Research

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s inaugural Research Ethics Conference brought together researchers, educators, staff, students and partners for a full day of discussion about the responsible conduct of research and the ethical challenges shaping today’s research environment. The event took place on Sept. 10 at University Park.

The conference welcomed approximately 175 attendees in person and reached an additional 942 livestream views throughout the day, including engagement from other institutions.

Speakers and panelists explored a broad range of topics, including data management and reproducibility, community-engaged research, challenges in research integrity, mentorship and authorship, safe research environments, the ethical use of artificial intelligence, industry engagement, institutional strategy and research data literacy. Across these conversations, several themes emerged: accountability must remain grounded in human judgment, trust is built through clear structures and shared responsibility, and artificial intelligence is reshaping research practice in ways that require ongoing ethical reflection. Post-conference survey results indicated that the majority of participants gained new strategies and information they can apply to their work to contribute to a culture of research integrity.

The conference also celebrated four members of the Penn State research community with Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) Awards, recognizing individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to research integrity through the cultivation of respectful and ethical research environments.

The 2026 RECR Award recipients:

• Iyunoluwa Ademola-Popoola, doctoral graduate student, Department of Anthropology
• Heather Kimble, clinical research manager, Center for Childhood Obesity Research
• Peter Hatemi, distinguished professor of political science and affiliate professor of international affairs
• Kathryn Bateman, assistant professor of education, School of Behavioral Sciences and Education

“Their dedication to research integrity and their positive influence on colleagues, trainees and the broader Penn State research community exemplify the everyday choices and practices that promote rigor, accountability, respect and trust,” said Courney Karmelita, research integrity officer and executive director of ethical research and outreach at Penn State, who managed the nomination and application process for the RECR Awards.

Anthony House — manager of consumer and family affairs at PerformCare, a behavioral healthcare organization based in Harrisburg, who collaborates with Penn State research on the Parents and Children Together project — reflected the spirit of the event in a comment he shared with organizers after participating on a panel about community research partners.

“I just want to say thank you for hosting a wonderful event,” House said. “I was especially ‘Penn State Proud’ knowing more about all ‘we’ do in the area of ethics in research and the work of making the world a better place in general. We Are a remarkable University.”

From coordinating sessions and attending to countless behind-the-scenes details, the Office for Research Protections’ Education and Outreach Team facilitated the day.

“Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible — and to every speaker, panelist, attendee and viewer who contributed to the conversation,” Karmelita said. “Your participation helped create a meaningful space for learning, collaboration, and reflection on how we can strengthen ethical research practices across the University and beyond.”

Conference materials and resources, including a summary of the content covered, are available on the Research Ethics Conference website.