Ethics and Philosophy in Animal Sciences

 

General Information

Programme

This 4-days course consists of two modules:
Module 1: Research Integrity, 2 & 3 May
Module 2: Ethics and Animal Science, 9 & 10 May

MODULE 1: Research Integrity, 2 & 3 May

Recently public trust in science has been severely damaged by number of integrity incidents. Scientific Integrity is adherence to professional values and practices, when conducting and applying the results of science and scholarship. It ensures objectivity and reproducibility. Scientific integrity is important because it provides insulation from bias, fabrication, plagiarism, outside interference. To prepare scientists for the integrity issues in their daily scientific practice, this two-days course on research integrity is developed. In order to prepare scientists to cope with integrity problems in their career, they do not only learn about the ethical values and integrity in science during this course, but also learn how to reflect and evaluate complex case material in small groups.

Learning outcomes:
After successful completion of this course PhD’s are expected to be able to:

• present and explain key principles of good science and good scientific conduct, and understand how these are linked to the nature of the quest for scientific knowledge;
• discern integrity tensions, risks (more specifically: in organization, in methodology) in general as well as in their own fields and projects;
• present and explain controversial cases and accusations and defend a well-argued point of on such cases;
• use the WageningUR governance structure, and visit confidential advisers in case of questions, dilemmas and threats;
• cope with integrity and fraud accusations.

Day 1
9.00 – 10.15 Introduction 1: Ethical issues in research; basic values in science; integrity; breaches of integrity.
10.15 – 12.00 Reading assignment in small groups: Science in Transition; Code of Conduct WUR; a few small case-studies.
13.00 – 14.00 Plenary: questions; presentation and discussion of reading assignment.
14.15 – 15.15 Interactive video assignment: Integrity Factor / The Lab (in small groups. Short plenary discussion).
15.30 – 17.00 Presentation / interview with confidential advisor (Adri van den Brink or Marcel Zwietering).

Day 2
9.00 – 10.15 Introduction 2: Integrity questions in a project (idea; proposal; financing; method; experiments; publishing; etc.).
10.00 – 12.00 Assignment using PubPeer, RetractionWatch: Find, analyse, and present a case in their own area of expertise.
13.00 – 14.15 Presentation of / interview with senior researcher about integrity problems.
14.30 -16.00 Systematic analysis of individual projects: Where are integrity tensions? Methodologically weak points? Are there possibilities to manipulate data? What does one need to be able to cope with tensions? After an individual preparation discussion in small groups and a short plenary at the end.
16.15 – 17.00 Plenary: future developments and evaluation.

MODULE 2: Ethics and Animal Science, 9 & 10 May

Monday 9 May:
9.00-12.00 Introduction Animal Ethics
13.00-17.00 Animal Experimentation Committee

Tuesday 10 May:
9.00-10.30 Introduction environmental ethics
10.30-12.00 Sustainability
13.00-14.00 Culture and Ethics
14.00-17.00 Ethics in the PhD projects of the participants

Fee

Fee includes study and training material, coffee/tea and lunches.

Cancellation condition

Until four weeks before the start of the course, you can cancel free of charge. After this date you will be charged with the “Full Fee”. 

Exemption of payment:

• When there is a replacement (who you can propose, in this case please inform the course coordinator) you will only be charged with €100.
• For PhD’s and post-docs of Wageningen University: when you have a valid reason (circumstances beyond your control) to cancel, you will be charged the reduced fee. In this case a written statement of the supervisor/superior is required.

Note: When you do not have a valid reason to cancel or do not show up at courses that are free of charge you will be charged with €100.

Information

For more information please contact Marianne Bruining (marianne.bruining@wur.nl) 0317 483442