaccines and medicinal discoveries.
“Application-oriented research exerts a direct influence on regional and global communities. It directly shapes society,” Professor Siahaan proclaimed.
However, he voiced his disquiet over the escalating transgressions in scientific work, manifesting in the surge of plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification cases.
“In the last decade in the United States, research violations have surged tenfold,” he divulged, expressing particular concern over the reproducibility crisis, where only a quarter of research can be replicated.
At the University of Kansas, Professor Siahaan passionately instills in students and researchers the cardinal importance of moral integrity, advocating against scientific work violations.
“Uphold honesty, embrace responsibility, be transparent. Be prepared for validation and respect the work of others,” Professor Siahaan urged.
Professor Gunawan Indrayanto highlighted a distinct challenge in Indonesian herbal medicine research. Despite abundant studies, the lack of clarity regarding plant origins, present compounds, and their interaction with human cell membranes hampers thorough testing.
Consequently, few herbal medicines garner recommendations from physicians.
“In the United States, only two herbal medicines are prescribed and officially distributed by doctors,” he highlighted.
Professor Yusril Yusuf, Head of LPPT, shed light on the institution’s commitment to cultivating research activities infused with integrity and ethics. He stressed the importance of researchers viewing their work not merely as a conduit for publication but as a vehicle for direct community benefits.
“We want researchers to understand that research can have an impact, extending beyond publication to the realm of usefulness and authentic data,” he concluded.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto