MPLS Innovation Leadership Masterclass in Responsible Research & Innovation

This course is designed to be a blended-learning course, with some elements being the responsibility of participants to undertake outside of the group sessions, including pre-reading and some group work.

However the course assumes no prior knowledge of RRI and encourages discussion of the core concepts to ensure both a participative element and also an understanding of the need for collective, collaborative creation of responsible research and innovation.

Contact Anne Miller, Enterprise Programme Manager, for more information 

To book a place on Responsible Research and Innovation, click here

Learning outcomes

1. Understanding of the background for the development and adoption of RRI
2. Knowledge of both the AREA Framework as it has been adopted in the UK by EPSRC, and the EU Pillars of RRI
3. Familiarity with some of the critiques of and challenges for RRI, and ability to discuss these
4. Ability to apply the AREA Framework to a project and use the PURSUE tool to understand how RRI might be carried forward in that project.
5. Ability to assess the proposed RRI elements of a project, discuss possible alternatives, and create a plan for carrying out the RRI work.

Pre-reading

Essential

Jirotka, M., Grimpe, B., Stahl, B., Eden, G., & Hartswood, M. (2017). Responsible research and innovation in the digital age. Communications of the ACM, 60(5), 62–68. 

Also recommended, or for further interest

Stilgoe, J., Owen, R., & Macnaghten, P. (2013). Developing a framework for responsible innovation. Research Policy, 42(9), 1568–1580. 

von Schomberg, R. (2013). A Vision of Responsible Research and Innovation. In R. Owen, J. Bessant, & M. Heintz (Eds.), Responsible Innovation (First edit, pp. 51–74). Hoboken, NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  

First plenary session - 12 Ap
ril, 13.00 – 14.00

Delegates should aim to have completed the recommended reading and watched the PURSUE training videos before attending this session, so they are able to attend on the day with an understanding of the background of RRI, and the elements of the AREA Framework.

The online session will discuss the AREA Framework in more depth, and some associated concepts such as anticipatory governance, professionalisation, societal alignment and the Collingridge dilemma. Delegates will be encouraged to discuss and unpack some of these ideas, and will be trained in the use of the PURSUE tool that can help assess the RRI needs of a project.

Before the session, each delegate should identify a grant proposal or workpackage they have been involved with to use for the case study work. At the end of the session, participants will be divided into their study groups.

Case study work

Between the first and second plenary sessions, groups will organise a meeting separately to discuss their own grant proposals/workpackages and how they would plan to incorporate an RRI approach.

It is recommended that this session be no longer than 90 minutes. After the meeting, the delegates will be able to use the PURSUE tool to assess their own case and submit it through the PURSUE system. The ORBIT team will then look at all the submissions in order to pick three or four to discuss during the second plenary.

Second plenary session - 26 April 13.00 – 15.00

During this session those whose projects have been chosen will have the opportunity to propose their suggestions for RRI work on their case. Their cases and suggestions will be discussed in the group, affording the opportunity to receive 360-degree feedback on the work. The cases will be chosen based on the challenges they present and to try and give a broad spread of issues in the application of RRI.

Finally, the trainer will draw together the themes and challenges that have emerged during the sessions and may recommend further reading relevant to these.

To book a place on Responsible Research and Innovation, click here