IMDEA Nanociencia has established its Committee on Responsible Research Conduct to strengthen scientific integrity and excellence

05.11.2026

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The new Research Committee on Responsible Research (RCR) will promote best practices at all stages of research.
This initiative is part of the Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation Program for 2026–2030.

Madrid, 5 October 2026. IMDEA Nanociencia has established its Committee on Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), an initiative aimed at strengthening scientific integrity and promoting a research culture based on quality, transparency, and accountability. The Committee held its first meeting to define the main areas of focus and the issues the institute will address.

The committee is led by Johannes Gierschner, a senior researcher, and will include Emilio M. Pérez, director of IMDEA Nanociencia; Sara Hernández Mejías, a junior researcher; María Flórez, a predoctoral researcher; Mark Davies, principal manager of the Severo Ochoa project; Laura Ortega, a Human Resources specialist; and Elena Alonso, manager of the institutional repository. The committee is supported by the institute’s deputy directors.

The Committee on Responsible Research Conduct will promote the integration of responsible research principles into various scientific and management activities. Among its initiatives is the implementation of the European Charter for Researchers, which IMDEA Nanociencia already endorses and for which it has received the HR Excellence in Research recognition, as well as the international recommendations for good research practices included in ALLEA’s European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, which establishes fundamental principles for conducting research included in ALLEA's European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, which establishes fundamental principles for conducting rigorous and responsible research.

Honesty, transparency, rigor, respect, and responsibility.

Responsible research involves much more than simply complying with publication standards. It is based on a set of principles that must be present in all phases of the scientific process.

Honesty requires acting with integrity when planning experiments, collecting and analyzing data, communicating results, and properly acknowledging the contributions of others. Transparency fosters trust in science through a complete description of the methods used, open communication of results—including negative results when relevant—the sharing of data, code, and materials whenever possible and appropriate, and the disclosure of potential conflicts of interest.

Rigor involves selecting appropriate methods, following protocols, interpreting data in a well-founded manner, and communicating conclusions accurately. Respect must guide relationships with all individuals involved in research, as well as the treatment of animals and the environment. Finally, responsibility is shared by all stakeholders in the scientific system, including researchers, institutions, funding agencies, and publishers.

These principles provide a common framework for preventing misconduct, strengthening confidence in scientific results, and fostering a research environment in which quality and reliability are central criteria.

An Initiative Linked to the Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation

The establishment of the Committee on Responsible Research Conduct is part of the actions associated with the Severo Ochoa excellence accreditation, granted to IMDEA Nanociencia for the period 2026–2030. This initiative reinforces the institute’s commitment to research excellence in all areas.

With the launch of the RCR, IMDEA Nanociencia seeks to consolidate a scientific culture that values quality over quantity and promotes trust, transparency, and rigor in the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge.

Keywords: integrity, responsible research, good practices, transparency, rigour, accountability, honesty, reproducibility, respect, open science,

Contact:

IMDEA Nanociencia Dissemination and Communication Office
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+34 91 299 87 12

Source: IMDEA Nanociencia

The IMDEA Institute of Nanoscience is a young interdisciplinary research center in Madrid, Spain, dedicated to the exploration of nanoscience and the development of nanotechnology applications for innovative industries.