We rely on the peer-review process to make sure that published studies have scientific merit. But this approach is not nearly as foolproof as it needs to be, as evidenced by the case of an Australian dog named Ollie. The Staffordshire terrier actually goes by Dr. Olivia Doll, when she’s not out chasing her own tail. That’s the name under which the dog sits on the board of seven international medical journals. And just recently, Dr. Doll, the dog, was asked to review a paper on how to manage tumors.
The dog’s academic career was created by Professor Mike Daube from Curtin University, a public health expert in Perth. He wanted to expose the predatory practices of some scientific magazines, which charge fees and do not go through a rigorous vetting process, looking to take advantage of researchers.
Indeed, it’s hard to believe that Ollie’s fake credentials, like past work at the Shenton Park Institute for Canine Refugee Studies, passed muster….
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