ROW OVER SELF-PLAGIARISM - BARC scientist `copied own work for journal articles'
Munish Pandey
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Fellow scientists furious as NK Sahoo, who allegedly lifted portions from his papers 15 times, is promoted
A senior scientist with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) copied por tions from his own scholarly papers 15 times while submitting new articles to jour nals, staff at the premier facility have alleged in a complaint.Despite the blatant `self-plagiarism', Dr NK Sahoo was promoted in May and last week his title was changed from outstanding scientist to distinguished one, according to Bhabha Atomic Research Officers' Association, which has been outraged by his elevation.
Dr Sahoo, who is due to retire in 2018, is currently the associate director of group (physics).
The association, which includes scientists, has urged BARC director Dr KN Vyas to initiate action against him and threatened to take the matter to the prime minister's office if no steps are taken. Mirror has a copy of the letter.
BARC was set up under the department of atomic energy, which reports directly to the prime minister.
The scientific community attaches a lot of prestige to getting one's work published in journals. Most researchers list their published studies in the CV, which helps them gain prominence among peers and even plays a part in speeding up promotions in government organisations.
There is a debate about whether self-plagiarism amounts to dis honest and unethical behaviour.But most reputed scientific journals accept only “original work“, meaning it should not be copied or recycled from any source, even one's own previous studies.
“Dr Sahoo reused portions from five sets of his research papers 15 times while submitting new articles to journals.Two of his papers that appeared in two journals are exactly the same barring the title,“ a member of the association said.“There have been 15 instances of self-plagiarism, yet he has been promoted.“
Dr Sahoo refused to comment on the allegations. “I am not aware of this [the complaint],“ he said.
Another member of Bhabha Atomic Research Officers' Association said a member of the centre's editorial board noticed striking similarities in Dr Sahoo's published articles.
“It is a matter of great concern and hurting that in May, you appointed a scientist who is a habitual offender of self-plagiarism as associate director of a group,“ Dr AP Mishra, secretary of the association, has said in the complaint to BARC director.
“ We a r e a t t a c h i n g i n Annexure-1 a list of references of his several journal papers. It is beyond all doubts that self-plagiarism is deemed as an act of cheating and fraud, and condemned internationally.“
BARC scientists have questioned the apparent reluctance to take action against Dr Sahoo.“When there are national and international movements against plagiarism, should BARC keep silence?“ the letter asks.
A researcher at the centre said Dr Sahoo failed to specify in his articles for journals that he had used portions from his previous papers. “Whenever an author submits a draft to a journal for publication, heshe has to give a declaration that the work is original and it has not been published before. Even if someone wants to cite some fig ures from hisher previous work in the new article, the person has to make a disclosure,“ the researcher said.
“Dr Sahoo did not make any declarations in his 15 papers, which have similar parts and figures.“
BARC spokesperson refused to comment on the complaint, while Dr Vyas could not be contacted.
SCIENCE OF CHEATING
In June, President Pranab Mukherjee gave nod to sack Pondicherry University vice chancellor Chandra Krishna murthy for plagiarism and mis representation of facts while applying for the post In July, the central government senior scientist Swaranjit Singh from the Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, follow ing allegations that he had fab ricated data for his articles pub lished in a US journal
Dr Sahoo, who is due to retire in 2018, is currently the associate director of group (physics).
The association, which includes scientists, has urged BARC director Dr KN Vyas to initiate action against him and threatened to take the matter to the prime minister's office if no steps are taken. Mirror has a copy of the letter.
BARC was set up under the department of atomic energy, which reports directly to the prime minister.
The scientific community attaches a lot of prestige to getting one's work published in journals. Most researchers list their published studies in the CV, which helps them gain prominence among peers and even plays a part in speeding up promotions in government organisations.
There is a debate about whether self-plagiarism amounts to dis honest and unethical behaviour.But most reputed scientific journals accept only “original work“, meaning it should not be copied or recycled from any source, even one's own previous studies.
“Dr Sahoo reused portions from five sets of his research papers 15 times while submitting new articles to journals.Two of his papers that appeared in two journals are exactly the same barring the title,“ a member of the association said.“There have been 15 instances of self-plagiarism, yet he has been promoted.“
Dr Sahoo refused to comment on the allegations. “I am not aware of this [the complaint],“ he said.
Another member of Bhabha Atomic Research Officers' Association said a member of the centre's editorial board noticed striking similarities in Dr Sahoo's published articles.
“It is a matter of great concern and hurting that in May, you appointed a scientist who is a habitual offender of self-plagiarism as associate director of a group,“ Dr AP Mishra, secretary of the association, has said in the complaint to BARC director.
“ We a r e a t t a c h i n g i n Annexure-1 a list of references of his several journal papers. It is beyond all doubts that self-plagiarism is deemed as an act of cheating and fraud, and condemned internationally.“
BARC scientists have questioned the apparent reluctance to take action against Dr Sahoo.“When there are national and international movements against plagiarism, should BARC keep silence?“ the letter asks.
A researcher at the centre said Dr Sahoo failed to specify in his articles for journals that he had used portions from his previous papers. “Whenever an author submits a draft to a journal for publication, heshe has to give a declaration that the work is original and it has not been published before. Even if someone wants to cite some fig ures from hisher previous work in the new article, the person has to make a disclosure,“ the researcher said.
“Dr Sahoo did not make any declarations in his 15 papers, which have similar parts and figures.“
BARC spokesperson refused to comment on the complaint, while Dr Vyas could not be contacted.
SCIENCE OF CHEATING
In June, President Pranab Mukherjee gave nod to sack Pondicherry University vice chancellor Chandra Krishna murthy for plagiarism and mis representation of facts while applying for the post In July, the central government senior scientist Swaranjit Singh from the Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, follow ing allegations that he had fab ricated data for his articles pub lished in a US journal
Source: Mumbai Mirror, 30/08/2016
