SCIENCE EDUCATION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN RRI DEBATES
Efforts that are being made to educate citizens and equip them with scientific knowledge so that they can participate in the debate on research and innovation are extremely important.
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 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. In the following, we will present recommendations from the UNESCO Researchers on this issue:
- 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; - Member States 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. - 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.
- 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:
(a) 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;
The role of Member States in creating an enabling environment for science and research
Education is also in the focus of the recommendation about the role of Member States in creating an enabling environment for science and research.
Member States, government and non-government stakeholders alike, should create a stimulating environment for a sound science system with adequate human and institutional capacities, by facilitating satisfactory work conditions, moral support, and public recognition of the successful performance of scientific researchers; by supporting education in science and technology; by promoting publishing and sharing data and results that meet adequate quality standards; and by monitoring the implementation and impact of such efforts. Recommendations for this specific issue made by UNESCO are following:
- In order to have a sound science, technology and innovation system integrated to their effort, Member States should establish and substantially strengthen human and institutional capacities, including by:
(a) promoting research and development in all areas of society, funded by public, private and non-profit sources;
(b) equipping itself with the personnel, institutions and mechanisms necessary for developing and putting into practice national science, technology and innovation policies;
(c) strengthening scientific culture, public trust and support for sciences throughout society, in particular through a vigorous and informed democratic debate on the and use of scientific knowledge, and a dialogue between the scientific community and society;
(d) 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 techno-logical developments and to foster debate, education and public awareness and engagement of ethics related to research and development;
(e) promoting research and development that may address peace-building, as well as responsible and peaceful application of science and technology;
(f) giving recognition to the key role of research and development in the acquisition of knowledge, in addressing the root causes and impacts of conflict, and in achieving sustainable development; and
(g) using scientific and technological knowledge in decision-making and policies - With the above ends in view, and with respect for the principle of freedom of movement of scientific researchers, Member States should be concerned to create that general climate, and to provide those specific measures for the moral and material support and encouragement of scientific researchers, as will:
(a) ensure that people of high caliber find sufficient attraction in the vocation, and sufficient confidence in research and development as a career offering reason-able prospects and a fair degree of security, to maintain a constantly adequate regeneration of the nation’s pool of scientific researchers;
(b) facilitate the emergence and stimulate the appropriate growth, among its own citizens, of a body of scientific researchers regarding themselves and regarded by their colleagues throughout the world as worthy members of the international scientific and technological community;
(c) encourage those scientific researchers (or young people who aspire to become scientific researchers) who seek some of their education, training or experience abroad, to return and to work in their country. - 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) strengthen all sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics education, in schools and other formal and informal settings; - Member States should establish as a norm for any scientific publishing, including publishing in open access journals, that peer review based on established quality standards for science is essential.
- Member States should ensure that the scientific and technological results of scientific researchers enjoy appropriate legal protection of their intellectual property, and in particular the protection afforded by patent and copyright law.
- Member States should recognize that they have, as employers of scientific researchers, a leading responsibility and should attempt to set an example to other employers of scientific researchers, and, in order to ensure that satisfactory working conditions are available to scientific researchers in all settings in which research and development are conducted.
- Member States should strive to extend and complement their own action in respect of this Recommendation, by cooperating with all national and international organizations whose activities fall within the scope and objectives of this Recommendation, in particular National Commissions for UNESCO; international organizations; organizations representing science and technology educators; employers generally; learned societies, professional associations and trade unions of scientific researchers; associations of science writers; women in science associations; youth and student organizations.
- Member States should support the work of the bodies mentioned above by the most appropriate means, including relevant policies.
- Member States should periodically review the conditions of scientific researchers, disaggregating data as much as possible in particular by sex.
- Member States should enlist the vigilant and active cooperation of all organizations representing scientific researchers, in ensuring that the latter may, in a spirit of community service, effectively assume the responsibilities, enjoy the rights and obtain the recognition of the status described in this Recommendation.
Developing education and training regarding the ethical dimensions of science
Also, education is tackled in the recommendation for 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. Recommendations for this specific issue are mentioned below:
- In order to have a sound science, technology and innovation system integrated to their effort, Member States should establish and substantially strengthen human and institutional capacities, including by:
(a) 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 techno-logical developments and to foster debate, education and public awareness and engagement of ethics related to research and development - 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 inter-disciplinary and art and design elements in curricula and courses of all sciences as well as skills such as communication, leadership and management;
(b) incorporate or develop in each domain’s curricula and courses the ethical dimensions of science and of research - Member States should encourage conditions that can deliver high-quality science in a responsible manner. 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:
(a) the following are the recommended responsibilities and rights of scientific researchers:
(i) 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; at every level peer to peer, scientist to student, etc. helps to ensure students become the next-generation leaders in ocean science.(ii) 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;
(iii) 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;
(iv) 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-be-ing, the protection of the environment, and the furtherance of the international ideals and objectives;
(v) 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;
(vi) 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;
(vii) 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;
(viii) to ensure that knowledge derived from sources, including traditional, indigenous, local, and other knowledge sources, is appropriately credited, acknowledged, and compensated as well as to ensure that the resulting knowledge is transferred back to those sources.3. 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) 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 biopiracy; 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.4. 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 rights. 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;5. Member States should develop policies for the protection and preservation of research objects, scientific infrastructure and scientific archives, including in instances of conflict.6. 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;
(b) enjoy in tranquility international acclaim warranted by their scientific merit.
For more informations on Recommendations given by the UNESCO Researchers follow this link
