RMS and Global BioImaging (GBI) launch ‘Acknowledgement Guidelines’ campaign
An international project to highlight research contributions made by imaging scientists in supporting roles has been launched by the RMS and Global BioImaging (GBI).
The organisations have joined forces to produce an accessible poster setting out clear acknowledgement guidance for researchers and institutions assigning authorship in publications.
The advice is intended as a ‘gold standard’ resource to help ensure facility staff and imaging scientists – who are often left unacknowledged despite contributing to many aspects of research - get the credit they deserve. It is also aimed at helping strengthen the case for sustained investment in imaging infrastructure and staffing.
Imaging facilities across the world are being encouraged to download and print the poster, and display it prominently in the workplace. The resource has also been translated into 10 different languages and counting, to maximise accessibility across the global imaging community.
Collaborative working
The campaign is the first major initiative undertaken jointly by the RMS and GBI, as the organisations seek new opportunities to advocate for imaging professionals, expand global networks, and promote best practices across the field.
RMS President Peter O’Toole said: “This initiative is a really exciting milestone in our shared mission to strengthen the global imaging community. The collaboration brings together the RMS’s long-standing leadership in microscopy and GBI’s worldwide network of imaging infrastructures and communities to advance imaging science on a global scale.”
He added: “We want to spread the word about this great new resource and hope that as many imaging facilities as possible across the international community are able to make use of it.”
Strategic Alliances Manager for GBI, Yara Reis added: “These guidelines address a persistent and widespread issue in science - namely the under-recognition of imaging facility staff and imaging scientists in support roles. Imaging scientists are often indispensable to both research and diagnostics—contributing to experimental design, method development, sample preparation, data interpretation, teaching, and even manuscript writing.
“Despite their central role, they are too often left unacknowledged in scientific publications, or incorrectly omitted from authorship. This lack of visibility not only hinders their career progression and professional recognition, but also makes it harder to demonstrate the value of these roles to institutions, funders, and governments.”
Project history
The Acknowledgement Guidelines were originally drafted by Natasha Stephens following discussions with the RMS EM-UKI community and transformed into a clear, accessible poster by a BioImagingUK working group, including Jemima Burden, Maddy Parsons, Jessica Valli, and Daniel Soong.