ScopeM Publication and Acknowledgment Policy

ScopeM provides the wider research community with state-of-the-art instrumentation and expertise, which not only adds to but also improves research outputs. It is important to recognize the contributions of ScopeM staff to the advancement of scientific research, both formally and informally, in all instances of technical assistance. The type of recognition that is most appropriate will vary depending on the contribution provided.

Important reasons for acknowledging contributions from core facilities – ScopeM – in publications, by co-authorship or by formal mention in the acknowledgments section, include:

1. When ScopeM staff make an intellectual and/or experimental contribution to a publication they deserve to be recognized and acknowledged, just as any other contributor would be. See also article 14 of the “Guidelines for Research Integrity and Good Scientific Practice at the ETH Zurich”. (https://rechtssammlung.sp.ethz.ch/Dokumente/414en.pdf)

2. The support for ScopeM depends in part on proper acknowledgment in publications. This is an important metric of value to most facilities, i.e. impact. Proper acknowledgment and the list of all publications enabled by ScopeM instrumentation & staff are also key criteria to define the ScopeM equipment renewal plan and secure the funding needed to purchase new instruments.

3. If ScopeM staff are included as co-authors where deserved or otherwise involved in the publication process, it will reduce the risk of data misinterpretation and help ensure that methods of data acquisition, as well as data processing, are accurately conveyed and described.

Proper acknowledgment provides a visible measure of the impact and success of the facility and helps to secure support and funding.

Based on the “Core Facilities Publication Policy”, Royal Microscopical Society, external pagehttps://www.rms.org.uk/resources-downloads/core-facilities-publication-policy.html

Acceptance of ScopeM Publication & Acknowledgment Policy

1. All publications resulting from the use of instruments within the facility should acknowledge ScopeM as a whole, e.g. ‘the authors gratefully acknowledge ScopeM for their support & assistance in this work’ and ScopeM should be informed of the publication: Report publication in ppms database (under Publication) and send a copy to ScopeM, to .

2. Where users have received significant support from a particular staff member of ScopeM, or ScopeM staff have generated additional data personally, this staff member should be acknowledged by name, alongside the center if applicable, e.g. ‘the authors thank *** of ScopeM for their support & assistance in this work’.

3. Assistance above the routine level, with any ScopeM staff having provided scientific input and expertise in sample preparation, experimental set-up, acquisition or analysis, should be recognized through co-authorship on resulting publications.

3.a Development or adaptation of protocols to suit samples or materials, (re)designing experiments, extensive data analysis and interpretation are not routine and constitute contributions meriting co-authorship.

3.b Simple acquisitions of raw data or routine sample preparations alone normally would not merit co-authorship but should still be acknowledged.

Please discuss acknowledgments with ScopeM staff prior to manuscript submission.