2026 BELS Position Statement on Scientific Integrity

The Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (BELS) was founded in 1991 with a statement of its vision: “To improve communication in the life sciences through certification that supports the role and value of editorial professionals.”

The Problem

As editors whose job is to facilitate clear communication about science, we are tasked with maintaining the integrity of the scientist's voice. That task has become harder in recent years.

As the universe of information becomes ever more fragmented, misinformation and disinformation have become increasingly prevalent. The increasing use of generative AI, with its readily available but unreliable output, combined with near-instantaneous spread of content through social media, has made it difficult at times to know what is and isn’t real. Our siloed news sources only contribute to the confusion.

Scientists and physicians around the world used to rely on the authenticity of data and statistics provided by the government of the United States. Recently, however, science conducted within or funded by the US government has been subjected to cuts in funding and personnel and the exclusion of foreign students and scientists, eroding research continuity (through the loss of laboratories, training pipelines, and longitudinal data) and reducing the ability of the government to produce reliable data. Furthermore, research on selected topics and language that could be associated with unfavored points of view have been blocked, defunded, or censored, and key advice on issues such as vaccines and nutrition has been dramatically altered, apparently based on political whim rather than scientific evidence.

Our Position

The second principle of the BELS Code of Ethics is that “Editors in the life sciences should maintain and apply objectivity, accuracy, fair balance, accessibility, and transparency in their work, regardless of the medium, format, or purpose of the information and materials.” [Bolding added]

All of these goals are under threat, as are those of our third principle of ethics: “Editors in the life sciences should make every reasonable effort to avoid or prevent the communication of incorrect or misleading information in the materials they review or edit by communicating clearly and thoroughly the issues or concerns that they identify and the changes that they recommend.”

BELS opposes any intentional publication or distribution of information that is misleading or known to be incorrect and fully supports the free practice of scientific inquiry in all disciplines, with funding based on scientific merit and not solely on political priorities. We further support the restoration of full and robust funding of the scientific enterprise as being fundamental to the enormous progress society has made to date and must continue to make in the future.

As certified scientific editors, we can be a stabilizing force in the world’s scientific infrastructure. Therefore, we pledge not to engage in work that cannot be supported by evidence or whose intent is to propagandize and to make every effort to ensure that scientific communications of all types are clear and factual.

Posted: 04/06/2026