Open Access & Data as Important Recommendation on Science

By SalM on July 23, 2020 in News Articles

Introduction

One of the 10 key areas of the UNESCO Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers (2017) is to provide an open-access and data for researchers. Research results and data shall be available for free to the public and other researchers so that they can be re-used, reviewed and replicated and research should be conducted in a responsible manner that respects the human rights of scientific researchers and human research subjects alike. Open access to research results and the knowledge derived from it promotes the human right to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

Recommendations for Member States

In the following of this article, we are presenting you bits of the UNESCO Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researches that are focusing on open data access. Read them as they go:

1. Member States  should  recognize  the  international  dimensions  of  research  and development and, in this regard, should do everything possible to help scientific researchers, including:
   (a) establishing partnerships freely associating scientific communities of developed and developing countries to meet the needs of all countries and facilitate their progress while respecting national regulation, including cultural and scientific cooperation and development of bilateral and multilateral agreements enabling developing countries to build up their capacity to participate in generating and sharing scientific knowledge, the related know-how and their benefits, including identifying and countering the effects of brain drain;
   (b) taking measures against bio piracy; illicit trafficking of organs, tissues, samples, genetic resources and genetic-related materials; as well as ensuring the protection of the human rights, fundamental freedoms and dignity of the human person, and the confidentiality of personal data.
2. Member States should endeavor to ensure that research and development under-taken, funded, or otherwise pursued in whole or in part in different States, is consistent with principles of conducting research in a responsible manner that respects human In particular, for transnational research involving human subjects:
   (a) appropriate ethical review should be undertaken both in the host state(s) and the state(s) in which the funder is located, based on internationally agreed ethical frameworks;
   (b) such research should be responsive to the needs of host countries, and the importance of it contributing to the alleviation of urgent global health problems should be recognized;
   (c) when negotiating a research agreement and terms for collaboration, agreement on the benefits of the research and access to the results should be established with full participation of the communities concerned.
3. So as to ensure the human right to share in scientific advancement and its benefits, Member States should establish and facilitate mechanisms for collaborative open science and facilitate sharing of scientific knowledge while ensuring other rights are
4. So as to ensure the human right to health, Member States should take measures so that benefits resulting from any research and its applications are shared with society as a whole and within the international community, in particular with developing
5. Member States should recognize it as wholly legitimate, and indeed desirable, that scientific researchers should associate to protect and promote their individual and collective interests, in bodies such as trade unions, professional associations and learned societies, in accordance with the rights of workers in general and inspired by the principles set out in the international instruments listed in the annex to this Recommendation. In all cases where it is necessary to protect the rights of scientific researchers, these organizations should have the right to support the justified claims of such researchers.

To read the full set of Recommendations on Science and Scientific Researchers follow this link to the UNESCO site

Gender Equality as Important Recommendation on Science

By SalM on July 22, 2020 in News Articles

Introduction

Endeavors are on working against the under-representation of women in science and gender inequalities within organisations and in performing research.

One of the 10 key areas of the UNESCO Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers (2017) is inclusive and non-discriminatory work conditions and access to education and employment in science. All citizens should enjoy equal opportunities for the initial education and training needed for, and equal access to employment in scientific research. Scientific researchers enjoy equitable conditions of work. The participation of women and other underrepresented groups should be actively encouraged in order to remediate inequalities that are existent in today’s World.

Recommendations for Member States

In the following of this article, we are representing some of the recommendations that are given by the UNESCO Researches which are directly correlating to the under-representation of women in science that are performing researches;

