Transcript Slajd 1

Michał KLEIBER
MINISTER
MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN SCIENCE COUNCIL
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
or how to make the most of science
for societal development and economy growth
ACCOUNTABILITY IN RESEARCH
EIASM, BRUSSELS, 2005
ACCOUNTABILITY OF RESEARCH
In a narrower sense,
as a problem of how to best allocate research funding, assess its
results and harness its implementations
In a more general sense,
as a prerequisite for a development of genuine science culture in the
society, which should ultimately lead to wider, indisputable public
support for and trust in science as a key contributor to individual and
societal well being:
► integrity of research
► communicating science
► science - society ‘contract’ for sustainable development
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
THERE IS EVIDENCE TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CREDIBILITY
PROBLEM SCIENCE FACES TODAY
IS BIGGER THAN EVER BEFORE.
THE PUBLIC APPEARS TO OFTEN QUESTION
WHETHER PROGRESS IN SCIENCE
BRINGS ABOUT ANY COHERENT INCREASE
IN WELL-BEING OF THE HUMAN RACE AT ALL.
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
The pursuit and diffusion of knowledge enjoy a place of distinction in
European tradition, and the public expects to reap considerable benefit
from creative contributions of researchers.
It is still generally accepted that supporting university education and
different forms of research is a crucial element in advancing public good.
BUT:
Society will support research only as long as it feels it can trust the
scientists and the institutions that employ them – accountability of
research endeavor to the public is a crucial requirement in this regard.
Society at large must be convinced that scientific activity is at its service.
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
UNFORTUNATELY:
Scientists are no longer perceived exclusively as guardians of objective
truth but also as defenders of their own (individual or group) interests
in a media driven scientific marketplace.
THEREFORE:
It is more important than ever that individual researchers and their
institutions constantly assess the values that guide their research
 No established measures for assessing integrity in the research
environment exist
 Fostering responsible conduct in research must be done in a creative
way, otherwise it may be ineffective
 Institutional self-assessment appears to be a constructive and
promising approach to improving integrity of research.
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
ACCOUNTABILITY means much more than ethical
behaviour, of course.
Since a significant percentage of research is funded with
tax money, everyone using those funds has an obligation
to explain to the public in understandable language how
that money has been used.
Scientists should by all means try to avoid the danger of
being perceived as ones who advocate science for
internal, sectoral benefits – this puts in danger public trust
in science – which is easily lost but not easily gained.
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
Whether science is able to thrive in our fiercely contesting
democracy depends on whether it builds an advocacy system
to explain its goal, needs and methodological format. Will we
be able to assure a much higher degree of connection,
collaboration and accountability across science, industry and
society at large to exploit the enormous potential which is here
at stake?
The message may seem convincing but make no mistake:
A bottom line here may be that science should give up an
additional part of its autonomy and transfer it to non-scientists!
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
HOWEVER, IS SOCIETY PREPARED
TO EXERCISE ITS INFLUENCE ON SCIENCE?
How we should talk the public into debating the ways to:
 understand merits and scope of scientific inquiry
 address in a non-biased way controversial issues
(GMO’s, stem cells, nuclear energy, religious
orthodoxy, ...)
 deal with privacy of research data
 ....
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
PROBLEMS TO BE OPENLY DEBATED
 science dispenses both beneficial and adverse effects
 science input is often limited to a short-term horizon
 there are serious negative effects of compartmentalization of
disciplines, hyperspecialization and brain drain
 information overload becomes at places unmanageable,
prompting ex cathedra pronouncements
 large private companies may monopolize the information
highways with the quality and objectivity of the data transmitted
difficult to control
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
Public understanding of science is something different than appreciation
of a research institution – a communication mistake made by many
researchers wishing to enhance the reputation of their institution rather
than to explain the phenomenon of public interest.
