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Fake Science

Visualisierung: Gestapelte Publikationen mit Ausreissern

Isolated Cases or a Systemic Problem?

Ringvorlesung UZH Interdisciplinary Commission

Doctored images, invented data, published studies that never took place – are these unfortunate but inevitable isolated cases? Or do they unveil a systemic problem in how research operates?

In this lecture series we investigate the problem of evidently fraudulent science from multiple angles – ranging from specific cases, investigative techniques and the importance of whistleblowing, epistemological considerations, the role of AI, to possible reforms in scientific publishing, institutional responsibility, and avenues for fostering research integrity.

The lecture series brings together perspectives from various fields of empirical research, such as biomedicine and psychology, with those of empirical meta-research, statistics and methodology, as well as philosophy of science and science policy. It is aimed at students and researchers from all disciplines and at a broad public audience.

Each of the biweekly events features two talks and a joint discussion.
The lecture series is held in English.

Program Flyer

Cover Flyer

Program Flyer Ringvorlesung “Fake Science” (PDF, 62 KB)

Program

  • 15.9.2026, 18:15: Taboo Topics We Can No Longer Avoid: Negligence, Tampering, and Fraud / Research Integrity and the Quest for Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease

    Ian Hussey, University of Bern, Matthew Schrag, Vanderbilt University (online); Ort: KOL, Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zürich; Raum: F 118

    More about 15.9.2026, 18:15: Taboo Topics We Can No Longer Avoid: Negligence, Tampering, and Fraud / Research Integrity and the Quest for Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease

  • 29.9.2026, 18:15: Protecting Research Integrity – A Practitioner's View / The Conflict between Agentic AI and Open Data: Protecting Open Science from Exploitation

    Wolfgang Ernst, University of Zurich, Matt Spick, University of Surrey (online); Ort: KOL, Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zürich; Raum: F 118

    More about 29.9.2026, 18:15: Protecting Research Integrity – A Practitioner's View / The Conflict between Agentic AI and Open Data: Protecting Open Science from Exploitation

  • 13.10.2026, 18:15: Philosophy of Scientific Malpractice / No Research Integrity without True Scientific Spirit

    Hanne Andersen, University of Kopenhagen, Benoit Gaultier, University of Zurich; Ort: KOL, Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zürich; Raum: F 118

    More about 13.10.2026, 18:15: Philosophy of Scientific Malpractice / No Research Integrity without True Scientific Spirit

  • 27.10.2026, 18:15: Phantastic Images and Where to Find Them (and How to Deal with Them) / Journals as Curators Rather than Publishers

    Kim Wever, Radboud Medical Center, Nijmegen (online), Meredith Schuman, University of Zurich; Ort: KOL, Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zürich; Raum: F 118

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