Hi Jorge, I think you should try harder to track the individual down. Only after an exhaustive search would I suggest that you move forward with publishing the work.
Also, why not list the person as an author and denote that said person did not contribute to writing and interpretation of data? Just my two cents, Jonathan On Friday, August 19, 2016, Jorge A. Santiago-Blay <[email protected]> wrote: > Query on authorship > > Dear Colleagues: > > I am writing a small paper resulting from research done with two > undergraduates many years ago (and, later on, involving several other > colleagues using cutting-edge technology). As the results became obvious, > both of the students agreed (orally, in person) with me that we should get > the research published. As far as I remember, there was no email or letter > documenting that and, there was no manuscript, only the data and the > methods we were using. > > The problem: I have located one of the former students (now a researcher > at a major research institution), who is excited about getting the research > published, but not the second student. > > Question: How to handle the contribution (including authorship) of the > other person? Here are some options I see. > > a. *Omit the name of the person that has not been located* and indicate > that another person was involved in the data collection but we were hot > able to locate him/her to get his/her approval to use his/her name as an > author. Under these circumstances, would it be OK to name the person in > the Acknowledgments? Lately, I am asking permission to do that because > sometimes some people prefer to remain anonymous. > > b. *Include the name of the person I cannot locate as an author*, an act > of fairness and good faith on my part. If the person does not like the idea > (and the paper is published) retract the name of the person in an erratum, > later on, and assume responsibility for my error. A kind colleague did that > to me once and, subsequently, it has resulted a long standing collaboration > (and co-authorship in many papers, with my knowledge) :) > > c. *Nor use the data garnered by the person I cannot locate*. Although I > am pretty sure I am authorized by the institution to use the data, as a > general personal; preference, I like to ask permission. > > If you have something constructive to comment, kindly direct your comments > to me, [email protected] > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','[email protected]');> , > > Apologies for potential duplicate emails. > > Sincerely, > > Jorge > > Jorge A. Santiago-Blay, PhD > blaypublishers.com > > 1. Positive experiences for authors of papers published in *LEB* > http://blaypublishers.com/testimonials/ > > 2. Free examples of papers published in *LEB*: http://blaypublishers. > com/category/previous-issues/. > > 3. *Guidelines for Authors* and page charges of *LEB*: > http://blaypublishers.com/archives/ *.* > > 4. Want to subscribe to *LEB*? http://blaypublishers.com/subscriptions/ > > > http://blayjorge.wordpress.com/ > http://paleobiology.si.edu/staff/individuals/santiagoblay.cfm >
