Cross-disciplinary PhD course at Univesity of Copenhagen organized by:
Research School for Forest, Landscape and Planning (REFOLANA), Research School of Horticultural Sciences (RSHS), Research School for Organic Agriculture and Food Systems (SOAR) and
Research School for Applied Economics (AECON)
Get a better foundation of your PhD work in relation to
research approach, research ethics and science communication
Objective
The aim of the course is to give an introduction to the methodological, philosophical and ethical problems in scientific research. The course seeks to enhance the capability of participants to formu-late the methodological foundation of their thesis work, review their approach used and reflect on research ethics, including good research practice guidelines and the relation between research and society, including science communication.
Participants will gain basic knowledge in philosophy/theory of science, especially with regard to applied natural and social science within LIFE relevant disciplines (e.g. forestry, agronomy) and in particular with a view to select themes from the participants’ PhD projects. Emphasis is on actual scientific practices, e.g. observations, measurements, experiments, validation as well as conduct and values in research training.
The course aims at awareness through discourse. Science philosophies and research ethics are fun-damental to the practice of science. This course will not give all the "the right answers" but instead strive to enable participants to pose all the “right questions” in relation to their research by raising awareness of scientific and ethical issues through discussion.
After the course, students will be able to better formulate and understand the scientific theoretical underpinning of their thesis research within applied sciences of natural or social sciences as well as humanities, have a better understanding of different ways of looking at what constitutes good scien-tific practice, recognise main strains of scientific misconduct and be able to better handle contact with society on their research.
Materials
Selected reading (articles)
Course presentations (hand-outs)
Each participant brings the methodology part of their PhD thesis (which can be in at any stage prior to submission) to work on during the course.
Content
The course is arranged as a series of lectures/workshops with in-between work on a smaller course essay which in turn may be used as part of the PhD thesis’ methodology part. In addition, each par-ticipant and associated supervisor should expect to read and comment on 1-2 essays of other par-ticipants.
Duration
Each day of lectures/workshop lasts about three hours (13-16) and there are five days over four weeks. In between course days, work is to be expected on the essay (and as such it will be an inte-gral part of own research and writing). The course is to be held five afternoons (Thursday and Fri-days).
Attendance (5 days of 3 hours): 15 hours
Reading of literature: 10 hours
Course essay: 50 hours
Presentation and evaluation of reports by participant: 5 hours
Total 80 hours
Schedule
Day 1: Introduction and natural sciences (20/5)
Christian Gamborg, Senior scientist, Forest & Landscape, Danish Centre for Bioethics and Risk Assessment, KU LIFE
o Introduction to philosophy of science: What is good science?
o Science as an institution
o (Natural) science philosophies and methodologies
o Brief presentation of participants’ thesis areas and outline of essay assignment
Day 2: Social sciences and the humanities (21/5)
Christian Gamborg, Senior scientist, Forest & Landscape, Danish Centre for Bioethics and Risk Assessment, KU LIFE
o Social science philosophies and methodologies
o The humanities philosophies and methodologies
o Exercise for essay work
(Writing essay)
Day 3: Research ethics (3/6)
Lars Holm Rasmussen, Scientific secretary, Centre for Advanced Food Studies, KU LIFE
o Why address ethics in relation to research?
o Good scientific practice(s)
o Scientific misconduct
o Exercise relating research to the PhD research work undertaken
Day 4: Science, scientists and society (4/6)
Erik Dahl Kjær, Professor, Forest and Landscape, KU, LIFE
Peter Sandøe, Professor, Danish Centre for Bioethics and Risk Assessment, KU LIFE
o What is the relation between research and society?
o Communicating science – debate and dissemination
o Problems in, and good guidelines for press contact
(Writing essay)
Day 5: Course essay presentations and discussion (11/6)
Christian Gamborg, Senior scientist, Forest & Landscape, Danish Centre for Bioethics and Risk Assessment, KU LIFE
o Mutual essay presentation and feedback
Credits and evaluation
3 ECTS credits. After Day 4 and two weeks participants must hand in a course essay (which is the intention can be used as part of the PhD thesis’ methodology part). At Day 5 of the course each par-ticipant presents his or her essay and get feedback from least one other participant, and vice versa. Final evaluation as passed/not passed.
Responsible teachers and contact persons
Christian Gamborg (course leader), Peter Sandøe, Erik Dahl Kjær
Course secretaries: Isabelle Skarvig and Sofie Kobayashi
Registration
Deadline: 10/5
Contact course secretary Isabelle Skarvig, e-mail: isk@life.ku.dk
