Event Research Integrity Round

Research Integrity Round #21 - 11 December 2024 Scientists on the barricade? Scientific activism and integrity

Scientists on the barricade? Scientific activism and integrity 

According to some, science and activism naturally go together. After all, science and society are closely connected. Shouldn’t climate scientists warn the public about the worrisome results of their research and the risks for, e.g., global health? Shouldn’t an expert on vaccination contradict myths about the risks and efficiency of vaccination that undermine its support in society? It might even be the social responsibility of good scientists to engage in activism.  

Others, however, think that activist scientists run the risk of compromising the neutrality and impartiality of science. Scientist shouldn’t become politicians, it is said. They should stick to the facts, and nothing more. Activist scientists might undermine the vulnerable public trust in and credibility of science in times when views such as ‘science is just an opinion’ and ‘I believe in alternative facts’ go around in social media.  

Both positions may have a personal and professional impact. While neutrality and impartiality are closely linked to the principles of research integrity, so is (societal) responsibility. And at the background essential values like ‘academic freedom’ and ‘freedom of speech on campus’, may play a role as well. In between the two mentioned positions is a colourful – let’s not call it a grey - area full of questions and dilemmas that we should discuss.  
We will explore this actual and tense theme with three guests, and use pitches, polls, and panel conversations to engage everybody. Of course, members of the public can react and ask questions as well. Our host will be dr. Jos Kole. 

Guests 

• Prof. Teun Bousema, is infectious disease epidemiologist specialised in the biology and epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum. He actively promotes sustainable science and has e.g. put the ecological footprint of research on the agenda. 
• Prof. Chantal Rovers is professor of Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases. She contributed frequently in the media to the public debate during the Covid-19 pandemic, thereby distinguishing between fact and fiction. 
• Efraïm Hart, MSc MD is performing PhD research on Health Activism at VU Amsterdam

Time and location 

Wednesday 11 December 2024 16:00 – 17:30 hrs 
The meeting will be a webinar. The webinar link will be sent to you after registration. 

Registration 

Registration is required. Please register via www.radboudumc.nl/researchintegrityrounds. 

Target group 

We invite all master students, junior and senior researchers and other staff members to attend this event and join the discussion.  

Please note that PhD candidates can add the Research Integrity Rounds to their Training and Supervision Plan. 
 

Previous editions

• March 2024: Artificial Intelligence and Research Integrity: a good marriage? Guests Dr. Michiel Schinkel, Dr. Guido de Jong, Luc Builtjes, Prof. Joost Wiersinga. View the webinar.
• December 2023: Research ethical issues in the physician/researcher/patient/participant quadrangle. Guests Dr. Jeroen Janssen, Dr. Bart van de Warrenburg, Klaartje Spijkers (MSc) and Prof. dr. Gerard Rongen. View the webinar.
• September 2023: The Learning Curve: Theatre play about (sexual) intimidation and abuse of power in academic context.
• June 2023: 'Patents at Radboudumc: a blessing or a curse?'. Guests: Jolanda de Vries (Radboudumc, Joram Sjoerts (Radboudumc) and Hans Radder (Vu Amsterdam). View the webinar.
• March 2023: Collegetour with Prof. Hedi Claahsen and Prof. Sandra Heskamp. View the webinar.
• September 2022: "Publication ethics: Promises, problems and perspectives". Guests: Dr. Tamarinde Haven (Charité, Berlin), Prof. Iris Nagtegaal (Radboudumc), Prof. Bart Kiemeney (Radboudumc). View the webinar.
• March 2022: "Research Integrity in times of crisis: Juggling slow and fast science". Guests: Dr. Daniel Warmerdam, Prof. Debby Gerritsen, Prof. Marcel Olde Rikkert, Prof. Saskia Middeldorp. View the webinar. Read the blog.
• December 2021: "The challenges of collaboration with profit and non-profit organisations". Guests: Tanya Sluyter (Novartis Pharma B.V.), Prof. Carel Hoyng (Dept. of Opthalmology) and Prof. Lex Bouter (Amsterdam UMC). View the webinar. Read the blog. Presentation Prof. Lex Bouter. Presentation Tanya Sluyter.
• September 2021: “The Dark Side of Science: Misconduct in Biomedical Research”. Guest: Dr Elisabeth Bik. Read the blog
• March 2021: Research Integrity Rounds - College Tour. Dorine Swinkels - professor of Laboratory Medicine, Maroeska Rovers - professor of Evidence-based Surgery and Marcel Olde Rikkert - professor of Clinical Geriatrics. View the webinar  
• December 2020: “Recognition and Rewards for Radboudumc Academics”. Guests: Prof. Jeroen Geurts (Director ZonMw), Dr Annemijn Algra (UMC Utrecht, Young Science in Transition), Dean Prof. Jan Smit. View the webinar. Read the blog.
• September 2020: “Sex and gender and research integrity: a tale of how and who”. Guests: Prof. Hanneke Takkenberg (Erasmus University), Prof. Sabine Oertelt, Dean Prof. Jan Smit. View the webinar  
• March 2020: “Can we change science? Yes, we can?” Guest: Prof. Frank Miedema, one of the persons who started the Dutch Science in Transition movement in 2013
• December 2019: “Facing Integrity Challenges: How does Peer Review cause or resolve issues?”. Guests: Serge Horbach, researcher and expert on peer review in relation to scientific integrity, and Prof. Roshan Cools, researcher and editor of a scientific journal
• September 2019: “Scientists on the sofa. How to survive as researcher without losing your integrity”. Guests: Joeri Tijdink, author of the book “Wetenschappers op de sofa”, DCMN director Prof. Guillen Fernandez and PhD candidate Tamara van Woezik
• March 2019: College tour with three experienced Radboudumc researchers (Prof. Alessandra Cambi, Prof. Judith Prins, Dr Edo Richard) who spoke about their experiences with perverse stimuli but also about their passion for research
• February 2019: Introduction of the new Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity with the interactive play “The ConScience App” followed by a discussion based on the new code
• December 2018: Movie ‘On being a scientist’ with a discussion led by one of the initiators of the movie Prof. Frans van Lunteren, Professor of history of the Natural Sciences at Leiden University
• September 2018: Authorship of Master students: a matter of scientific integrity?