Thomas Rommel quoted in article on plagiarism
ECLA of Bard's Rector and Provost Thomas Rommel was invited by "The Chronicle of Higher Education" to express his opinion on a recent case of plagiarism in Germany.
The article "High-Profile Plagiarism Prompts Soul-Searching in German Universities," published on February 25, discusses the recent case of Germany's minister of research and education, Annette Schavan, who stepped down from her function after facing accusations of plagiarism regarding her doctorate at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf. This situation prompted the journalist Paul Hockenos to debate the meaning of academic titles in Germany, especially in connection to politics.
As one of the professionals interviewed for the article, Thomas Rommel considers that in the German context, the academic title is associated not only with expertise, but also with qualities like the determination and willpower of the respective individual.
In 2011, Thomas Rommel edited a book on the subject of plagiarism. Plagiate - Gefahr für die Wissenschaft? Eine internationale Bestandsaufnahme [Plagiarism - a threat to the science? An international survey], published by LIT Publishing House in Münster, examines plagiarism and its consequences from various perspectives, as well as the way science should deal with such intellectual property thefts.
