Research culture: science from bench to society.

Lorenzo Canti,Anna Chrzanowska,Tim Van Den Bossche,Lia Martina,M Giulia Doglio

doi:10.1242/bio.058919

Lorenzo Canti, Anna Chrzanowska + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.058919

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Abstract

ABSTRACTResearch is a long process in which the collaboration between stakeholders involved in academia, industry and governments is crucial. Ideally, these stakeholders should work together to better align the innovation process with the values, needs and expectations of the research community. Reflecting on how we perform research and how our discoveries can benefit society is therefore of the utmost importance. The complete system of shared values concerning the research process is embedded in the concept of research culture, which has been gaining more attention in recent years. With the hope of increasing awareness of research culture among established scientists and early-career professionals, in this manuscript we discuss what research culture is, what it consists of and how it can positively influence scientific developments.

Highlights

The research culture umbrella: an introduction First, we have to ask ourselves what research culture is, just like Robin Hill in 1999: “Do we mean an organisational culture in which research plays a significant role? Do we mean “the way we do research round here?” Or do we mean a culture of the type found in a petri dish [...] ?” (Hill, 1999)
Being inspired by the Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects (ELSA) program and other precursors developed all around the world such as the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) program in the USA (1990) and South Korea (2001), and the Genomics-related Ethical, Environmental, Economic, Legal and Social Aspects (GE3LS) program in Canada (2000), the RRI was integrated into Horizon 2020, the most recent European Research and Innovation program promising more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market
How does this framework find its place within research culture? Founded on the principles of excellence, honesty, moral integrity, transparency and the respect of ethics and professional standards in research (National Research Council et al, 2002), the RRI approach is intended as a progressive framework that embodies all scientific processes, and impacts society at the present and on the long-term (Yu, 2016)

Summary

Introduction

The research culture umbrella: an introduction First, we have to ask ourselves what research culture is, just like Robin Hill in 1999: “Do we mean an organisational culture in which research plays a significant role? Do we mean “the way we do research round here?” Or do we mean a culture of the type found in a petri dish [...] ?” (Hill, 1999). This science policy framework aims to engage academic and industrial entities, the public, political institutions and professionals in science to intimately link and adapt good common practice for aligning with the needs and expectations of society (RRI Practice, 2019) Second, we will discuss gender equality, diversity and inclusivity.

Results

Conclusion