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GS6001
RESEARCH ETHICS AND SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY
2018/2019, Semester 2
NUS Grad Sch For Integrative Sci & Engg (NUS Grad Sch For Integrative Sci & Engg)
Modular Credits: 4
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Learning Outcomes
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The module covers issues that any graduate student in science and engineering shall face at some point during their PhD candidature and in their subsequent academic careers. Through lectures, discussions and presentations, students shall ponder on and analyze ethical issues and dilemmas associated with data archival, mentoring, authorship, credit sharing and conflicts of interest. They shall rationalize internationally sanctioned rules and regulations in dealing with ethically sensitive research subjects. They shall be taught sensible and appropriate approaches in dealing with incidents of scientific misconduct, and how ethical integrity should and could be maintained in spite of research intensity and competition.
Schedule
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GS6001 Schedule for Semester 2, 2018-19
Topic
Lecturer
Week/Date
1. Ethical principles, moral reasoning and philosophy of scientific research
- philosophy of science
- moral theories (utilitarianism versus deontology, Kantian categorical imperative)
- ethical principles (beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, dignity, truthfulness and honesty)
- moral dilemma, the trolley problem and other examples
RR
Weeks 1
(17 Jan 2019)
2. Responsible conduct within the laboratory and research group
- data archival/ownership
JL
Weeks 2
(24 Jan 2019)
3. Mentorship, Conflicts and competing interests
- nature of conflicts
- conflicts of effort
- conflict of interest
JL
Week 3
(31 Jan 2019)
4. Authorship, publications and peer review
- authorship criteria and guidelines
- credit sharing
- ethics of peer review
TBL
Week 5
(14 Feb 2019)
5. Research involving the use of animals
- moral equality; speciesism animal rights; The 3R principles; rules and regulations; IACUC
JL
Week 6
(21 Feb 2019)
RECESS WEEK (23 Feb 2019 – 3 Mar 2019)
6. Research involving human subject and human-derived materials
- respect for subjects and informed consent; rules and regulations (declaration of Helsinki, Belmont report, IRB); human embryonic stem cells etc.
RR
Week 7
(7 Mar 2019)
7. Science, engineering and the environment
- environmental ethics; risk and responsibility; environmentally sensitive research topics (infectious agents, environmental toxicants)
RR
Week 8
(14 Mar 2019)
8. Scientific misconduct I
- plagiarism, falsification and fabrication; famous cases of scientific misconduct; the damaging consequences of scientific misconduct;
TBL
Week 9
(21 Mar 2019)
9. Scientific misconduct II
- whistle blowing and reporting scientific misconduct; deterring scientific misconduct
TBL
Week 10
(28 Mar 2019)
10. Research compliance and reproducibility
TBL
Week 11
(4 Apr 2019)
Student presentation I
TBL/RR
Week 12
(11 Apr 2019)
Student presentation II
TBL/JL
Week 13
(18 Apr 2019)
READING WEEK (20 Apr 2019 – 26 Apr 2019)
Final Exam
JL
2 May 2019
2-4pm
Assessment
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Assessment components
%
Class Attendance
10
Forum contribution
10
Group presentation
40
Final Exam
40
Total
100