Image from https://www.davidwolfe.com/medical-journal-studies-fake/
In a new article published on February 7 by Bio-IT World on potential use-cases and applications of blockchain, Richard Shute, Curlew Research Consultant, looks at how distributed ledger technology could be used to reduce the scourge of scientific data falsification. In this extract Richard gives some background to the issue and hints at how blockchain tech could help to stamp it out:-
“Falsification of scientific data is one of three primary forms of scientific research misconduct defined by the US National Science Foundation (NSF); the other two are plagiarism and fabrication. There have been a number of papers, editorials, and comment articles highlighting this sore. Last June, an editorial in Nature focused on image altering highlighted three main “stakeholders” who have a responsibility to ensure data falsification does not happen: the originating scientist, the senior researcher or principal investigator, and the journal publisher. Many journals and publishing groups have adopted clear guidelines on data integrity with the Journal of Cell Biology leading the way over 15 years ago. However, it is mechanisms to reduce falsifications by originating scientists that would seem to provide the best opportunity to eliminate this scientific scourge. So, is there a technology that could reduce data falsification in a publicly visible, traceable, perpetual and immutable fashion, and thus help to rebuild trust in science? I believe there is: blockchain technology.”
Richard then goes on to describe a blockchain-enabled “supply chain of information”, which starts as soon as a data file comes off a blockchain-identified instrument. When linked to:-
- easy cryptographic hashing of files,
- access to a public blockchain storing the hashes,
- publication file storage services for the original data,
… such a system could make fake scientific news and data doctoring significantly more difficult and less likely. Do you agree?
To read the full article click here.