Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures of the Republic of Lithuania
Curriculum Vitae Ombudsperson agendaOn June 16–20, the third International Interdisciplinary Doctoral Summer School took place at Vilnius University. The main focus of this year’s program was the role of artificial intelligence in contemporary science.
On June 16, representatives of the Office of the Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures of the Republic of Lithuania participated as invited guests: analyst Dr. Eglė Ozolinčiūtė and advisor Tadas Sobenka.
In her first presentation, Dr. Eglė Ozolinčiūtė introduced the Guidelines for the Compliance of Scientific Research with Ethics, discussing what it means to adhere to ethical principles, which guidelines apply, and when it is necessary to consult the institutional ethics committee for the review and approval of planned or ongoing research. In the context of artificial intelligence (AI), she also presented a document published by the Office in late May: “Overview of AI Use in Scientific Publishing by Different Publishers (Elsevier, Sage, Springer, Taylor & Francis, Wiley) and COPE.”
In her second presentation, “Academic Ethics in Citizen Science,” the senior analyst of the Office invited participants to reflect more broadly on how ethical standards apply when science is carried out not only by professionals, but also with the involvement of the public.
In his presentation “The Financial Cost of Research and Publication Ethics Violations: Damages Caused by Researchers,” advisor Tadas Sobenka encouraged a deeper consideration of the consequences of academic ethics violations, emphasizing that these have not only moral and social, but also clear financial implications.
The final presentation, “Collaboration Between Science and Business,” focused on how ethical behavior and clear principles contribute to building strong, trust-based partnerships between science and business. Dr. Eglė Ozolinčiūtė presented the results of a study conducted by the Office in 2023, which identified the main academic ethics-related challenges hindering smooth cooperation. Additionally, the guidelines for collaboration—developed by the Office in cooperation with international partners as part of the BRIDGE project—were reviewed and introduced.
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Photographer: Arnas Balčiūnas