1. To assist the emergence of scientific researchers of this high caliber, Member States should take measures to:
   (a) Ensure that, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, descent, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, native language, religion, political or other opinion, national origin, ethnic origin, social origin, economic or social condition of birth, or disability, all citizens enjoy equal opportunities for the initial education and training needed to qualify for research and development careers, as well as ensuring that all citizens who succeed in so qualifying enjoy equal access to available employment in scientific research;
   (b) Abolish inequalities of opportunities;
   (c) In order to remediate past inequalities and patterns of exclusion, actively encourage women and persons of other under-represented groups to consider careers in sciences, and endeavor to eliminate biases against women and persons of other under-represented groups in work environments and  appraisal;
2. Member States, according to UNESCO should:
   (a) Ensure that scientific researchers enjoy equitable conditions of work, recruitment and promotion, appraisal, training and pay without discrimination on the basis of race, color, descent, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, native language, religion, political or other opinion, national origin, ethnic origin, social origin, economic or social condition of birth, or disability;
   (b) Support individuals  from  underrepresented  groups  entering  and  developing careers in research and development
3. Member States should ensure that provision is made for scientific researchers to enjoy (in common with all other workers) adequate and equitable social security arrangements appropriate to their age, sex, family situation, state of health and to the nature of the work they perform.
4. Member States should, as regards scientific researchers in their employ, design and establish appropriate (using international comparisons so as to adopt good practices) appraisal  systems  for  independent,  transparent,  gender-sensitive  and tier-based performance evaluation that transparently account for family-care related interruptions of employment and encourage equitable treatment by means of incentives, so that the careers and research of those who take family related leave, including parental leave, are not negatively impacted as a result

To read more recommendations, follow this link to the UNESCO website.

Ethics – Integral part of a research process

By SalM on July 21, 2020 in News Articles

Introduction

Ethics is an integral part of research from the beginning to the end. It is only by getting the ethics right that research excellence can be achieved. Scientific integrity and ethical codes of conduct for science and research and their technical applications. Member States should establish suitable means to address the ethics of science and research integrity, through developing education and training regarding the ethical dimensions of science, establishing and supporting science ethics policies and committees, and stimulating the professional ethics of researchers including their intellectual integrity, sensitivity to conflict of interest and vigilance as to the potential consequences of their research and development activities, including their technical applications. In addition to this text, we are reporting the recommendations that were given by the UNESCO on the importance of Ethics in Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) process.

Recommendations for Member States

As this article follows, we are going to present you some of the most important recommendations that UNESCO has prepared for their member states, which varies from lending support to educational initiatives up to developing policies for the protection and preservation of research objects, scientific infrastructure and scientific archives, including in instances of conflict. For the purpose of this article, we have taken only the parts which are related to Ethics in the Responsible Research and Innovation process, and they are following;

