J. Mc Laughlin wrote:
The worst case that I encountered was the finding of a direct copy
of my own work in a student's thesis! I was not amused!

Had the same happen to me: read an article in a German radio magazine
that was written exactly as I would have... no, dammit, it was written
exactly as I already HAD, in a different magazine!

On the other hand, I recently was faculty advisor on a thesis of
exceptional quality and originality. The student had performed some
valuable and original work with nano-technology. The student's care in
crediting each and every idea that was used and every person who helped
(including skilled technicians) was a model of what should be done.
The best students know, and acknowledge, their antecedents, mentors and
then delineate what they have done that is new.

I offer the above as an example that not all is lost.

Oh, indeed it isn't. The friend who told me about the copy-detection
software had spent 20 years of his life as a rock musician, but is now
headed for a First Class honours degree in RF Engineering. Needless to
say, he's an active ham.


--
73 from Ian GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek