The Center for Scientific Integrity, the nonprofit organization behind Retraction Watch, is proud to announce the launch of The Ctrl-Z Award. This annual award is designed to recognize and celebrate scientists who identify substantial errors in their own published work and take proactive, meaningful steps to correct the scientific record, even if faced with potential professional or personal consequences.
The award’s name is inspired by the universal keyboard shortcut for the “undo” command. By honoring those who have the courage to “hit undo” on flawed research, the award aims to shift the narrative around scientific errors and highlight the importance of transparency.
“There is a lot of stigma attached to retracting a paper or otherwise acknowledging errors,” said Ivan Oransky, executive director of The Center for Scientific Integrity and cofounder of Retraction Watch. “In reality, researchers who correct their own work typically don’t face reputation damage, and we want to celebrate those who lead by example, whether they are just starting their careers or are established leaders in their fields.”
The award was conceived and funded by Harvey Motulsky and Earl Beutler, both longtime supporters of Retraction Watch.
“We wanted to create a way to celebrate those who have the courage to admit when they’ve made a mistake,” Motulsky said. “Correcting the record shouldn’t be seen as a failure, but as a vital part of the scientific process. This award is about recognizing the integrity it takes to prioritize truth over ego.”
Award Details and Eligibility: The Ctrl-Z Award is nomination-based. (Self-nominations are not eligible.) Any scientist or team of scientists — including graduate students, postdocs, technicians, and faculty — working at universities, government agencies, nonprofits, or research-focused companies worldwide are eligible to be nominated. The award features two categories:
- Junior Category: For current graduate students or those within five years of completing their Ph.D.
- Senior Category: For researchers who are more than five years post-Ph.D.
Winners will receive $2,500 per individual or team. The number of awards given will vary from year to year.
Nomination Process: Entries for the inaugural round of awards are due by May 31, 2026, and must be submitted via the entry form. Nominators will be asked to detail the error the nominee discovered; the corrective actions taken (such as a formal correction or full retraction); any challenges encountered, if applicable; and why the nominee exemplifies the spirit of the award. Nominators should secure the permission of the nominee for consideration for the award. A panel of expert judges active in research integrity will select the winners.
For more information on the nomination process and eligibility, please visit the award page on the Retraction Watch website.
About The Center for Scientific Integrity
The Center for Scientific Integrity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting transparency and integrity in science and scientific publishing. It is the parent organization of Retraction Watch, which reports on fraud, misconduct and integrity in published research, and the Retraction Watch Database, which includes data on more than 60,000 retractions.
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For questions about the award, please email team@retractionwatch.com.