As the main channel for funding basic research in my country, the Science Foundation shoulders the important task of promoting the high-quality development of basic research. However, the "greeting" of review experts not only seriously affected the review order of Science Fund projects, but also seriously damaged the scientific research ecology. The party group of the Natural Science Foundation of China attaches great importance to the special rectification of review experts who are "greeted" and has organized special research work meetings and the 2023 project review work mobilization and deployment meeting to further promote the special rectification of review experts who are "greeted". The responsible comrades of the Natural Science Foundation of China answered relevant questions.
Question: What is the overall consideration of the Natural Science Foundation of China in preventing governance review experts from being "greeted" this year?
Answer: Project review is a key link in the management of science funds. Maintaining the fairness of review is related to whether outstanding talents can receive timely and effective support, the overall situation of the development of national scientific research, and the actual results of building a strong country with science and technology and talents. The party group of the Natural Science Foundation of China regards rectifying the persistent illnesses of review experts being "greeting" as a major research theme for the theme education investigation and research and "Science Fund Research Year" activities. Research, in-depth study of rectification measures, optimize and improve the review process, strict review discipline requirements, achieve positive guidance, extreme defense, serious punishment, multi-party participation to form a joint force, effectively maintain the scientificity and fairness of review, and constantly cultivate a clean and upright The scientific research ecology creates a good environment for scientific researchers to carry out innovative research without distraction.
Q: What new measures will be taken in the review work this year to address the issue of review experts being "greeted"?
Answer: In this year's project review work, while continuing to strictly implement the systems of recusal, conflict of interest management, confidentiality, and impartiality commitments, a series of new measures will be taken and necessary technical measures will be taken to prevent them. For example, in terms of meeting discipline, it is strictly forbidden for anyone or any unit to "surround the meeting" in any form; except for the questioning session of the meeting, prevent the review experts from actively communicating with the respondent; stay. In terms of selection of review experts, the composition and personnel structure of the review expert group will be further optimized, and the proportion of small peers and large peers will be set reasonably. In addition, we have also introduced new measures and put forward new requirements in terms of expert database construction, project grouping, "correction" of communication review opinions, and confidentiality of meeting information.
Q: What is the purpose of the Natural Science Foundation of China to issue the "Prohibited List of Requests for Project Reviews"?
Answer: On the basis of extensive research, the Natural Science Foundation of China has specially formulated the Regulations of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Interim Regulations on the Handling of Violations in Scientific and Technological Activities, and the Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Misconduct in Scientific Research of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The "Prohibited List of Prohibited Behaviors of National Natural Science Foundation of China Project Requests" focuses on scientific research personnel, supporting units, review experts, and staff of the Natural Science Foundation of China. Warn Hong Zhong, and further compact and standardize the responsibilities and behaviors of the "four parties". On May 23, the executive meeting of the Natural Science Foundation of China reviewed and approved the prohibited list, and it has been released. We welcome supervision from all walks of life. Any citizen, legal person or other organization can report responsibly through the National Natural Science Foundation of China Research Misconduct Reporting System. For example, once it is found that the review experts are "greeted", we will quickly study and judge and make necessary adjustments to the review work, find out the truth of the problem and deal with it seriously. The Supervision Working Group of the Supervision Committee of the Natural Science Foundation of China accepts complaints and reports of violations of scientific ethics, relevant management regulations of the Science Fund, or the fairness commitment of the Science Fund during the meeting, and organizes expert impartiality investigations.
Q: What will you do if you find a "greeting" problem this year?
Answer: It is better to hold one person accountable than to educate a thousand times. If any unit or individual is found to have violated the regulations or hindered the fairness of the review during the review process, the Natural Science Foundation of China will follow the "Regulations of the National Natural Science Foundation of China", "Provisional Regulations on the Handling of Violations in Scientific and Technological Activities", "National Natural Science Foundation of China Project Research Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Misconduct” and other laws and regulations are strictly investigated and dealt with. For suspected violations of discipline and law, they will be handed over to the relevant discipline inspection and supervision departments for handling according to the management authority, and typically will be publicly notified; if the circumstances are particularly serious, legal responsibility will be investigated. For example, if the problem of "greeting" is found in the applicant, once verified, the relevant project will be suspended from the review process; if the circumstances are particularly serious, the relevant personnel will be permanently disqualified from applying for the Science Fund project.
The Natural Science Foundation of China will strictly control and investigate the staff within the committee, strengthen supervision and inspection of the behavior of review experts during the review process, and strictly record violations. The results of the above investigation, supervision and inspection will serve as an important reference for NSFC to select review experts in the future. At the same time, we will continue to adhere to positive guidance, further increase the intensity of publicity on the construction of academic style and work style, promote the formation of a good scientific research ecology, support the high-quality development of basic research in my country, and contribute to the realization of high-level self-reliance and self-improvement, and the construction of a world science and technology power.
From the above answers, we can understand the determination of the Fund Committee: "Tackling difficulties and overcoming difficulties". It’s not that the thunder is loud and the rain is small; related matters will definitely play a positive role; in positive guidance and incentives (a good scientific research integrity record will be one of the important references for future review project review and selection of experts) + negative warnings (severe punishment and deterrence, education) A thousand times, it is better to hold one person accountable), I believe that with the continuous development of the rectification project, the good scientific research ecology will be consolidated; the review environment will continue to improve!
Source: National Natural Science Foundation of China
This is the end of the sharing of the EA-ISET Association in this issue . I look forward to your attention again and wish you all the best in scientific research!