Good Scientific Practice
As an international research university, the University of Tübingen expects its researchers to adhere to established standards of good scientific practice. Violations of these standards can not only destroy the reputation of the responsible researcher, but can also seriously damage the reputation of our university.
In order to ensure good scientific practice and to handle scientific misconduct, the University of Tübingen has implemented guidelines and established processes and support services.
Guidelines for Good Scientific Practice
The rules for good research practice, to which all members of the University of Tübingen are committed, are anchored in the University of Tübingen Guidelines for Ensuring Good Scientific Practice.
The Tübingen Guidelines are based on the Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice of the German Research Foundation (DFG). As a practically oriented, subject-specific commentary on the Code, the DFG provides an online portal.
Ombudspersons for Good Scientific Practice
The University of Tübingen has appointed a number of ombudspersons for good scientific practice to whom their members and employees can turn with questions relating to good scientific practice and cases of suspected misconduct. As neutral and qualified contact persons, they contribute to solution-oriented conflict mediation where possible. Ombudspersons maintain confidentiality in dealing with queries and, if necessary, notify the responsible body at their institution in the event of suspected cases of misconduct. Apart from the ombudspersons for good scientific practice, the University has also appointed ombudspersons for issues arising during the doctoral phase. They can, for example, be contacted in case of conflict between doctoral candidate and supervisor.
Ombudspersons for Good Scientific Practice (in accordance with § 4 VerfO)
MEDICINE
Regular Ombudspersons
Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Krägeloh-Mann
ingeborg.kraegeloh-mann @uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. H. Peter Rodemann
hans-peter.rodemann @uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy Ombudspersons
Prof. Dr. Marlies Knipper
marlies.knipper @uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. Tobias Renner
tobias.renner @med.uni-tuebingen.de
SCIENCE
Regular Ombudspersons
Prof. Dr. Claudia Oecking, Center for Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP)
claudia.oecking @uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. Andreas Kappler, Department of Geoscience
andreas.kappler @uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy Ombudspersons
Prof. Dr. Doris Kunz, Department of Chemistry
doris.kunz @uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. Claus Zimmermann, Department of Physics
claus.zimmermann @uni-tuebingen.de
HUMANITIES
Regular Ombudspersons
Prof. Dr. Sigrid Hirbodian, Department of History
sigrid.hirbodian @uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. Markus Pudelko, Department of Economics
markus.pudelko @uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy Ombudspersons
Prof. Dr. Valeria Merlo, Department of Economics
valeria.merlo @uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. Thomas Sattig, Department of Philosophy and Media
thomas.sattig @uni-tuebingen.de
Period in office: March 17, 2020 to March 16, 2023
Information and Support Services
Courses
The university offers courses on good scientific practice for researchers of different career stages.
Support
For advice on matters relating to good scientific practice, the University has established various contact points.
Animal testing
Animal testing requires particular sensitivity from researchers.
Medical research projects involving humans
The Ethics Commission at the Faculty of Medicine and the University Hospital in Tübingen is responsible for medical research projects involving humans.
Further Documents on Good Scientific Practice
The German Rectors' Conference (HRK), the German Research Foundation, the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat), and the National Academy of Sciences and Humanities Leopoldina have expressed their views on good scientific practice and scientific misconduct in several position papers.
Position papers on good scientific practice
- Scientific Freedom and Scientific Responsibility. Recommendations for Handling Security-Relevant Research (2014). Joint position paper by the German Research Foundation and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
- Position paper on freedom of opinion at the University of Tübingen (November 2020)
- Gute wissenschaftliche Praxis an deutschen Hochschulen. Empfehlung der 14. HRK-Mitgliederversammlung (Mai 2013)
- WR - Recommendations on Academic Integrity Position Paper (April 2015)
- DFG - Proposals for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice
Academic Misconduct
Please contact one of the ombudspersons for good scientific practice if you are a member of the university and suspect or wish to report scientific misconduct or violations of good scientific practice. The ombudspersons are sworn to absolute secrecy and are independent in the performance of their duties. The ombudsperson in question will examine the significance of this suspicion of academic misconduct in detail with regard to the plausibility of these accusations. Justified cases will be passed on to the Commission for the Investigation of Misconduct in Science.
For details see the University of Tübingen's rules of procedure for dealing with academic misconduct (2018 version).
Members of the Commission for the Investigation of Misconduct in Science in accordance with Section 7 VerfO (Rules of Procedure)
MEDICINE
Regular member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Olga Garaschuk, Institute of Physiology
olga.garaschuk @uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Julia Skokowa, Internal Medicine
julia.skokowa @med.uni-tuebingen.de
SCIENCE
Regular member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Lars Wesemann, Department of Chemistry
lars.wesemann @uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Felix Wichmann, Department of Computer Science
felix.wichmann @uni-tuebingen.de
HUMANITIES
Regular member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Forster, Faculty of Law
forster @jura.uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Matthias Möhring-Hesse, Faculty of Catholic Theology
matthias.moehring-hesse @uni-tuebingen.de
ACADEMIC EMPLOYEES
Regular member of the commission
PD Dr. Elisabeth Fuß, Department of Biology
elisabeth.fuss @uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy member of the commission
Dr. Rolf Frankenberger, Department of Social Sciences
rolf.frankenberger @uni-tuebingen.de
FROM OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY
Regular member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Michael Schramm, University of Hohenheim
schramm @uni-hohenheim.de
Deputy member of the commission
TBC
Period in office: March 17, 2020 to March 16, 2023
Attacks on researchers
The ombudspersons mentioned above are first and foremost there to address questions regarding good scientific practice and issues of suspected scientific misconduct. Beyond that, cases may arise which are not necessarily covered by the University’s rules of procedure for dealing with misconduct in science or by any other established procedures at the University. This includes attacks on academics, for example due to public statements or because of research and/or methods regarded as undesirable.
In such cases, University of Tübingen academics may contact the one of the ombudspersons. This is intended as an easy-access first stop within the affected academic’s respective field. In the case of serious attacks that may constitute a criminal offence (threat, insult, physical violence), the person concerned should also contact the police and inform the University President’s Office.
In addition, there is a Committee for Conflict Mediation at the University of Tübingen, which can be called upon primarily in the event of conflicts between employees or between employees and students of the University. The members of the committee provide advisory support to prevent conflicts or to defuse existing conflicts.
Related Topics
Research Data Management
Research Data Management is an important aspect of good scientific practice.
Open Science
The University regards an adequate dissemination of research to the public as an integral part of good scientific practice.