Sci Eng Ethics DOI 10.1007/s11948-013-9501-0 LETTER

‘‘Broader Impacts’’ or ‘‘Responsible Research and Innovation’’? Somsri Wiwanitkit • Viroj Wiwanitkit

Received: 10 November 2013 / Accepted: 25 November 2013 Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Sir, The recent report on ‘‘Broader Impacts’’ versus ‘‘Responsible Research and Innovation’’ concepts is very interesting (Davis and Laas 2013). Many scientists in the present day follow the first concept due to factors. Scientists who want to apply for funds have to follow the criteria, which are usually focused on ‘‘impact’’ according to the US NIH principle. The American concept of ‘‘Broader Impacts’’ for judging the scientific value of the work is widely used in many developing countries at present. Indeed, the ‘‘Broader Impacts’’ concept has its advantage as well as disadvantage. Sometimes the ‘‘impact’’ cannot be applied to some kinds of studies that are useful but not interesting. Some novel works might present new concepts that are hard to understand and this might be limited for further referencing and this can result in low ‘‘impact’’. In addition, some practitioners might try every way to get the ‘‘highest possible impact’’. They might perform a misconduct to reach the aim. Of interest, many scientists who get a high ‘‘impact’’, being widely cited for their publications, and receive award and funds might have some problematic publications (For example, the problematic case in the previous article by Wiwanitkit (2013) is a work of a Thai medical professor who has about 400 international publications and has the high ‘‘impact’’ with H-index around 30). This problem is due to a lack of concern with regard to responsibility. As Davis and Laas (2013) noted on the present new trend, shifting to ‘‘Responsible Research and Innovation’’ seems to be a good paradigm that we should promote. Finally, it should be restated that ‘‘impact’’ is not the same as ‘‘responsibility’’ and ‘‘novelty’’.

S. Wiwanitkit (&) Wiwanitkit House, Bangkhae Bangkok, Thailand e-mail: [email protected] V. Wiwanitkit Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia

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S. Wiwanitkit, V. Wiwanitkit

Responsibility seems to be the requirement to promote the ethical scientific community at present.

References Davis, M., & Laas, K. (2013). ‘‘Broader Impacts’’ or ‘‘Responsible Research and Innovation’’? A comparison of two criteria for funding research in science and engineering. Science and Engineering Ethics. Wiwanitkit, V. (2013). Plagiarism, beyond crosscheck, figure and conceptual theft. Science and Engineering Ethics.

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"Broader impacts" or "responsible research and innovation"?

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