About this course

This course is an introduction to research ethics and philosophy of science and is offered as part of the PhD education at NMBU.

The course is organised as a series of monthly seminars for PhD students and early career researchers at NMBU, with the aim to build an academic culture for critical thinking, ethical reflection, and constructive interdisciplinary dialogue. The course offers an introduction to some foundational, normative and practical aspects of research, with perspectives from philosophy of science and research ethics. Themes include: disciplinary research traditions and barriers for interdisciplinary collaboration, scope and limits of research methods, social responsibility of research, values in science, data-gaps and blind spots, transparency of basic assumptions, science communication, research integrity and ethical awareness (RRI), and national and international research ethics guidelines.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: The candidate knows about non-empirical aspects of science and how they influence research. They are familiar with some barriers for interdisciplinary communication and collaboration. They know about various ethical dilemmas and pitfalls that they might encounter as a researcher. The candidate knows about national and international guidelines for research ethics and knows where to find further support and resources.

Skills: The candidate has learned to recognise and reflect upon dilemmas that they might face related to the diverse interests and priorities of various stakeholders of research. They are able recognise research ethical aspects and challenges in their own research, and they know how to seek out resources and support for handling these in accordance with national and international norms and guidelines. They have a deeper understanding of the rationality behind different research traditions and they can recognise some of their own disciplinary biases. The candidate can reflect independently and critically upon the foundations of their own research tradition and practices, including methodological choices and ethical issues, and communicate these to an interdisciplinary audience.

Generic competencies: The candidate can carry out their research with an advanced level of ethical awareness and critical reflection concerning the foundational, non-empirical aspects of science. They can engage in respectful and transparent interdisciplinary communication and collaboration. The candidate can present and reflect upon the various ethical dimension of their own research in funding proposals. Candidates are better equipped to recognise and evaluate matters of research ethics, serve on ethics committees, and generally contribute to a good academic culture in their institution.

  • Learning activities

    The course is organised as monthly research meetings, followed by work sessions exclusively for early career researchers (PhD candidates and Postdocs). The themes are introduced and discussed in an interdisciplinary setting, with invited guests, where researchers from all career stages are invited to join the first part. The following work sessions are tailored to early career researchers, and are reserved for presentations, discussions and practical exercises, where the students get ample opportunity to informally discuss foundational, ethical and practical issues of common interest with researchers from other disciplines.

  • Teaching support

    All meetings and discussions are facilitated, but students are encouraged to engage in the planning and execution of the open meetings (e.g. choose a theme or introduce the discussion).

  • Syllabus

    The syllabus is given as a set of relevant resources and background readings, published in Canvas before the meetings, where students choose those that are most relevant for their own research context.

  • Prerequisites

    Master degree

  • Assessment method

    Portfolio assessment. Individual written reflection document(s), oral presentations in groups, preparation of group discussion material, peer-feedback on reflection documents.

    Portfolio assessment Karakterregel: Passed / Not Passed

  • About use of AI

    K2: AI can be used for language support, but not to generate text, or in any way replace thinking, knowledge and reflection.

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme

    External examiner approves the assessment criterias.

  • Mandatory activity

    Students are welcome to follow all meetings and work sessions throughout their PhD period, but a minimum of 10 meetings plus work sessions (20 hours) must be attended, with preparation, oral or written deliveries, and active participation. Students choose the sessions that are most relevant for their own research. The mandatory course work can be completed within a year or spread over a longer period.

  • Teaching hours

    Ca 2 hours per month.

  • Reduction of credits

    The course overlaps with PHI401, VET400 and other phd-courses in philosophy of science and research ethics.