1. Establishing suitable means to address the ethics of science and of the use of scientific knowledge and its applications, specifically through establishing, promoting and supporting independent, multidisciplinary and pluralist ethics committees in order to assess the relevant ethical, legal, scientific and social issues related to research projects involving human beings, to provide ethical advice on ethical questions in research and development, to assess scientific and technological developments and to foster debate, education and public awareness and engagement of ethics related to research and development;
2. So far as is compatible with the necessary and proper independence of educators and educational institutions, Member States should lend their support to all educational initiatives designed to:
   (a) Incorporate or develop in each domain’s curricula and courses the ethical dimensions of science and of research;
   (b) the scientific method;
   (c) intellectual integrity, sensitivity to conflict of interest, respect for ethical principles pertaining to research;
   (d) the ability to review a problem or situation in perspective and in proportion, with all its human implications;
   (e) skill in isolating the civic and ethical implications, in issues involving the search for new knowledge and which may, at first sight, seem to be of a technical nature only;
   (f) vigilance as to the probable and possible social and ecological consequences of research and development activities;
   (g) willingness to communicate with others not only in scientific and technological circles but also outside those circles, which implies a willingness to work in a team and in a multi-occupational context.
3. Member States should encourage conditions that can deliver high-quality science in a responsible manner in line with paragraph. For this purpose, Member States should establish mechanisms and take all appropriate measures aimed to ensure the fullest exercise, respect, protection and promotion of the rights and responsibilities of scientific researchers and others concerned by this Recommendation. For this purpose, the following are the recommended responsibilities and rights  of  scientific researchers:
   (a) to work in a spirit of intellectual freedom to pursue, expound and defend the scientific truth as they see it, an intellectual freedom which should include protection from undue influences on their independent judgement; Ocean Discovery Institute/National Science Foundation Mentoring at every level peer to peer, scientist to student, etc. helps to ensure students become the next-generation leaders in ocean science.
   (b) to contribute to the definition of the aims and objectives of the programmes in which they are engaged and to the determination of the methods to be adopted which should be humanely, scientifically, socially and ecologically responsible; in particular, researchers should seek to minimize impacts on living subjects of research and on the natural environment and should be aware of the need to manage resources efficiently and sustainably;
   (c) to express themselves freely and openly on the ethical, human, scientific, social or ecological value of certain projects, and in those instances where the development of science and technology undermine human welfare, dignity and human rights or is “dual use”, they have the right to withdraw from those projects if their conscience so dictates and the right and responsibility to express themselves freely on and to report these concerns;
   (d) to contribute constructively to the fabric of science, culture and education, and the promotion of science and innovation in their own country, as well as to the achievement of national goals, the enhancement of their fellow citizens’ well-being, the protection of the environment, and the furtherance of the international ideals and objectives;
   (e) to promote access to research results and engage in the sharing of scientific data between researchers, and to policy-makers, and to the public wherever possible, while being mindful of existing rights
   (f) to disclose both perceived and actual conflicts of interest according to a recognized code of ethics that promotes the objectives of scientific research and development;
   (g) to integrate in their research and development work in an ongoing manner: disclosures to each human research subjects so as to inform their consent, controls to minimize harm to each living subject of research and to the environment, and consultations with communities where the conduct of research may affect community members
4. Member States should recognize the international dimensions of research and development and, in this regard, should do everything possible to help scientific researchers, and that includes:
   (a) ensuring equal access to science and the knowledge derived from it as not only a social and ethical requirement for human development, but also as essential for realizing the full potential of scientific communities worldwide
   (b) in the context of their intellectual property regime, ensuring that contributions to scientific knowledge are appropriately credited, and balancing between protection of intellectual property rights and the open access and sharing of knowledge, as well as ensuring the protection of sources and products of traditional knowledge
   (c) taking measures against bio-piracy; illicit trafficking of organs, tissues, samples, genetic resources, and genetic-related materials; as well as ensuring the protection of the human rights, fundamental freedoms and dignity of the human person, and the confidentiality of personal data
5. Member States should endeavor to ensure that research and development undertaken, funded, or otherwise pursued in whole or in part in different States, is consistent with principles of conducting research in a responsible manner that respects human rights. In particular, for transnational research involving human subjects which includes appropriate ethical review that should be undertaken both in the host state(s) in which the donor is located, based on internationally agreed ethical frameworks
6. Member States should develop policies for the protection and preservation of research objects,  scientific infrastructure  and scientific archives,  including in instances of conflict.
7. Member States should ensure that scientific researchers may:
   (a) receive without hindrance the questions, criticisms and suggestions addressed to them by their colleagues throughout the world, as well as the intellectual stimulus afforded by such communications and the exchanges to which they give rise;
   enjoy in tranquility international acclaim warranted by their scientific merit.

For more recommendations that are proposed by the UNESCO to the Member States follow this link

Find out more on The Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers.

Introducing the five Marine and Maritime Institutions – WavEC

By SalM on July 17, 2020 in News Articles

WavEC Offshore Renewables is a private center of excellence, providing specialized consultancy services. WavEC is the leading organisation in Portugal on Offshore Renewable Energies. Established in 2003, WavEC has been growing into an international, multi-disciplinary organisation, with clients and partners across the world. WavEC mission is to develop sustainable solutions for the blue economy (namely marine renewable energy, aquaculture and ocean observation) through innovation, knowledge transfer and dissemination.  WavEC multi-skilled and experienced team, composed of 25 specialists (8 PhDs) work in close collaboration with clients providing innovative and effective solutions.

