Oral Presentation Abstracts

Time

Event

9.00am – 9.05am

Welcome by Conference Chair

by Prof Ng Huck Hui

9.05am – 9.25am

Guest of Honour Addresses

by Prof Chng Wee Joo

and Prof Ernst J Kuipers

Session 1: Research with integrity - beyond the ethics checklist

Moderated by AP Desmond Chong

9.25am – 10.15am

Keynote: Research integrity - Whose responsibility?

by Prof David Vaux

The increasing number of concerns posted about publications, and the growing number of retractions, can be looked at as evidence of flaws in the way research is conducted, or as evidence science is correcting itself. Errors in the scientific literature, both inadvertent and deliberate, are inevitable, but whatever the cause, they must be corrected to preserve the integrity of the scientific record. Research integrity also encompasses the behaviour of the researchers themselves - whether they adhere to principles of honesty, fairness, accountability, and good stewardship. Because the scientific enterprise is complex, and carried out by humans, mechanisms must be put in place to allow science to correct itself efficiently. This talk will give examples showing that not only researchers, but also institutions, publishers, students, and the general public, have roles and responsibilities to enhance progress in science, the welfare of those involved in research, and ultimately its benefit to society.

10.15am – 10.45am

Morning Tea

10.45am – 11.20am

Bridging the Trust Deficit: Building a Culture of Research Integrity in Southeast Asia

by Prof Abhi Veerakumarasivam

As more governments across Asia, particular Southeast Asia, recognise the role of research and development (R&D) in driving innovation, improving quality of life, and promoting sustainable economic growth, research activities have intensified. R&D progress is often measured using quantitative indicators such as scientific publications, patents, and citations, which also influence global competitiveness rankings and institutional performance assessments. However, despite increasing research investment and activities, concerns over the quality, standards, and value of research output have grown. Several high-profile cases of research misconduct (RM), along with rising concerns about the reproducibility crises, predatory publishing, and citation gamification, pose significant threats to public trust and successful translation of research impact. In response, more countries are adopting and enforcing robust research ethics regulations, guidelines, and frameworks to foster a culture of ethics and integrity. International bodies and networks have also supported efforts to build regional capacity in aligning with global standards of responsible conduct of research (RCR). While issues such as quantity-centric incentive systems, lack of accountability and oversight, external pressures, conflicts of interest, toxic academic environments, and personal gain are universal risk factors, the challenges in Southeast Asia are further shaped by unique cultural, social, and economic dimensions. Hierarchical structures in academia discourage questioning authority, while non-confrontational norms and "Asian silence" further augments apathy towards misconduct. Additionally, resource constraints and infrastructure gaps, despite ambitious national R&D goals, create additional pressures that may lead to questionable research practices (QRPs). Insights from national and regional studies highlight differences in research behaviour and perceptions of integrity between early-career and senior researchers. Bridging regulatory and legal gaps alone is insufficient to address these challenges effectively. Regional initiatives such as the Malaysian Educational Module on RCR, the Malaysian Code of Responsible Conduct in Research (MCRCR) course, and the ASEAN RCR initiative highlight the importance of contextualising global RCR principles to local realities. These efforts reinforce the need for a holistic and multifaceted strategy that integrates personal, professional, institutional, societal, and global perspectives in fostering a culture of research integrity.

11.20am – 11.55am

Fostering Responsible Conduct of Research through Data Management and Open Science

by Prof Mai Har Sham

There has been significant investment in research and innovation in the Asia Pacific region in the recent years, generating a significant share of the world’s annual research output. The increasing population of trained researchers are working in diverse cross-disciplinary research areas, with expanded applications of technologies and artificial intelligence in various fields. Our research work has become even more interdisciplinary, many of these involve collaborations across institutions in different regions and countries. However, institutional assessment of research impact, incentives for researchers and reward mechanisms may not be well aligned with the principles for collaborations. Furthermore, we have experienced geopolitical developments in different parts of the world, including increased concern of research security. Amidst economic down-turn and severe competition for reduced research funding, we are also facing the possibility of a retrospective trend of de-globalization. Universities, research institutions, grant agencies and researchers need to address new challenges in maintaining a responsible research culture, while continue to thrive for research excellence. In my presentation I will share our experience in implementation strategies that foster responsible conduct of research through good practices in research data management. Our goal is to educate and support researchers to maintain the balance between open science, research security, and international collaboration.

Session 2: Research integrity in focus - overcoming challenges in specialised fields

Moderated by Prof Tang Hang Wu

11.55am – 12.30pm

Research Integrity and Emerging Technologies: Clarity, Sustainability, and Accountability

by Dr Voo Teck Chuan

Emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence and gene editing—are increasingly blurring the line between research and innovation, creating challenges for research integrity. The research ecosystem needs to establish clear ethical oversight pathways that distinguish between research and innovation. At the same time, research integrity should encompass the broader societal responsibility of ensuring environmental sustainability. This talk explores how a research ecosystem can support researchers in adapting to these challenges, ensuring that technological progress aligns with the principle of accountability.

