Former University of Michigan researcher Carolyn R. Phinney presented “Whistle-Blowing in Science and Academics” Monday afternoon. Whistle-blowing is generally calling attention to a wrong-doing within a company. Phinney’s presentation served to call attention to issues regarding academic fraud. Carolyn Adams-Price, associate professor of psychology explained the topic as being on “senior professors taking advantage of junior faculty by taking credit for the junior faculty’s work. Kind of like academic theft.”
As a researcher, Phinney made her living by means of grant money. A senior researcher at the University of Michigan had Phinney write many grants for her and requested to be made the primary investigator of the grants. This ensured that Phinney lost her grant money to the other researcher, and eventually she lost her job.
Phinney was the first individual to take on a major university in an academic fraud case and win.
“She’s an advocate for young scientists to make sure they are treated fairly by the institutions that they work for,” Adams-Price said.
Adams-Price explained the perspective in which science as an occupation is viewed, and how often women and minorities are sometimes exploited in major research universities. It is essential to protect these groups, regardless of occupation.
“It’s really important because we have this image that science is always an honorable profession, but the kinds of problems that happen in other arenas of public life happen in science, too,” she said.
Women’s Studies Program at Mississippi State University brought Phinney in to speak. This program, offered through the college of arts and sciences, serves to bring a contemporary view of the role and history of women in any field or major. Courses are open to both men and women; to receive a certificate in this program, students must complete 15 credit hours in women’s study courses.
For more information about the women studies program visit www.msstate.edu/dept/women.