Past IRES Events
Spring 2012:
"Challenges and Benefits of International Research"
Panelists: Michael Bell, Professor, Community & Environmental Sociology; Jane Collins, Evjue-Bascom Professor of Women’s Studies and Community & Environmental Sociology; Nancy Kendall, Assistant Professor, Educational Policy Studies.
Faculty from the social sciences discussied the ethical and practical challenges of conducting research abroad. The panelists shared their perspectives on successfully negotiating cross-national collaborations and information on addressing the norms and regulations of different research systems.
Co-sponsored by IRES, the Offices of Research Policy, and Professional Development & Engagement of the Graduate School , and the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER).
"Ethical issues of Biosafety and Biosecurity"
Presenter: William Mellon, Associate Dean for Research Policy and Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
What happens when the government steps in to prevent publication? In December 2011 a governmental advisory board recommended censorship of a forthcoming paper by a UW-Madison investigator. The advisory board had concerns over what would happen if this information was made public and fell into the wrong hands. William Mellon, Associate Dean for Research Policy, discussed the relationship between safety and security; the concept of dual use; related rules and regulations; and the responsibilities of investigators, research institutions, and the government.
"Is There Something for Nothing? Rights and Responsibilities in Academic Research"
Presenter: Michael W. Klein, William L. Clayton Professor of International Economic Affairs at the Fletcher School, Tufts University. From June 2010 to December 2011 he served as Chief Economist in the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Treasury. He is also author of the 2011 novel Something for Nothing.
Publications are the “coin of the realm” in academia, and scholarly research is a central part of the tenure decision. The stress placed on young academics to publish (and, therefore, not perish) is very high. This presentation focused on issues related to academic publishing, including the pressure to publish, quantity vs. quality in research output, the temptation to submit work quickly (and the problems that may arise from this), integrity in research, and the benefits and drawbacks of co-authorship. These issues are related to broader challenges facing new professors, such as the role of mentoring, balancing competing demands from your job, dealing with rejection, and balancing your job and the rest of your life. The presentation drew from the humorous academic novel Something for Nothing that tells the story of a young academic who faces particular challenges with his research during his first year as a professor.
Co-sponsored by Delta, Department of Economics, IRES, the Offices of Research Policy, and Professional Development & Engagement of the Graduate School , The Neuroscience Training Program, Science and Medicine Graduate Research Scholars (SciMed GRS), and The Institute for Biology Education.
Fall Events 2011
"Mentoring is a Two-Way Street" with Harry Webne-Behrman, Eileen Callahan, and Heather
Mc Fadden. During this seminar, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers learned about mentor compacts, mentor/mentee responsibilities, and how to navigate difficult conversations.
"Communicating Your Research" with Nancy Linh Karls. Participants learned about writing about their research in a manner that highlights the importance and consequences of their findings for funding agencies, hiring committees and the public.
"Do Scientists Behave Badly?" Dr. Brian Martinson, HealthPartners Research Foundation Minneapolis, discussed research integrity and the choices people make, or perhaps feel forced to make when facing deadlines, financial constraints and other pressures. Making choices under pressure and constraints can lead to a range of undesirable behaviors extending well beyond the narrow definition of misconduct (fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism). Dr. Martinson's research suggests that instead of focusing solely on individual behaviors, we need to attend to the environment at the departmental and institutional levels to ensure research integrity. How can we move toward research climates that exhibit a "collective openness" about addressing such issues and a willingness to discuss research integrity in the day-to-day work of science?
Spring 2011 Symposium
"When Things Don't Go As Planned...."
Colleagues from around campus had a discussion centered on academic pressures and the gray areas of how one conducts and reports research. Participants heard from an experienced lawyer who defends researchers in research misconduct cases. This was followed by a panel discussion with faculty who discussed how one decides what data to include, what to leave out, and how to deal with the rush to publish.
Topics:
- “How to Avoid Research Misconduct and Stay Out of Jail” by Debra Parrish, JD
- Panel Discussion “When Things Don’t Go As Planned....”
Panelists:
- Kristyn Masters, Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
- Amy Moser, Associate Professor, Human Oncology
- Audrey Trainor, Associate Professor, Special Education
- Amy Trentham-Dietz, Associate Professor, Population Health Sciences
Resource Fair Participants:
- Division of Student Life
- Health Sciences and Minimal Risk IRBs
- Integrating Research Ethics and Scholarship (IRES)
- Office of Biological Safety
- Office of Research Policy and Stem Cell Research Oversight
- Ombuds Office
- Research Animal Resource Center (RARC)
- Social Behavioral and Education IRBs
- University Health Services
- The Writing Center
Fall 2010 Symposium
The Fall 2010 Research Ethics Symposium focused on themes from the 2010 Go Big Read Selection, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. The morning session was designed for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to discuss themes from the book in facilitated breakout session. Sessions included:
- Responsible Authorship (Biomedical), Facilitator: Ian Bird, Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology & Program Director, Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Training Grant.
- Responsible Authorship (Social Sciences/Humanities), Facilitator: Mary Louise Gomez, Professor, Curriculum and Instruction.
- Communicating Science, Facilitator: Kevin Niemi, Outreach Program Manager, Center for Biology Education.
- Informed Consent (Biomedical), Facilitator: Gretchen Anding, Manager, Minimal Risk IRB and Catherine Rogers, Staff Reviewer Health Sciences IRB.
- Informed Consent (Social Sciences and Humanities), Facilitator: Jessica Hirsch, Assistant Director, Social and Behavioral Sciences IRB.
Following the breakout sessions, participants reconvened with members of other breakout groups to discuss what was learned during their session.
The evening panel discussion, Who Decides and Who Profits: Research at UW-Madison, focused on research oversight at UW-Madison. Members of the panel addressed issues of research oversight, research infrastructure, the costs and benefits of research, the ways in which the public can influence research, how federal and state money is spent, and why basic science research is important. Panelists included researchers, research oversight administrators, communication experts, and deans. William Mellon, Associate Dean for Research, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences facilitated the discussion. Provost Paul DeLuca provided opening remarks.