12.30pm – 1.05pm

Visual Integrity in the Age of Gen AI: Ethical Challenges and Opportunities in Art and Design

by Asst Prof Lisa Winstanley

Defining and safeguarding visual integrity in art and design is a fundamental concern, especially as Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) becomes progressively integrated into creative workflows. This talk explores how emerging technologies may challenge traditional notions of creative authorship, originality, and ethical responsibility while conversely offering new opportunities for innovation.

Over the past seven years, my research has examined visual integrity and design ethics via a series of foundational projects that have gone on to influence pedagogy, creative practice and institutional policy. Firstly, The Cut and Paste Project investigated undergraduate perspectives on visual plagiarism. Secondly, this line of inquiry expanded into interdisciplinary contexts through Project Echo—a modular toolkit for pre-tertiary art and design educators. This was later followed by KATS, a model for understanding the relationship between differing levels of Knowledge, incorrect Assumptions, a lack of Time, and insufficient Support for visual integrity. These three projects laid the groundwork for my current research, which, amongst many other visual integrity issues, examines the challenges that Gen AI engenders in visual research, practice and education. Through a series of participatory workshops with international art and design faculty and in-depth semi-structured interviews with Singapore’s communication design industry, this study will evaluate how visual plagiarism confounds existing integrity frameworks, how artists and designers are adapting, and how institutions can develop guidelines for responsible AI integration in creative disciplines.

To support this research, I founded the Design Ethics and Visual Integrity Lab (DEVIL), conceptualised as a space for researching, defining and promoting visual integrity. DEVIL’s mission is to develop a conduit between creative practice, education, and policy, addressing key challenges in visual research through ethical scholarship, pedagogical innovation, and industry collaboration. One of its core tenets is exploring the shift towards Gen AI authorship, considering issues such as data provenance, originality, and the ethical implications of AI-assisted visual production and consumption.

This talk will conclude with insights from discussions on Gen AI’s impact on art and design education, outlining how my research aligns with broader institutional efforts to anticipate, comprehend, and respond to the unpredictable milieu of creative practice. By unpacking these unfolding developments, my research aims to provide a critical framework to navigate visual integrity, positioning ethical design practices at the forefront of creative inquiry.

1.05pm – 2.15pm

Lunch & poster judging

 Session 3: Navigating the Ethics of AI

Moderated by AP U-Xuan Tan

2.15pm – 2.50pm

The AI Made Me Do It: Research Integrity in an Age of Hallucinations and Perverse Incentives

by Prof Simon Chesterman

This presentation will discuss the potential and limitations of AI governance in the context of research integrity. AI, including generative AI, offers tremendous scope for maximising human potential and opening new frontiers of research. But unless proper governance tools are in place, it can introduce new problems or distort behaviour. New problems include known issues such as hallucinations as well as errors linked with unrepresentative datasets and longer-term threats of deskilling. More broadly, however, the fact that fundamental AI research has shifted from public institutions to private ones means that development and deployment may focus more on short-term financial returns rather than longer-term benefits for all of humanity.

2.50pm – 3.25pm

Ethical challenges of the Metaverse

by Assoc Prof Jeannie Lee

First described in the science fiction novel Snow Crash, the Metaverse now describes a virtual shared space merging physical and digital realities, where users interact, create, and experience a variety of content through immersive technologies. Although there is the potential for new social interactions and experiences, the Metaverse sometimes presents a range of ethical challenges. Some examples of these are privacy concerns that arise due to extensive data tracking, questions of identity and authenticity, and mental and physical health due to its immersiveness. This talk will explore some of challenges and discuss possible solutions that continually evolve as technology develops.

3.25pm – 3.55pm

Afternoon tea & poster judging

 Session 4: Can AI revolutionise academic publications?

Moderated by AP Nicholas Sim

3.55pm – 4.45pm

Research integrity – a common responsibility to be taken seriously

by Dr Magdalena Skipper

Research community is akin to a complex and diverse ecosystem, comprised of many niches with distinct but interconnected roles and responsibilities. That research is conducted with integrity should be a common goal for everyone; to achieve this goal, and to discourage and eliminate bad actors, the whole community needs to work together. This means cooperation and transparency. The wellbeing of the whole research enterprise as well as trust in science depend on it.

4.45pm – 5.20pm

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Academic Peer Review: Enhancing Efficiency or Threatening Integrity?

by Prof Chien Chou

Peer review has long been essential for assessing research projects and manuscripts. The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI since late 2022, has both benefited and posed challenges to the process. This study examines AI's role in peer review. In the initial stage, AI can assist with tasks like text similarity checks, statistical error detection, and reviewer identification, potentially automating parts of the process. However, in the second stage, major research funding agencies, academic associations, and publishers prohibit AI use for manuscript evaluation due to concerns over privacy, biases, and transparency. In the final stage, AI can help editors evaluate reviewer comments, synthesize feedback, and verify manuscript revisions, but only humans can make the final decision. The study recommends that funding agencies and journals establish AI-related regulations to uphold ethical standards and research integrity. Reviewers should adhere to these standards to ensure high-quality feedback and enhance academic research.

5.20pm – 5.30pm

Poster Awards

5.30pm – 5.40pm

Closing by SIRION Chair

by Prof Andy Hor