The UJI launches two open publications on ethics and communication to move towards responsible research

The Universitat Jaume I has just published the online open book Ética y comunicación en la gestión de la Investigación e Innovación Responsables (RRI): el papel de las Unidades de Cultura Científica y de la Innovación (UCC+i). The work claims the importance of communication and dialogue to achieve a responsible science. It has been published by the university press Publicacions de l'UJI within the “Humanidades” collection. This book is the result of the research carried out by the Ethics and Social Responsibility Group (GERSE) and the Communication Service at the UJI, with the support of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) and the collaboration of the network of scientific culture and innovation units from Spanish universities and research centres.

The publication includes a proposal for a communication model to promote the development of the so-called Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), which raises the need for the scientific community and society to work together, so that the processes and results of science respond to the expectations and values of society. The model developed by the UJI shows how proactive information, listening to social demands, dialogue and accountability are fundamental aspects for moving towards a more participatory science aligned with the interests of society.

The academic publication is complemented by a brief online and open work entitled La comunicación al servicio de la Investigación e Innovación Responsables: propuesta de un modelo de gestión. This work proposes an approach to the concept of RRI and the model developed by the team led by the professor of Ethics Domingo García Marzá and the director of the Communication and Publications Service at the UJI, Francisco Fernández Beltrán, and made up by Rosana Sanahuja, Susana Barberá and Alicia Andrés.

The model — developed and collected now in an academic publication — has been contrasted with professionals from the scientific culture and innovation units belonging to the FECYT’s UCC+i Network and representatives of different interest groups, including companies, public administrations, the scientific community, communication professionals and civil society, as well as with different experts in the fields of ethics, communication, research and RRI itself.