For more informations about WavEC follow this link

Case Study: MaREI

By SalM on July 16, 2020 in News Articles

Marine Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI, UCC) is a centre for renewable energy research, development and innovation centre. The centre has the expertise of a wide range of research groups and industry partners, with the shared missions of solving the main scientific, technical and socio-economic challenges across the marine and energy spaces.

MaREI has over 30 years of experience leading and participating in National, European and International research projects, and a track record of successfully delivering over two hundred commercial contracts with small to medium enterprises and multinational corporations. LIR National Ocean Test Facility houses facilities for wave simulation with a Large Survival Wave Flume and an Ocean Wave Basin together with hardware in the loop electrical rotary and linear PTO test facilities as well as materials testing equipment. The Centre has extensive experience of instrumentation and data acquisition at a number of scales from tank tests through to full scale deployment, and the own supercomputing facilities as well as suites of numerical modelling packages, both industry standard and bespoke. UCC sit on several IEC standards committees for Ocean Energy at national and international level, are Alternate Delegate to the IEA OES for Ireland and are co-founding member of The European Ocean Energy Association.

MaREI is also the coordinating partner of GRRIP Project. Thus, the activities of GRRIP have a particular importance, not only to ensure the successful implementation of the project, but also the further embedding of RRI practices at the centre and transfer of knowledge from its RRI related projects (e.g. the RRING project, www.rring.eu). Both RRING and GRRIP are led by Gordon Dalton, who was also the coordinator of the awarded BG5 Maribe project: Marine Investment in the Blue Economy.

For more informations on what MaREI does follow this link

India and the World today: Virtual Workshop

By SalM on July 15, 2020 in News Articles

Introduction

While science and innovation have been transformative forces with large positive impacts on human welfare and well-being, the existence of a gap between science and the society has increasingly been witnessed. A step to address this gap has been the promotion of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI). This approach towards research and innovation (R&I) pushes for collaborative efforts between the societal actors (researchers, citizens, policy makers, business, etc.). It aims at better aligning both the research process and its outcomes with the values, needs and expectations of the society. With the aim of bringing RRI into the global world to promote mutual learning and collaboration, the Responsible Research and Innovation Networking Globally (RRING) Project, funded by the European Union under its Horizon 2020 programme, was launched in 2018.

The aim of the RRING project is to bring Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) into the global world to promote mutual learning and collaboration. This will be achieved by the formation of the global RRING community network and by the development and mobilization of a global Open Access RRI knowledge base. RRING will align RRI to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a global common denominator.

With the acknowledgement that each region of the world is advancing its own agenda on RRI, RRING recognises the need for a bottom-up approach and has thus collaborated with local organisations in different countries. In India, RRING is collaborating with Participatory Research In Asia (PRIA) to further their mission of learning about different local practices and creating a global RRI network.

About the organizer – PRIA

PRIA has almost four decades of experience in engaging with academia in a multitude of interventions, bringing community and practitioner knowledge into the portals of traditional research institutions and processes. It believes in knowledge mobilization and advocacy using participatory research methodology. It emphasizes on the need to integrate scientific research with local knowledge.

PRIA also hosts the UNESCO Chair in Community-Based Research & Social Responsibility in Higher Education. The UNESCO Chair has worked to foster social responsibility in higher education and supports partnerships that build on and enhance the emerging consensus in knowledge democracy. A recent initiative by the Chairs, Dr. Rajesh Tandon (Founder-President, PRIA) & Dr. Budd Hall (University of Victoria), addresses the need for Open Science.

