2016
Volume 16, Number 3, pp. 142-156
A private researcher’s struggles against research fraud. I. A case study
William Courtney
Cheshire Innovation Engineering Consultancy, 17 Vale Road, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 7TQ, UK
This is the first of two papers about a case of mechanical engineering research fraud. The fraud is described in this paper and will disturb many readers. The second paper, to be published in a subsequent issue of the Journal, is far more positive and presents transferrable lessons learned from the author’s experiences as a victim of fraud. The PedSALi project aimed to develop a "smart" car bumper that was soft for pedestrian leg impacts but stiff for collisions with other vehicles. It was during work on this project that the fraud was conceived. The project partners were Dow Chemicals, the University of Manchester and the author, who was the inventor of the smart bumper design and owned the patents. A successful project outcome offered the strong possibility of all new motor vehicles sold in Europe from 2005 onwards being fitted with smart, pedestrian-friendly bumpers. Unfortunately, unease about the author’s pending fame and fortune as the inventor resulted in the project being sabotaged and ending in failure. This failure, which may have cost lives, threatened to damage the European reputation of British science. Parts of the British research establishment were drawn in to hiding the fraud, with the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) playing a significant rôle.
Keywords: shock absorbing liquid, SALi, PedSALi, research integrity, research fraud, UKRIO