UK eyes Australia’s national committee for research integrity

MPs have asked Australia to send information about its national research integrity committee as a possible model for the UK.

The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee is examining options for regulation of research integrity, including the possibility of establishing a watchdog based on the Australian model, its chairman Norman Lamb has told Research Fortnight.

Australia established a research integrity committee in 2011 to review how universities deal with allegations of scientific misconduct. As part of its inquiry, the Science and Technology Committee is looking at different regulatory systems and has requested more information about how the Australian one works.