News of the Week research came in for harsh criticism, prompting arguments for the stronger government role. "It's naive, irresponsible, and out of touch with reality to turn responsibility for policing over to research institutions," said Jerome G. Jacobstein, director of nuclear medicine at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia. Jacobstein was one of several scientists who testified whose lives and careers were disrupted after they reported incidents of misconduct by their colleagues. Yet all of the researchers, including Jacobstein, were extremely uncomfortable with the possibility put forth by Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D.-Mich.) that scientists who intentionally misreport data be treated as criminals. NIH chemist Walter W. Stewart, who thinks that research fraud is a serious problem that is vastly unreported, balked at the idea of government prosecutors getting involved. "There aren't any simple answers," he said. "Scientists already fear correcting errors, afraid that people will think the error is fraud." But, retorted Conyers, "Incredible harm and injury could be visited upon the general public because of scientific misconduct. Why are scientists in a different position than anyone else that acts against the public interest? The whole idea of criminal law is to be a deterrent." Conyers is considering introducing a bill that would criminalize all kinds of scientific fraud. One bill (H.R. 2664) already under consideration by the House Judiciary ComThe possibility of criminal penal- mittee would make it a crime to ties for scientific fraud materialized knowingly misreport or misreprelast week during a new round of sent scientific data to the federal Congressional hearings on cheating government. in research. Whether such legislation will be But researchers—citing govern- enacted is anyone's guess at this ment interference in the scientific point. Yet the tone of last week's community—didn't like the idea one hearings left little doubt that Conbit. gress does not believe that scienThe hearings were prompted in tists are keeping their own house part by allegations that the Nation- in order. al Institutes of Health (NIH), Tufts "You can't have it both ways," University, and Massachusetts In- said Rep. Ted Weiss (D.-N.Y.). "We stitute of Technology all had mis- see no effort on the part of scientists, handled a fraud episode involving scientific institutions, or the societhose institutions. ties that represent scientists to demNIH's policy requiring institutions onstrate that you don't have to get that receive its grants to detect and the federal government involved." investigate alleged misconduct in Pamela Zurer, Washington
home. Another panel highlights the wide range of chemical components in automobiles. Yet others focus on biochemistry, biodegradable polymers, safety training using computers, and apparel. Colorful literature handouts are available, and staffers are on hand to answer questions. The exhibition truck will park for a day or more at various public events around the U.K. In some cases, it will stop at chemical sites, such as those of Albright & Wilson, Dow Chemical, and Exxon Chemical. The Speak Out scheme will use volunteers to present the case for the industry at community centers, schools, and social clubs. Speakers will have a kit containing slides covering such subjects as transport, safety, and the environment, along with backup information to help answer questions specific to a particular area. The kit will be updated regularly, and speaker teams will meet at least annually to review progress. Allan Rae, chairman of Ciba-Geigy U.K., and CIA's president, makes no apology for the propaganda nature of the projects. Citing a poll finding that only 15% of British people has any real understanding of the chemical industry, he says "we are concerned about ignorance, and at worst, ill-informed prejudices against our industry." Dermot O'Sullivan, London
Research fraud as criminal offense argued
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April 18, 1988 C&EN
Chemicals benefit in U.S.-Soviet trade talks The chemical industry is playing an important role in developing new links between U.S. corporations and their counterparts in the Soviet Union. A number of joint ventures were discussed at two meetings in Moscow last week in an atmosphere of high optimism. And formation of a new consortium of U.S. companies to facilitate trade between the two countries was announced. Most of the seven companies in the new consortium are chemically intensive businesses. The largest project announced in Moscow was a $200 million joint venture between the Soviet Ministry of Chemical Industry and Occidental Petroleum to build two polyvinyl chloride plants at the Kurush petrochemical complex in the Ukraine. According to Occidental, the plants will make PVC film and PVC resins for industrial and consumer products. The two groups that were meeting in Moscow were the industrybased U.S.-U.S.S.R. Trade & Economic Council and the Joint Commercial Commission, the main intergovernmental trade forum headed on the U.S. side by Commerce Secretary C. William Verity Jr. The council meeting was the largest ever held, according to project director Vitalli Ronif in New York. "We have about 190 companies represented," he said. The American Trade Consortium, the seven-member group announced at the meetings, will deal directly with the Soviet Foreign Economic Consortium. Corporate members are Archer Daniels Midland, Chevron, Eastman Kodak, Ford Motor, Johnson & Johnson, Mercator, and RJR Nabisco. According to U.S.-U.S.S.R. trade expert John H. Martens of the Commerce Department, the consortium mechanism follows a recent Soviet industry trend toward bypassing the U.S. government in order to deal directly with U.S. companies. "The U.S. companies will use the opportunity to open doors," Martens says. "This time they will be able to talk directly to the people involved." David Hanson, Washington
