News
STS Austria Workshop on “Teaching Science-Technology-Society – Topics in STEM fields” (6.12.2024)
The TU Wien, as well as other universities, increasingly include courses on the interaction between science, technology and society in their curricula. This opens new opportunities for developing capacities of students to reflect on social and environmental implications of their research (fields), and to learn about their societal responsibilities. These teaching activities however also pose challenges, such as to bridge the often different thought styles between mostly technical students and teachers coming from different scientific backgrounds (such as Science and Technology Studies, Sociology, Philosophy, Ethics, Law).
This international workshop is co-organised with colleagues from other universities, and with support by STS Austria, opens an external URL in a new window and supports mutual learning on good approaches, methods and tools in teaching topics related to science-technology-society relations (S-T-S). It also includes a student sounding board that participates in the exchange on how to teach S-T-S aspects best.
You can find the workshop description here, opens a file in a new window.
ÖAWI "Train-the-Trainer"-program completed - RRP expands capacities
We are excited to announce that two members of our Unit of Responsible Research Practices, Lisa Sigl and Jonas Pfister, have successfully completed the "Train the Trainer" program at ÖAWI (Austrian Agency for Research Integrity). This training strengthens our team's capacity to promote and uphold the highest integrity standards in research. The program covered critical topics, including the responsible use of AI in research, equipping our team with the expertise to guide others in navigating the complexities in an ever developing research environment.
With our head of unit Marjo Rauhala already certified as a VIR2TUE trainer and having previously participated in the ÖAWI trainings, our unit is now even better positioned to support researchers and ensure that integrity remains at the core of all scientific endeavors.
For more information:
https://oeawi.at/en/training-overview/, opens an external URL in a new window
Poster "Teaching Responsible Research Practices (RPP)" at STS Graz Conference 2024
[June 2024] Lisa Sigl presented a poster on "Teaching Responsible Research Practices" at the STS Graz Conference 2024, opens an external URL in a new window. The poster asks what kinds of challenges in teaching Responsible Research Practices can emerge and what resources are useful for bridging, and making use of, different disciplinary perspectives in often interdisciplinary teaching settings.
Sigl, L. (2024). Teaching Responsible Research Practices (RPP). Challenges and Strategies in the Context of a Technical University, STS Graz 2024, Graz, Austria. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12708/197715, opens an external URL in a new window"
New Horizon Europe project: Challenges and Innovative Changes in Research Ethics Reviews (CHANGER)
[March 2024] The Horizon Europe project “Challenges and Innovative Changes in Research Ethics Reviews” (CHANGER), opens an external URL in a new window started on 1 January 2024 with TU Wien as part of the international consortium. Rapid scientific and technological advances (such as artificial intelligence) also pose new challenges for ethics reviews.
The three-year EU project with 18 project partners is dedicated in particular to innovative methods of ethics reviews. The overall objective of CHANGER is, on the one hand, to support ethics committees in addressing new challenges and, on the other hand, to empower researchers to incorporate research ethical deliberation right from the project design stage (ethics by design).
TU Wien’s Service Unit of Responsible Research Practices is part of the consortium and involved in all of project’s work packages. Together with the Norwegian Institute for Sustainability Research (NORSUS, opens an external URL in a new window), the Service Unit leads a work package that focuses on novel approaches and tools to support the ethics reviews. The experience gained by the Service Unit in implementing the TUW Research Ethics Committee is highly relevant for this work package.
The project ends on 31.12.2026. Project updates can be found on the CHANGER website, opens an external URL in a new window, on X, opens an external URL in a new window and LinkedIn, opens an external URL in a new window.
New Service Unit Responsible Research Practices
[April 1, 2022] This is no April fool's joke: As of April 1st, 2022 the Research Ethics Coordination will become a separate Service Unit for Responsible Research Practices. The new service unit E619-03 is located directly in the Vice Rectorate for Research and Innovation. The establishment of this new service unit was decided by the Rectorate on December 21, 2021. We are looking forward to continuing our good collaboration with all members of the TU Wien community within this new organizational framework.
ÖAWI: Whistleblower system for suspected cases of research misconduct
[June 2021] TU Wien is a member of ÖAWI, the Austrian Agency for Research Integrity. ÖAWI promotes awareness for the Standards of Good Scientific Practice.
Since March 2021, ÖAWI offers a new service: A confidential whistleblower system for suspected cases of research misconduct, anonymous if required. Whistleblowers can seek advice from ÖAWI on issues of research integrity or submit a description of the situation and associated documents for inspection by the Commission for Research Integrity. The BKMS whistleblowing system is used for this purpose.
Further information and whistleblowing software: https://oeawi.at/kontakt/, opens an external URL in a new window and https://www.bkms-system.com/oeawi, opens an external URL in a new window
Horizon Europe: How to Complete Your Ethics Self-Assessment
[April 2021] Along with the new Framework Program Horizon Europe launch, some changes to the ethics appraisal scheme have been implemented. Your application is expected to provide an ethics self-assessment in which you identify and address any relevant ethics issues in your proposed work. When applying for European funding, make sure you refer to the newest version of the “How to Complete Your Ethics Self-Assessment”. The first version has been published on March 5, 2021., opens an external URL in a new window The European Commission will periodically update the document.
In particular, we want to draw your attention to artificial intelligence as the new ethics issue that must be addressed in the application procedure. Moreover, the concern for the misuse of research results is a cross-cutting issue, and the relevant aspects to consider have been elaborated in the “How to…” document.