Society News

Statement on Engaging Students in Issues of Professional Conduct

Adopted by the Society of Physics Students (SPS) and Sigma Pi Sigma Council on September 29, 2006

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The professional behavior of researchers is integral to the success of individual scientific investigation as well as to the ongoing success of science itself.  Incidents of dishonest research or authorship practices, while rare, undermine the efforts of those working towards the advancement of science for the benefit of humanity.  These dishonest actions, committed in the interest of career advancement, name recognition, financial gain, or simply through ignorance, are deplorable and should be seriously addressed by the physics community.

The Society of Physics Students (SPS) recommends that physics departments include a "professional ethics" education component in their programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  This component should focus on promoting honest and professional conduct in students' careers by involving them in discussions of responsible scientific behavior.