Compulsory research ethics curriculum for PhD students in Science and Technology
2008-05-01
Starting the autumn term 2008, courses in research ethics will be arranged for PhD students at the Faculty for Science and Technology. These courses are compulsory for students admitted after July 2008, but also open for other interested postgraduate students.
Researchers are expected to be able to handle the ethical questions that arise in relation to their research. The process of conducting research: data management, publishing results and collaborations with parties with vested interests holds several potential conflicts of interest that have to be handled in a wise manner and in accordance with regulations. A researcher’s role as expert calls for some thought and it is important for the research community as a whole to prevent scientific fraud and misconduct.
Starting the autumn term 2008, courses in research ethics will be arranged for PhD students at the Faculty for Science and Technology. These courses are compulsory for students admitted after July 2008, but also open for other interested postgraduate students.
The courses will be arranged by the interfaculty Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics. The A-level consists of a general research ethics course open to students from all faculties. The B-level is an advanced course with special focus on research ethics for science and technology. Both courses give 1 hp credit (ECTS) each and consist of lectures and seminar discussions of papers written by the students themselves.
The first course provides general knowledge about ethical problems in research and different views on what ethics and science is. The course also aims at improving the student’s capacity to reflect on his or her own preconceptions and values in regard to research ethical problems and his or her ability to mobilise a sense of responsibility when faced with research ethical problems. The second course, geared specifically at students in science and technology will provide knowledge about research ethical problems t in the natural sciences and improve the student’s capacity to reflect on his or her own preconceptions and values in regard to research ethical problems.
Medicine and Pharmacy
Uppsala University already has a similar curriculum in place for PhD students in medicine and pharmacy on research ethics and the philosophy of science. This course aims to provide the students with basic knowledge in the philosophy of science, legal and ethical regulations for research and moral argumentation 1,5 hp credit (ECTS).
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