Meet the founder of a 100,000-strong Facebook group driving change in scientific integrity in Vietnam

Van Tu Duong

Retraction Watch readers may have noticed an uptick of items in the RW Daily and Weekend Reads about scientific integrity issues in Vietnam over the past year. Many of those items had their genesis, and were circulated, on a Facebook group that now has close to 100,000 members — and was recently removed temporarily by Facebook. We asked Van Tu Duong, a researcher at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, who founded the group, to tell us more about the history of the effort. This email interview has been lightly edited for flow and clarity.

Tell us about this history of the group. Why did you find it, and when?

The group was founded on September 1, 2020, in response to a series of investigative articles published by Thanh Nien, a leading Vietnamese newspaper. These articles revealed deceptive practices at Ton Duc Thang University (TDTU) and Duy Tan University (DTU), where foreign authors were paid substantial sums to falsely affiliate with these institutions in their scientific publications. This scheme, which persisted for over a decade, allowed TDTU and DTU to artificially boost their research output and rankings, often surpassing Vietnam’s most prestigious universities.

The revelations sparked significant debate among scientists, university leaders, and the public. However, Thanh Nien faced backlash for allegedly attempting to discredit institutions that many viewed as sources of national pride due to their high international rankings. As a scientist invested in the Vietnamese academic community, I felt compelled to seek the truth, as neither side presented well-substantiated arguments. By analyzing prolific authors affiliated with TDTU and DTU, I discovered a network of hyper-prolific foreign authors publishing extensively with varying affiliations and topics, some of whom appeared on The Retraction Watch Leaderboard.

I contributed an article to Thanh Nien, sharing data that illustrated the extent of this fraudulent activity. I referred to these authors as “foreign invaders in science,” highlighting their role in undermining scientific integrity. Recognizing the need for collective action, I sought support from the Vietnamese scientific community to investigate and expose this network. The group was formed on the day my article was published, initially named “Fighting Foreign Invaders in Science.” However, we later renamed it to reflect our broader focus on scientific integrity.

Who runs the site now? Do you have any funding?

The group is currently managed by a small team of volunteers, including myself, and operates without any funding. Our primary costs are not financial; rather, they involve the time, effort, and opportunities we dedicate to maintaining the group’s activities. Over the past four years, we have invested significant resources to keep the group active. While this effort could have been directed toward more profitable consulting work, we find fulfillment in our mission and the positive changes we are effecting.

How many members are there? What kind of posts typically appear on the group?

Since its inception, the group has experienced remarkable growth, increasing from fewer than 5,000 members in 2020 to nearly 100,000 prior to its recent disappearance. It has become a vital platform for discussions on scientific integrity, attracting leading scientists, scholars, students, and institutional leaders throughout Vietnam.

The discussions encompass a wide array of topics related to scientific integrity. In the past 60 days, the most active discussions have included general publishing, retractions, predatory publishing, and misconduct.

What has the response of the scientific community in Vietnam and around the world been?

The group is widely regarded as a valuable resource for promoting research integrity. Many utilize it to guide their research practices, educate students and junior researchers, and inform policy-making. However, some individuals—especially those criticized within the group—have attempted to discredit it, arguing that anonymity should be revoked and that discussions should avoid identifying individuals. Such criticisms echo those faced by platforms like PubPeer. Given that scientific publications are part of the public domain, we believe open discussions about them are essential.

Describe some specific cases of the group’s impact.

The group’s most significant contributions have been in raising awareness, enhancing knowledge, and influencing policies surrounding scientific integrity in Vietnam. We actively share information and perspectives that elevate awareness among both the scientific community and the general public regarding key issues, including publishing practices, university rankings, misconduct, research assessment, and ethical conduct.

Here are some major policy changes our group has helped promote:

  • 2020–Present: The State Council for Professors of Vietnam consistently emphasizes scientific integrity in the review process for professorship candidates.
  • February 2022: The National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) issued its first regulation on research integrity.
  • May 2022: Academic Integrity in Vietnam became a national-level project approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
  • December 2022: A government decree mandated higher education institutions to implement guidelines to address and prevent plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification in science, technology, and innovation.
  • December 2023: The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education and Training held Vietnam’s first national conference on research integrity.
  • 2022–Present: Various higher education institutions have implemented academic integrity guidelines, including prohibiting the sale of authorship and ensuring accurate institutional affiliations in publications.

What is your “day job?” How does the group relate to that work?

I am a senior researcher at Purdue University, College of Pharmacy, where I focus on innovative formulation strategies to enhance the stability, bioperformance, and manufacturability of drug products.

As a scientist, I frequently encounter issues related to research integrity, ethics, publishing, and research assessment—topics that are often discussed within our group. To stay informed, I regularly read and review literature, investigate scientific integrity issues, and share insights with the community. In turn, I learn a great deal from other members. This engagement has enriched my understanding, and I feel I have gained substantial knowledge in scientific integrity over the past four years.

Facebook recently took down the site for several days. Do you know why?

On October 23, 2024, the group was unexpectedly removed from Facebook without prior notice. No explanations were provided, and it appears likely that the removal was due to mass reporting.

I attempted to appeal the decision, but according to the Facebook Help Center, certain violations may not be eligible for appeal. This sudden action is particularly puzzling, given the group’s four-year history with minimal violation warnings.

We have reached out to Facebook representatives to seek clarification and explore options for reinstatement, as the group plays a crucial role in the Vietnamese scientific community. However, we have yet to receive a response. Leading newspapers in Vietnam have also reported on the group’s disappearance.

Fortunately, on the morning of October 27, 2024, the group was restored without any notification from Facebook. We will continue to communicate with the platform to understand what happened and to prevent such incidents in the future.

Given that experience, are you considering other options?

Now that the group has been restored, we remain cognizant of the potential for future removals without warning. To safeguard our content and reduce reliance on Facebook, we are in the process of building a dedicated website to archive contents and create our own discussion platform.

Even if the group were to disappear again, we believe that the increased awareness and policy shifts regarding scientific integrity in Vietnam—changes significantly influenced by our group—are both undeniable and irreversible.

We recognize the group’s growing influence, which necessitates greater community oversight and accountability among those involved in its administration, moderation and advisory roles. At the same time, we are committed to preserving the group’s independence and maintaining its dynamic spirit.

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