TU Darmstadt imposes disciplinary measures against Koppetsch

The TU Darmstadt has once again reprimanded the sociologist Cornelia Koppetsch for disregarding good scientific practice. As the university announced on Friday, it has completed a second administrative disciplinary procedure against the scientist and pronounced a disciplinary measure. The university did not provide any information on the type of sanction. The message only says: “The person concerned continues to teach and research as a full professor at the TU Darmstadt in the Institute for Sociology.”

The disciplinary proceedings were initiated last year after a commission of inquiry at the TU found in its final report a “serious disregard for good scientific practice” in a publication by Koppetsch. This is the book “Right-Wing Populism as Protest”, which was published in 2020.

Of 28 problematic passages in the book, 25 were classified as plagiarism or violations of good scientific practice. According to the examiners, even half that number would have exceeded the “minimal limit”, it was said at the time. TU President Tanja Brühl initiated disciplinary proceedings against Koppetsch on the basis of the final report.

Plagiarism also in monographs and essays

At the beginning of 2022 it became known that the TU had imposed a disciplinary measure against Koppetsch after a commission of inquiry had complained about a total of 111 positions in two monographs and four articles.

more on the subject

At that time, too, it was not disclosed what the punishment consisted of. According to the Hessian Disciplinary Act, the possible sanctions range from a reprimand to a fine and a reduction in salary or pension to removal from the civil service.

Koppetsch was initially unable to comment on the university’s decision on Friday.