Correction is courageous.

Thorp, H Holden · Science · 2023

editorial · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

In a year when disagreements over scientific matters like COVID-19 continue to occupy political discourse, the surfacing of a spate of high-profile research errors is regrettable. It's crucial that the public trusts science at a time when so many topics-artificial intelligence, climate change, and pandemics-cast shadows of uncertainty on the future. Errors, intentional or not, erode confidence in science. It's not surprising that science integrity has become a focal point for major institutions in the United States, from the White House to the National Institutes of Health. Evaluating policies on misconduct is essential, but the idea of a scientific ecosystem that is free of errors is an unattainable utopia. However, evolving a more responsive ecosystem is entirely possible, and scientific journals, institutions, and researchers must together move more intentionally in this direction.