This happened years ago, but it still bothers me. I was asked to meet with an untenured professor in the department where I worked. Dr. X had not so far shown much scientific aptitude, so I thought this meeting was rather unusual but hoped that it was a positive sign.
I arrived at the stated time, had a seat in a chair across the desk with my notepad. Still remember how tidy his desk was.
The conversation started with a discussion of a proposed research project. It involved analysis of sediment samples. I was able to reassure Dr. X that there were well documented procedures to do exactly what he wanted and described them and assured him that we had the instrumentation and expertise available at the research institute with which the department was affiliated.
The project was fairly ambitious, but I said that I felt that it was quite “do-able” and could provide good thesis projects for a number of graduate students as well as providing data for the scientific community when it was published. Dr. X was untenured so figured that a publication would supply motivation.
I actually was feeling quite good about the discussion and about to leave when the question came.
“But isn’t there an easy way to do the tests?”
I have been involved in projects where you needed to design and built equipment, design and test analysis procedures — science is not necessarily easy, especially on the cutting edge. I sincerely thought that what I described was comparatively “easy” in that context.
It was very disappointing because I thought that I was there because of my scientific training and research experience. Instead, I was being asked if there was a way to cheat. I guess one of the things that has made this stick is that I really resented that he thought I was into cheating, but in looking back, suspect he believed everyone cheated so it probably wasn’t personal.
The reason I am writing about this today is that the fourteenthbanker mentioned a culture of cheating in their blog and how it can get established in the banking industry. It seemed so familiar.
A certain number of bad actors, not necessarily a majority either, can establish a culture of cheating. In my situation, there were consequences for going against the bullies. Dr. X had two mentors, one of whom was extremely conscientious about his teaching and setting a good example as a scientist. Dr. X chose to go with the other one that was into the good ol’ boys mentality.
Well, guess this has turned into another installment in the War on error series. Corruption can sneak in almost anywhere. There will probably always be an incentive to cheat. What matters is that we need to develop strategies to prevent the cheaters from taking over.
