Considering Responsible Research and Innovation by Design
The summer school deals with questions of how to make research projects as well as their processes and outcomes more responsible. Participants have the opportunity to first explore their own understandings of what constitutes responsible research and then deal with specific concepts and aspects of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as well as concrete case examples.
Their own deliberations as well as the concepts of RRI will then give orientation in their own independent group work on a research proposal that incorporates ideas of RRI.
The summer school participants are free to define the concrete topic of their research proposal within the setting of the course. Thus, the course content depends to a great extent on the participants’ own deliberations and discussions.
EHEA: Second and third cycle
EQF level: 7 and 8
2.0 ECTS credits (workload of 50 to 60 hours)
Year of study:
Not part of a study programme
On completion of this summer school participants will be able to:
- apply key dimensions of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) considering concrete research activities;
- design a multidisciplinary research project incorporating ideas of RRI;
- share and discuss ideas on the implementation of RRI with others in a distended context;
- and to present project proposals in an easily comprehensible and creative manner.
The assessment of the participants’ performance will be based on the realisation and quality of:
- their continuous and active participation in the different learning activities;
- the creative group presentation on their research project incorporating RRI aspects;
- and the project proposal and especially its inclusion of ideas and principles of RRI.
Participants should know how research projects can be designed and organised within their scientific field. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent is a prerequisite for this course. However, in cases participants have work experience with relation to R&I, exceptions are possible. The summer school is recommended for advanced master’s students, PhD students, active researchers, and others working in R&I-related positions.
This interdisciplinary summer school is an interactive workshop based on ideas of inquiry-based learning. Continuous attendance and active participation in the different parts of this blocked five-day course is necessary as well as independent study of provided texts.
In this summer school, participants will experience different teaching and learning methods and settings. They will take part in moderated plenary discussions and exercises, reflecting on the responsibility of R&I processes and deliberating on concepts of RRI. Furthermore, they will discuss different aspects of RRI in changing small groups. In working groups, participants will develop research project proposals that consider aspects of RRI. They will use their insights from guided RRI reflection and from appropriate literature on RRI and different RRI aspects. In a so-called “walkshop” field trip, participants will share and reflect on their proposals in a distended context and open up to societal influences.