After successful completion of the course, students are able to

• Identify typical issues and concerns in research ethics and research integrity and apply basic knowledge in addressing
• Identify and map relevant societal issues and concerns related to their research area
• Will be knowledgeable about relevant scientific debates and journals discussing ethical and responsibility dimensions
• Reflect, individually and collectively, on ethical and responsibility issues of their research topics
• Draw on a comprehensive dossier for envisioning ways of acting upon on ethical and responsibility dimensions in research practices

In many ways, science & technology have the potential to shape and change the worlds we live in. This course introduces PhD researchers to different perspectives of reflecting on possible societal implications of their research, including research ethics, research integrity, and responsible research and innovation.

Increasingly, researchers are encouraged to reflect on societal benefits and concerns related to their research fields, amongst others by the principle “Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)” that is increasingly adopted by universities and funding institutions. In this workshop, PhD students learn to identify and reflect relevant societal issues and concerns related to their research fields. Further, they will develop ideas of acting upon these reflections in carrying out their PhD projects.

This workshop includes interdisciplinary debates with colleagues, compiling a reflection dossier and the incubation of ideas on what it means to act ethically and responsibly in concrete research practices. These reflective skills and practices are valued in many areas of contemporary labour markets (such as in research contexts, but also science communication, research PR, consulting, etc.), but also support a more nuanced communication of one’s own scientific research to different audiences and interaction with relevant stakeholders.

Dates:

• Jan 11: 9.00-14.00
• Jan 18: 9.00-14.00
• Jan 25: 9.00-17.00

This is a 1 ECTS course (TISS information will be updated soon).

Workshops, tools for individual and collective reflection (e.g. in group discussions), guidance for individual research, work on own ideas

Attendance, Active Participation

Requirements for passing the course:

-       Attendance

-       Active participation

-       Hand in tasks on time

• Jan 5: reflective essay
• Jan 21: ethics & responsibility dossier
• Feb 4: work plan

 In case attendance is not possible in parts of the course, students may compensate for this with other assignments. In this case, please ask the lecturers about details before the respective workshop dates.

PhD candidates from TU PhD Schools.