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  • checkmark Introduction to ethics rules and regulations
  • checkmark Human subjects and their consent
  • checkmark Types of research using human participants and applicable legislation
  • checkmark Laboratory animals
  • checkmark Dual use, research misuse, human rights
  • checkmark Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • checkmark Biological material, genetic resources and the Nagoya protocol
  • checkmark Health, safety and welfare

Health, safety and welfare

Research may involve potentially hazardous situations, e.g., the use of potentially harmful equipment, substances or organisms. The safety of participants and of researchers and other personnel must be given priority at all times. Relevant to their research, researchers should be familiar with, and comply with, health and safety policy and standards and codes set forth both by the university and by their research unit. 

Appropriate and thorough risk assessment must in particular be undertaken when research involves potentially harmful material or might cause harm to the environment. Appropriate steps as well as procedures adopted to remove, reduce or manage the risks effectively should be put in place. 

Take home messages

mindthegap

After the extra section on ethics, I:

  • Understand that before the start of my research I need to have concluded the necessary contracts and have approval of the relevant ethics committees
  • Know that the main ethical considerations often come down to: the wellbeing of human participants and lab animals, respect for human rights, cultural heritage and the environment and safeguarding the safety of all individuals involved
  • Know research participation must be entirely voluntary at all times. I therefore have to inform participants about the research as much as possible. Researchers must obtain and clearly document participant’s informed consent prior to their participation in the research.
  • Realize that when working with vulnerable groups such as minors extra safeguards have to be put in place
  • Understand that besides ‘consent’ there is also such a thing as
  • Know that the use of deception in my research requires strong justification and appropriate assessment of the impact and potential risks for by both researchers and participants
  • Am aware that the principles of the 3 Rs (Replacement, Refinement and Reduction) should be taken into account when performing animal testing
  • Know that research results can be of interest for the development of both civil and military applications. Such research is considered ‘dual use’. Research results can also be misused, e.g. for criminal or terrorist purposes.
  • Understand that research collaborations should be subject to a human rights assessment
  • Know that in Europe, the EU ethics guidelines for trustworthy AI (2019) have been recognised as the guiding ethics principles on Artificial Intelligence
  • Am aware that when working with genetic resources they may be subject to the Nagoya Protocol
  • I can explain the concepts of ethics dumping and helicopter research, and I know how to avoid them.