Key Messages

• While one witnesses an attitudinal acceptance of the RRI principles amongst the Indian stakeholders, this fails to translate into everyday practice. This depicts both a gap as well as an opportunity to improve. One needs to bridge this gap between the normative acceptance and practice through both a change in government policies as well as changes in the organisational framework- be it in the hiring criteria or the tools & methods utilised. The step to becoming more responsible must be initiated on both fronts.
• The current pandemic has demonstrated the importance of building long-term bonds of social trust between the world of science and the community. In absence of this bond of trust, one would find it difficult to overcome any form of crisis- be it a pandemic or a natural disaster.
• There is a need for all stakeholders- be it Research Performing Organisations (RPOs), Research Funding Organisations (RFOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) or academicians to engage in the formulation of policies. Efforts must be made to scrutinize draft policies and raise questions. It is through this practice that one can move towards a more open and responsive science in India.

Read more about this event on this following link

Case Study: Marine Research, Swansea University

By SalM on July 14, 2020 in News Articles

Swansea University is a research-led university founded in 1920. It has two campuses situated directly at the stunning waterfront of Swansea Bay at the South Wales (UK) coast. The location is perfect for coastal and marine research. Topics range from marine renewable energy to habitat restoration and algae cultivation.

During the past decade, marine research has been increasingly international and integrated in wider European programs, for example, ECOSTRUCTURE, which develops biodiversity enhancing infrastructure concepts or MARIBE, assessing opportunities for combining Blue Growth and Blue Economy. There is close collaboration between the Colleges of Science and Engineering. Swansea’s GRRIP lead Dr. Ruth Callaway (Biosciences, College of Science) recently published a study in collaboration with colleagues from Engineering, where they joined detailed wave and tidal current models with empirical ecological information. Much of the ongoing research aspires to help the commercial marine and coastal sector in Wales, for example, the €17m partnership program SEACAMS2.

The participation of Swansea University in GRRIP is timely since scientists increasingly collaborate with institutions outside academia. The university acknowledges its reliance on partners in industry, government and the wider society. It is also committed to RRI objectives, such as a rigorous ethics procedure and gender equality; Ruth Callaway is the co-chair of the departmental AthenaSwan group. While some progress has been made during the past years towards RRI objectives, this was not always evidenced and is difficult to quantify. There is also no systematic strategy towards an RRI agenda. The motivation for Swansea University to participate in GRRIP is to assist in the development of tools for a more unified, practical approach towards RRI goals.

Introducing the five Marine and Maritime Institutions – IUML

By SalM on July 13, 2020 in News Articles

• (a) Marine bioprocesses and Bioresources: characterization and development of marine resources (microalgae, bacteria, bivalve, etc.) in a wide variety of sectors: cosmetics, food nutrition, energy, health
• (b) Offshore Platforms, Ship of the future, Marine Renewable Energies: from the physical characterization of maritime structures (port quay, offshore wind, ships, platforms, etc.) to the monitoring and management of risks and costs.
• (c) Biodiversity, Health and Coastal environment: analysis of marine biodiversity and understanding of the metabolic potential for human, animal or environmental health, impact of human activities on marine ecosystems, monitoring of pollution and risks on human health.
• (d) Blue growth, Governance of Maritime Area: historical, spatial, economic, legal and social characterization of maritime activities in order to manage uses in the maritime area.

As presented the IUML is making its best to tackle society challenges and being connected to its territory. However, the GRRIP project is relevant because of it gives to the institution the opportunity to analyse and improve our methodology and tools.

GRACE: Grounding RRI Actions to Achieve Institutional Changes

By SalM on July 9, 2020 in News Articles

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is the on-going process of aligning research and innovation to the values, needs and expectations of society, while ensuring that they deliver on the promise of smart, inclusive and sustainable solutions to our societal challenges. Building capacity for RRI and implementing institutional changes that foster RRI is an imperative need addressed years ago and specifically expressed at the Rome Declaration on Responsible Research and Innovation in Europe.

Responding to this need, the GRACE project aims to contribute to the effort of spreading and embedding RRI in the European Research Area. The project is funded through the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme, running from January 2019 until December 2021.

GRACE: Grounding RRI Actions to Achieve Institutional Changes in European Research Funding and Performing Organisations

The GRACE consortium is led by the European Science Foundation, France, reinforced by 10 institutions in 8 European countries, with a network of affiliated projects in the RRI domain.

