Dutch researcher wins prize for international fight against fraud

Microbiologist Elisabeth Bik will receive 200,000 euros in recognition of her fight against scientific misconduct. According to the German Einstein Foundation, her work has helped to raise awareness of research fraud.

After completing her PhD in Utrecht, Elisabeth Bik worked at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) for a number of years, before moving to California to continue her research at Stanford University. Since 2019, she has focused entirely on detecting fraud in scientific publications.

Bik is especially skilled at spotting image manipulation, and has uncovered numerous instances of scientists trying to punch up their results. According to the Einstein Foundation, she has identified errors in 7,600 publications, of which 1,100 were subsequently retracted.

Trump

During the coronavirus pandemic, Bik gained notoriety for her criticism of a French study on the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for Covid-19. Then (and future) President Donald Trump championed the study, but Bik had more than a few reservations about its quality. When the author of the paper sued her, Bik received widespread support from other scientists.

On its website, the Einstein Foundation writes that Bik “has created enormous impact all over the world” by exposing fraud and manipulation in science. Bik plans to use the prize money to continue her hunt for fraudsters.