The key norm of good science is research integrity, which includes the freedom to inquire as an independent, self-organising system, and the responsibility to identify, frame, and engage in the problems of society, in a scientific manner. This paper investigates the challenges to scientific integrity experienced by university research centres. Research centres are organised around specific problematic fields in society and are expected to have specific societal impacts. Therefore, they are born with the paradox of being restricted in terms of scientific freedom yet required to meet science standards. As an example, we analyse the Danish Centre for Rural Research (CLF) which, like many other institutions of science and research centres, has become increasingly dependent on various external funding over the past decades. In social systems theoretical terms, research centres are hybrid organisations that operate simultaneously in the function systems of science, politics, and economy. The question is whether it is possible for research centres to uphold the requisite research integrity to provide society with truthful and critical knowledge – i.e. to uphold the necessary autopoiesis of the science function system, operating in the medium of truth – and at the same time be able to navigate in the structures of power that the centre is faced with, in terms of funding, outside control, and expectations of expectations. The medieval court jester, who was able to speak unwelcome truths to the all-mighty king without getting his head cut off, was a solution to this kind of paradox. The question is how we can handle this paradox in contemporary sciences, increasingly depending on external funding.

良好科学研究的关键规范是研究诚信，其中包括作为独立、自组织系统进行探究的自由，以及以科学方式识别、框架和参与社会问题的责任。本文调查了大学研究中心所面临的科学诚信挑战。研究中心围绕社会中特定的问题领域组织起来，预计会产生特定的社会影响。因此，它们与生俱来就存在着科学自由受到限制却又被要求符合科学标准的悖论。作为一个例子，我们分析了丹麦农村研究中心（CLF），与许多其他科学机构和研究中心一样，该中心在过去几十年里越来越依赖各种外部资金。用社会系统理论术语来说，研究中心是在科学、政治和经济功能系统中同时运作的混合组织。问题是研究中心是否有可能维护必要的研究诚信，为社会提供真实和批判性的知识——即维护科学功能系统必要的自创生，以真理为媒介运作——同时能够驾驭中心所面临的权力结构，包括资金、外部控制和期望的期望。中世纪的宫廷小丑能够向全能的国王说出不受欢迎的真相而不被砍掉头，他就是这种悖论的解决方案。问题是我们如何处理当代科学中的这个悖论，