The Chronicle T h e i n d e p e n d e n t d a i ly at D u k e U n i v e r s i t y
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2010
Scientists call for experiment reproducibility
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 30
www.dukechronicle.com
Bonuses lead to studentled protests
Gettin’Dirty
by Zachary Tracer
by Taylor Doherty
Scientists are using a Duke research misconduct case to draw attention to what they say is an increasing problem in some fields of scientific research—experiments that are not easily reproducible. The researchers, largely biostatisticians, say that data in fields such as genomics have become so complex and unwieldy that they are difficult to interpret without sophisticated computer programs. But when scientists do not provide the data or programs they use to draw the conclusions they publish in scientific journals, it can be difficult or impossible for other researchers to verify their work. “There has been a growing chorus for making data and software available widely because of the complexity of the data we are relying upon,” said Scott Zeger, Anil Potti vice provost for research at Johns Hopkins University and a professor of biostatistics. Zeger is also a member of Scientists for Reproducible Research, a new group that advocates for stronger standards of reproducibility. The group, which formed this summer in the wake of research misconduct allegations against Duke cancer researcher Dr. Anil Potti, recently submitted a letter to the journal Nature, calling for scholarly journals to help ensure that the research they publish is reproducible. “Journals should demand that authors submit sufficient detail for the independent assessment of their paper’s conclusions,” the authors wrote in the letter, which was published in the Sept. 23 issue of Nature. The letter, signed by 47 members of Scientists for Reproducible Research, recommends that journals require scientists to provide their data, software and codes used to analyze the data and descriptions of other methods of analysis used in the research. The letter says that following these principles will help ensure that published research is reproducible and therefore valid. Zeger said providing more information in journals will allow other scientists to more easily verify published research and help prevent errors. “You can do some kicking of the
About 30 students delivered a giant check and flowers to Dr. Victor Dzau’s office yesterday to protest executive compensation at Duke. Administrators, however, said a recent op-ed article that appeared in The HeraldSun—which protesters said triggered the demonstration—misrepresents Duke’s salary structure. The article, written by Ed Rickards, Trinity ’63, Law ‘66 and former editor of The Chronicle, lists compensation bonuses for several Duke executives, ranging from professionals in the Duke University Health System to those in Duke Management Company—which handles Duke’s investments and endowment. Beyond a base compensation of almost $1 million, Dzau, chancellor for health affairs and president and chief executive officer of DUHS, received additional payment of $983,654 in 2008— at a time when the University initially experienced budgetary constraints. But Doug Stokke, assistant vice president of communications for DUHS, said Dzau’s compensation needs to be viewed in its
Fuqua School of Business students stepped into virtual reality yesterday when Craig Mundie, Microsoft’s chief research and strategy officer, took the stage at Geneen Auditorium and invited them to explore the company’s newest inventions. Duke was the first stop on Mundie’s tour of universities across the country. He delivered a presentation titled “More Like Us: Human-Centric Computing” that premiered some of Microsoft’s most state-of-the-art technology and gave the audience a glimpse into the future of humancomputer interaction. Microsoft has a goal to develop products that can address the needs of those without access to standard technologies, Mundie said. These devices could include low-cost robotic triage doctors, capable of accessing medical data and providing diagnoses, that could be placed in third-world countries where healthcare is unavailable, he added. The focal point of Mundie’s presentation was his demonstration of the Kinect Sensor and a real-time 3-D projector, the first of its kind. Mundie stood in front of the sensor, gesturing and making vocal commands to open a menu, shop for birthday gifts and interact with others in the virtual world as the audience watched behind 3-D glasses. This kind of 3-D technology is different than that used in movies, Mundie explained, because in movies the 3-D imagery is created beforehand
See biostatisticians on page 6
See mundie on page 12
THE CHRONICLE
Event discusses sexual violence on campus, Page 3
THE CHRONICLE
nate glencer/The Chronicle
‘Dirty Projectors’ performed in Page Auditorium Tuesday. Sponsored by Duke Performances and DUU Major Attractions, the Brooklyn Group brought a hybrid of old and new pop to Duke.
See bonuses on page 4
Q&A with Craig Mundie by Lauren Carroll THE CHRONICLE
Faculty Commons will host Flunch again, Page 3
ted knudsen/The Chronicle
Microsoft Chief Research and Strategy Officer Craig Mundie spoke at the Fuqua School of Business and showcased the latest technologies Tuesday.
ONTHERECORD
“Everybody has times of stress and difficulty... it needn’t be a terrible or bad thing.”
—CAPS psychologist and assistant director. See story page 4