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Scientific Integrity Incident at USGS Energy Geochemistry Laboratory

dc.contributor.authorInspector General U.S. Dept. of the Interior
dc.date.accessioned2018-09-29T02:17:25Z
dc.date.available2018-09-29T02:17:25Z
dc.date.issued2016-06-15
dc.identifier.citationInspector General U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 2016, Scientific Integrity Incident at USGS Energy Geochemistry Laboratory, 19 p.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10150/629960
dc.descriptionWe initiated this inspection to determine the impacts of a scientific integrity incident involving a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) laboratory. The incident specifically concerned accusations of scientific misconduct and data manipulation by a mass spectrometer operator assigned to the Energy Resources Program’s (ERP) Energy Geochemistry Laboratory in Lakewood, CO, in the Energy and Minerals Mission Area. The matter was discovered in late 2014, but had been taking place since 2008. This was the second such incident involving the same laboratory. The Inorganic Section’s work has implications for ERP’s national and international coal and water quality assessments. Our review revealed that the impacts were far ranging, and included― • publications that were retracted or delayed because of inaccurate information; • potential damaged reputations of USGS and individual scientists; • potential lost collaborations with outside organizations; • diminished employee morale; and • reduced public trust of USGS-generated information. USGS is assessing the full impact of the incident on its research and assessment projects, an undertaking that will take time to complete. In addition, the Bureau has been notifying the affected customers, journals, and other end users, a protracted process that remains incomplete. USGS is pursuing disciplinary actions for the responsible staff. Our report contains one recommendation.
dc.language.isoen
dc.relation.urlhttps://library.azgs.arizona.edu/
dc.rightsArizona Geological Survey. All rights reserved.
dc.subjectPoster Publications
dc.subjectHistoric
dc.subjectRecent
dc.subjectGrand Canyon
dc.subjectLakewood, AZ
dc.subjecturanium
dc.subjectwater quality
dc.subjectCoal
dc.subjectstop work order
dc.subjectmass spectrometer
dc.subjectinorganic
dc.subjectEnergy Geochemistry Laboratory
dc.subjectinvestigation
dc.subjectdata analysis
dc.titleScientific Integrity Incident at USGS Energy Geochemistry Laboratory
csdgm.bounding.west-127.881
csdgm.bounding.east-47.5488
csdgm.bounding.north49.4902
csdgm.bounding.south19.1358
dc.description.collectioninformationDocuments in the AZGS Document Repository collection are made available by the Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) and the University Libraries at the University of Arizona. For more information about items in this collection, please contact azgs-info@email.arizona.edu.
refterms.dateFOA2018-09-29T02:17:25Z


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