In a recent Nature article, 10 scientists and “integrity sleuths” discuss the increase in fake research papers and how this problem can be addressed. The authors write that the business models and publication techniques of paper mills are not well understood and identifying or locating these publications can be difficult. They advise postsecondary institutions to educate academics and PhD students about paper mills and urge stakeholders such as funders, institutions, and publishers to ensure that the ramifications of using a paper mills to publish research are greater than the potential benefits. The authors also call for additional resources and funding for detecting problematic papers and protecting those engaged in detecting.
