Higher Education Institutions and Responsible Research and Innovation Prof. Ana Marušić, MD PhD
What is HEI? A Higher Education Institution, HEI, is a formal learning organism that is accessible after the secondary education, such as universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology.
What is RRI? According to René von Schomberg, Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is a a transparent, interactive process by which societal actors and innovators become mutually responsive to each other with a view to the (ethical) acceptability, sustainability and societal desirability of the innovation process and its marketable products. RRI seeks the alignment between R+D+I and the societal needs, values and expectations. The European Commission has identified six key axes of RRI: public engagement, science ethics, science education, gender equality, open access, and science governance. However, RRI is a critical and transformative concept that goes well beyond these arbitrarily assigned issues.
This is HEIRRI HEIRRI is a Horizon 2020 project that aims to integrate the concept of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) at all stages of education of scientists and engineers, as well as other fields or professions working on or affected by R&I.
Science and technology bring knowledge, generate well-being and contribute to development but they also pose ethical dilemmas, they lead to undesirable effects and they generate new challenges
Sheila Jasanoff (2016). The Ethics of Invention: Technology and the Human Future. Norton & Company Inc. New York Some Fallacies and Myths: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at1djshsxmy The Determinism Fallacy: Technology possesses an unstoppable momentum, reshaping society to fit its insatiable demands. The Myth of Technocracy. Technocracy recognizes that technological inventions are controlled by human actors, but only those with specialist knowledge and skills can rise to the task. Unintended Consequences. Technologies fail, but it is who should be blamed for failures and under what circumstances?
What is RRI? Key concepts RRI dimensions: Openness and transparency, Diversity and inclusion, Anticipation and reflection and Responsiveness and adaptive change (newly added: Sustainability and Care) Key issues: Science education, Ethics, Gender equality, Governance, Open access, Public engagement and Science education RRI Actors: Policy makers, Research community, Civil society organizations, Business & Industry and Education community
RRI dimensions = Recommendations Diversity & inclusion: involve early a wide range of actors and publics in R&I practice, deliberation, and decision-making to yield more useful and higher quality knowledge. This strengthens democracy and broadens sources of expertise, disciplines and perspectives.
RRI dimensions = Recommendations Anticipation & reflection: envision impacts and reflect on the underlying assumptions, values, and purposes to better understand how R&I shapes the future. This yields to valuable insights and increases our capacity to act on what we know.
RRI dimensions = Recommendations Openness & transparency: communicate in a balanced, meaningful way methods, results, conclusions, and implications to enable public scrutiny and dialogue. This benefits the visibility and understanding of R&I.
RRI dimensions = Recommendations Responsiveness & adaptiveness to change: be able to modify modes of thought and behaviour, overarching organizational structures, in response to changing circumstances, knowledge, and perspectives. This aligns action with the needs expressed by stakeholders and public.
RRI in everyday research practice Examples of RRI perspectives in everyday research practices involve: Securing the anonymity of interviewees Storing and treating personal survey data responsibly Avoiding plagiarism Promoting a dialogue among involved stakeholders
Source: https://www.rri-tools.eu/
RRI seeks the alignment between R+D+I and the societal needs, values and expectations. HEIRRI aims to integrate the concept of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) at all stages of b of scientists and engineers, as well as other fields or professions working on or affected by R&I. 10 pilot training programmes: 01 Studying Responsibility: A Module-Based Integration of RRI into Bachelor s Programmes BA Modules 0.5 ECTS 02 Introduction to RRI: A Lecture for Bachelor s Students BA Lecture 3.0 ECTS 03 The societal embeddedness and impacts of R&I: doing and experiencing dialogical reflection MA Seminar 6.0 ECTS 04 Enhance your thesis MA Seminar 2.0 ECTS 05 Responsible PhD: Integrating RRI into PhD Research PhD Seminar 2.0 ECTS 06 Integrating RRI into research: a workshop for PhD candidates PhD Seminar 0.5 ECTS 07 Teaching RRI in higher education Staff Online course 08 Facilitating reflection on RRI Staff Workshop 09 Investigating Responsibility in Research and Innovation Open Summer school 4.0 ECTS 10 Concepts and practice of RRI Open MOOC 2.0 ECTS
17 pilots 22 pilots in 5 institutions from the HEIRRI consortium in non-heirri universities worldwide
HEIRRI Pilots HEI Country Pilot programme Pilot completed Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) University of Split Spain Croatia *incl. CosmoCaixa museum #08* Summer school September 2017 #02 Masters October 2017 #07 Train the trainer November 2017 #01 Bachelors October 2017, Jan-Feb-Mar 2018 #10 Secondary school teachers Jan-Feb 2018 #09 MOOC Feb-Apr 2018 #01 Bachelors October 2017 #08 Summer school October 2017 #04 PhD November 2017 #07 Train the trainer February 2018
HEIRRI Pilots HEI Country Pilot programme Pilot completed Aarhus University University of Bergen Institute for Advanced Studies Denmark Norway Austria #04 PhD November 2017 #05 PhD April 2018 #03 Masters Aug-Sep 2017 #04 PhD April 2018 #05 PhD April 2018 #01 Bachelors October 2017 #07 Train the trainer April 2018 incl. Steno science museum
EnTIRE Mapping Normative Frameworks for Ethics and Integrity of Research Aim: to create an online platform that makes RE+RI information easily accessible to the research community. The platform will foster uptake of ethical standards and responsible conduct of research, and ultimately support research excellence and strengthen society s confidence in research and its findings. Vision: to create a dynamic online Wiki-platform, owned by the RE+RI community, that will make the normative framework governing RE+RI accessible.
Thank you for your attention! ana.marusic@mefst.hr