Scientists themselves must be involved in communication programs
– in an era of sophisticated and complex science it is only them who
can make room for a much higher degree of connection across
science and society
Individual scientists and research institutions should be strongly
encouraged to find ways to communicate all their findings – particularly
important in health and environment sector
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
 Communication programs should illustrate both processes
and products of science, and relate it to the everyday
environment
 Communication programs should involve multimedia and
interactivity
 Evidence exists that in order to gain public support trust in
research institutions is more important than knowledge about
research results, risk factors involved in specific applications
and even awareness of new developments
TRUST CAN ONLY BE WON
IN THE COURSE
OF CONSTANT DIALOGUE WITH THE PUBLIC
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
SUGGESTIONS
OF A SCIENCE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER
There is no such thing as a ‘general audience’ and,
consequently, no ‘one-size-fits-all’ method of science
communication – different communication programs
should address the needs of different groups (education,
age, economic status, familiarity with specific technologies,
local community needs
and interests,…)
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
SCIENCE ATTENTIVE AUDIENCE
those who express a high level of interest in particular science
issues and regularly seek relevant information, less than 10 %
of the population in the developed countries
SCIENCE INTERESTED AUDIENCE
those who claim to have some interest about science issues
but have casual access to relevant information, perhaps some
40 % of the population
RESIDUAL AUDIENCE
those who are neither interested nor informed about science
issues
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
A key ingredient in trying to overcome the current crisis is
A NEW CONTRACT
REDEFINING THE RELATIONS BETWEEN
SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
Society has to be
encouraged to make an effort
to better understand science
Science has to be constantly
trying to evoke societal
interest in it
Society has to work out
better ways to foster and
control public expenditures
on research
Science has to accept
accountability as a key
ingredient of its mission
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
SCIENCE IN THE DIGITAL AGE – or how not to overlook
opportunities and threats?
Is IST a slogan, an uncontrolled revolution or a controllable
development?
IST: the means rather than the goal!
IST crucial for handling existing and creating new knowledge.
As in other sectors of public life, the use of IST has become a
crucial factor in maximizing research benefits.
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
PREDICTIONS
 Evolution of IT will continue to be characterized by rapid exponential
growth with the Net becoming truly ubiquitous and pervasive
 IT will challenge traditional academic institutions by relaxing
constraints of space, and time, and benefits of ‘monopoly’
 IT will change dramatically the ways we handle storage of and access
to data, information and knowledge thus elevating the importance of
intellectual capital relative to physical and financial capital
 IT will greatly influence the methodology of scientific endeavor
HOW WILL IT DEVELOPMENTS INFLUENCE THE METHODOLOGY OF
SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVOR AND HOW WILL THEY REDEFINE THE
MISSION AND STRUCTURE OF THE RESEARCH INSTITUTION?
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
FOR AT LEAST A DECADE (OR SLIGHTLY LESS) THE PACE OF
CHANGE WILL BE RATHER SLOW
– INACTION AND PROCRASTINATION NOW
WOULD BE HIGHLY DENGEROUS
IN VIEW OF CERTAINTY OF RAPID ADVANCES IN IT
AND THE ‘NATURAL’ INABILITY OF THE RESEARCH INSTITUTION TO
CHANGE ITSELF FAST.
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
ACCOUNTABILITY OF RESEARCH IN A NARROWER SENSE
remarks on possible ways
to improve effectiveness of research
HOW TO BEST ALLOCATE FUNDING
AND USE ITS FRUITS?
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
A. Priorities:
freedom of research vs projects targeted at high impact goals
 Curiosity - driven research
No research
policy recommended
 Quality of university
education - oriented
research
 Strategic (= frontier)
research
 Application - driven
research
Well thought-out research
policy recommended
(Foresight as the key instrument of
R&D policy shaping)
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
B.
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Allocation procedures:
simplifications vs decision rationale
flexibility- procedures adjustable to situation
better balance between risks and controls
removal of procedures that have no added value
reduction of bureaucratic burden (e.q. two-step
proposal submissions when possible)
reduction of delays in funding decisions
coherent and explicitly stated rights and obligations
more operational autonomy to consortia
more use of flat - rate financing
default regimes for IPR
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
Control procedures for reports’ evaluation
 adequate selection (and remuneration) of competent
reviewers
 sound financial management assessment
 thorough research implementation reports for (?) years after
completion of the project
 results dissemination and sharing best practices vs
confidentiality
 negative results may be as useful as positive ones
 proven failure to comply with community rules excludes from
funding for (?) years
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER
We have entered a new era of very complex science
Accountability is a notion crucial for designing
appropriate ways for knowledge generation, diffusion
and application that will create so much needed
collaborative pan-European science sector, hopefully
capable of addressing opportunities that research is
nowadays unfolding.
ACCOUNTABLE RESEARCH
Michał KLEIBER