Orbit Foundations of Responsible Research and Innovation

1. Foundations of
Responsible Research & Innovation
Zimbabwe
June 2018

2. Setting the scene

3. autonomous weapons video

4. SKDYDIO VIDEO

5. Could your innovation enable a wonderful or
terrible future ?
• The drones integrate many different innovations, none of which on
their own could be seen to be problematic
• But put together in a particular way could create both joy and terror
• Who has the responsibility to think and act on this ?

6. What is RRI ?

7. RESEARCH COMMUNITY
RRI is a way to do research and innovation that takes
a long-term perspective on the type
of world in which we want to live

8. RRI strengthens research and innovation projects,
making them more open, transparent, diverse,
inclusive and adaptive to changes

9. RRI enables a broader way of defining researchers
and their role in society, helping both science
and society to consider long-term issues

10. Engaging all actors in research according to RRI values can
yield results better suited to societal needs

11. “The further you advance into research,
the more specialised it becomes. The risk is to end up
with a restricted view of your discipline”
Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, President of the European Research Council

12. "We need ambition at a policy level to support
the best science for the world and
not just the best science in the world"
Morten Østergaard. Former Minister of Science, Denmark

13. Science With and For Society

14. Every new
technology
raises
questions
• Who benefits?
• What are the risks?
• What if we are wrong?
• What are the alternatives?
• Who decides?
• Who is in control?
• Who is responsible?
"Handtiegelpresse von 1811". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

16. How does technology impact us ?

17. “There is a developing consensus around the world including Silicon Valley
that the potential long-term consequences of new technologies need to be
factored in at the outset, and no company can outsource that responsibility,”
said the investors, who collectively control $2bn of Apple stock.
“Apple can play a defining role in signalling to the industry that paying special
attention to the health and development of the next generation is both good
business and the right thing to do.”

19. The AREA Framework
AREA Framework animation

20. Anticipate
• Anticipate – describing and analysing the impacts that might arise.
• Foresight, technology
assessment, and scenario
development
• But also informal, everyday
decisions
• What if? What else …?
• Informal discussions

21. • Reflect – reflecting on the purposes of,
motivations for and potential implications of the
research.
• Make visible dominant values: “holding up a
mirror” to one’s own assumptions
• Pausing for a moment
• Systemic context
http://geopolicraticus.tumblr.com/post/4320618265
2/the-reflexivity-of-philosophical-reflection
Reflect

22. • Engage – opening up such
visions, impacts and
questioning to broader
deliberation, dialogue,
engagement.
• Inclusive
• Participatory
• Workshops, focus groups
• But also encourage users to reflect on
their own assumptions; open up the
design space
Engage

23. • Act – using these processes to influence the direction and trajectory of the
research and innovation process itself.
• Being responsive
• Not once-for-all;
pragmatic customisation
of technologies
• Adapt to emerging knowledge
• Institutional responsiveness; Corporate Social Responsibility
• Is there a need for regulation to maximise benefits and minimise risk ?
Act

24. 4P’s
● Process refers to the processes undertaken in research and innovation. These cover all activities in preparing
research, undertaking data collection and analysis, storage and presentation of data and interaction with
respondents.
● Product, RRI is specifically interested in the outcomes of research and innovation activities. This can refer to
products or services. It includes the consequences of use as well as misuse of research products and the
impact that research has on the natural and social environment.
● Purpose. Critical scrutiny in RRI extends beyond the conduct (process) and outcome (product) of research and
covers the question why research is undertaken at all. The purpose of research is a crucial factor influencing
acceptability and desirability and thus open to scrutiny.
● People. Research and innovation are undertaken by people and for people and have intended and unintended
consequences for people. People are at the heart of RRI and need to be explicitly considered.
● By mapping the AREA principles against the PPPP components of RRI, this framework creates the space to
think about details of how RRI can be made relevant to ICT.

26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt1eWb0f64A
Digitization of chemistry video
Digitization of Chemistry Video

27. Summary
• The convergence of chemistry and computing
• Standardizing ways of expressing chemical processes could enhance research
• Potential for using 3d printers to create custom reaction vessels anywhere
• Potential to share designs of reaction vessels freely
• 3d printers could also be use to robotize product
• Put chemistry into every ones house
• Instant access at the point of need

28. ● What are the real world applications ?
● What are the potential positive outcomes and for whom ?
● What are the potential negative outcomes and for whom ?
● Who are the stakeholders ?
● Are the outcomes transformational or incremental ?
● What alternative applications are there ? (civil, military)
● Are other innovations required to realise the outcomes
● Do we need black box recorders, controls or regulations to
mitigate risks?
Questions