Plagiarism scandal grows in Iran

Nature 462, 704-705 (2009) | doi:10.1038/462704a 

Investigation finds more cases of duplication in publications co-authored by ministers and senior officials.

Declan Butler

EXCLUSIVE

Nature has uncovered further instances of apparent plagiarism in papers co-authored by government ministers and senior officials in Iran. The spate of new examples raises questions about whether such incidents are symptomatic of conditions also common in other developing countries — such as difficulties with English or pressure to acquire academic credentials as a prerequisite for promotion — or whether they are also linked specifically to the Iranian regime, where growth of a merit-based university culture has been undermined by political appointments and purges of reform-minded scientists (see page 699).>>>