Good Scientific Practice

Good Scientific Practice

Our institute places great value on conforming to the highest standards of scientific practice.

Scientific honesty and the observance of the principles of good scientific practice are essential in all scientific work that seeks to expand our knowledge and which is intended to earn respect from the public. To insure good scientific practice, the Max Planck Society has established a set of basic rules governing good scientific practice and the actions to deal with scientific misconduct. The basic rules of good scientific practice set out here take into account the relevant recommendations of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft of January 1998 and adapt them to research conditions at the Max Planck Society. They are binding for all persons active in research work in the Max Planck Society.

The ombudsperson, who is elected by all scientific staff members of the institute, provides advice in the event of conflicts related to issues of good scientific practice. Please refer to the respective rules for detailed information about the issues in question. The ombudsperson performs an essential role in scientific self-monitoring. Consultations with them are confidential, as long as a conflict can be solved within the institute concerned.

Each of the three scientific sections of the Max Planck Society has its own ombudsperson in addition. 

Guidelines concerning the Prevention of Plagiarism
The following guidelines are designed to prevent plagiarism in PhD, Master’s, Bachelor’s or Diploma theses written at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research. They are adapted from those of the Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences and the Faculty of Biosciences of Heidelberg University. Please note that these guidelines cannot cover all questions that you may have or situations you might be confronted with. If in doubt, please contact your supervisor, the ombudsperson or the scientific coordinator of our institute. In addition, you should always follow the rules of good scientific practice. more
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