Ombudsperson System
Good Research Practice
In its Guidelines for Good Scientific Practice, the Leibniz Association has set down standards of good research practice, definitions of what constitutes misconduct, and the role and powers of its central Ombuds-Committee. These guidelines also include rules of procedure on the specific handling of misconduct in research activity. The Leibniz institutions implement their procedures in accordance with these guidelines. This applies equally in the case of the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum.
The Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum regards safeguarding good research practice as one of its highest priorities. As the Leibniz Research Museum for Geo-resources, it is bound both by the German Research Foundation’s Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice as well as the Guidelines of Good Research Practice that apply within the Leibniz organisation. Together, these guidelines form the basis for the research work performed by the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum, and all research activities must adhere to them.
The Ombudspersons responsible for safeguarding good research practice within the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum, provide advice and function as intermediaries. They examine irregularities, suspicious activities and disagreements in relation to good research practice and the integrity of scientific research.
Every four years, the academic staff elect the Ombudspersons to perform this remit. They perform their activities neutrally and in confidence. Their objective is always to mediate conflict with a view to achieving a resolution. External agencies may be used if necessary. Another primary responsibility of the Ombudspersons is to embed a culture of good research practice and the integrity of scientific research within the organisation.
The currently appointed persons shall remain in office until March 2024:
- Dr. Elena Gómez Sánchez (1st Ombudsperson)
- Dr. Lena Asrih (2nd Ombudsperson)
- Dr. Maria Schäpers (Deputy Ombudsperson)
- Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum | Guidelines for Good Scientific Practice (pdf)
- Leibniz Association | Leibniz Code for Good Research Practice (pdf) & Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice (pdf)
- DFG Code | Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (pdf)
- Participation in the virtual meeting of the ombudspersons of the Leibniz Association with the focus on abuse of power in science on 18th May 2022.
- Official confirmation as trainers for Dr Lena Asrih and Dr Elena Gómez Sánchez after completion of the VIRT2UE Train-the-Trainer programme of the Embassy of Good Science (https://embassy.science/wiki/AboutCertifiedTrainers)
- Following the first events on the Guideline for Ensuring Good Scientific Practice at the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum we are preparing further workshops on our guideline and on individual topics of good scientific practice
Documents and reports related to good scientific practice
- DFG-Positionspapier zum wissenschaftlichen Publizieren als Grundlage und Gestaltungsfeld der Wissenschaftsbewertung (pdf)
- Web portal on research integrity of the DFG
The third level of the DFG´s Guidelines for Good Research – dynamic online portal. - VIRT2UE-Projekt
The train-the-trainer program from the Embassy of Good Sciences has an aspirational approach, and focuses on what it means to be a good and virtuous researcher. This will foster skills that enable trainees to integrate the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity in their day-to-day professional life.- Embassy of good science
The Embassy offers help to anyone seeking support in handling day-to-day research practices and dilemmas. - ALLEA – All European Academies
The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity serves the European research community as a framework for self-regulation across all scientific and scholarly disciplines and for all research settings.
- Embassy of good science
Consulting
- Ombudsman for Science
The Ombudsman for Science is a body set up by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) to support all scientists and academics in Germany in questions and conflicts concerning good scientific practice and scientific integrity. - Advice Centre for Conflict Guidance and Prevention
The external Advice Centre for Conflict Guidance and Prevention […] supplements existing local and central advice structures in instances where a suspected case of misconduct does not primarily concern good scientific practice but relates to other principles governing behaviour – for instance if it falls within the area of good conduct, or protection against discrimination and bullying. - Mawi Network
The network aims to raise awareness of "abuse of power in science" and offers counselling independent of organisations to those affected.