GRACE pursues to achieve a cluster of well-defined institutional changes in six Research Funding and Performing Organisations (RFPOs) based on the implementation of a set of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound) Grounding Actions (GAs), with visible short-term impacts during the timespan of GRACE. More than that, the project foresees roadmaps towards RRI for each RFPO in the consortium for the attainment of further and more complex institutional changes in the medium- and long-term period. GRACE builds on a combination of highly experienced partners and dynamic implementing organisations to develop a mutual learning process in a co-creation environment which will lead to a solid approach for enabling rapid institutional change for both the consortium members and for further exploitation.

Having concluded a preparatory phase, which allowed partners to self-assess their organisations in the light of RRI and its keys (gender equality, ethics, open access, public engagement, science education, governance) and define the Grounding Actions (GAs) for their Roadmap towards RRI (e.g. new organizational structures, rules, action plans, trainings etc.), GRACE has now set engines in full motion for the implementation of these actions.

Based on a mutual learning environment and built around a well-structured Mentoring and Monitoring Meetings (MMM) Framework, GRACE’s RRI expert organisations embark on numerous bilateral meeting sessions with implementing organisations, assisting them in materializing the Grounding Actions that they have opted for. During these meetings expert organisations provide guidance to implementing organisations on devising viable and effective action plans, assistance in developing specific skills for performing the required activities and on top of that continuous assessment on the progress made on the implementation of Grounding Actions by each implementing organisation.

The Mentoring and Monitoring Meetings are still in their early stage and will span till the end of the project. Nevertheless, both experts and implementing organizations already acknowledge the value, usefulness and efficiency of the meetings in accelerating and catalysing processes of institutional change.

For more information see: grace-rri.eu

Introducing the Five Marine and Maritime Institutions: Plocan

By SalM on July 6, 2020 in News Articles

The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) is a multipurpose service centre with land-based and novel sea-based infrastructures to support research, technology development and innovation in the marine and maritime sectors. Its mission is to promote long-term observation and sustainability of the ocean, providing a cost-effective combination of services, such as an ocean observatory, a marine test site, a base for underwater vehicles, training and an innovation hub. PLOCAN is a joint initiative of the Spanish and the Canary Islands governments, with the contribution of the European Regional Development Fund, and is included in the Spanish Map of Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS). Its main objective is the construction and operation of a fixed offshore platform that is located both close to the coast and near the edge of the continental shelf.

In addition, PLOCAN is configured as a Test Site where projects focused on testing and demonstrating of all kinds of marine devices are performed. The Test Site also covers the coastal component of the PLOCAN observatory, which is complemented by:

(a) The European Station for Time series in the Ocean, Canary Islands (ESTOC): a multidisciplinary mooring located in open ocean in the Central Eastern Atlantic at 29º10’N, 15º30’W with over 25 years of continuous surface and mid-water meteorological, physical and biogeochemical monitoring.

(b) A mobile observing system comprising a fleet of underwater and surface gliders and ROVs able to cover missions for long periods in coastal and open ocean areas.

As for training, PLOCAN organises high specialisation training courses with the aim to provide knowledge and practical skills in the use of facilities and devices for working in and accessing the deep ocean.

PLOCAN’s staff and management team have extensive experience in the preparation, implementation and management of large projects in the marine and maritime sectors. Since 2009 they have participated in more than 80 national and EU funded projects both as coordinators and partners.

PLOCAN is convinced that, through the GRRIP project, we will be able to implement several improvements in our organization regarding the 5 RRI keys (gender balance, open access, ethics, science education and public engagement) and, thus, contribute to the achievement of the SDG´s and our own strategic plan. Leveraging on GRRIP audit process we will be able to define a number of institutional changes as major actions required in policy, processes and key roles to implement a specific RRI interventions/goals and implement them following a customized RRI action plan for PLOCAN.