Description

Project Website

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) in the biological sciences are successfully immersing undergraduate students in research as part of the academic curriculum. However, there is currently a lack of integration of responsible & ethical conduct of research (RECR) education within CUREs.

Conducting research in an ethical and responsible manner is a critical hallmark of the scientific process. Researchers continuously make decisions with ethical implications while conducting studies in the field.

Therefore, we argue that students immersed in authentic research experiences must undergo RECR education as part of those experiences. This will ensure that young researchers become aware of the ethical norms of research from the moment they begin conducting research.

ENCOUR aims to identify/develop effective ways for instructors to integrate RECR education in CUREs and other authentic research experiences by:

• Describing and evaluating current practices that integrate RECR into CUREs.
• Identifying gaps that need to be addressed to advance our understanding of the intersection between RECR and CURE instruction.
• Promoting integration of RECR instruction within CUREs in the biological sciences.
• Promoting research to advance teaching, professional development, and scholarship in areas that explore the intersection of ethics/RCR and CURE.

Ways to learn more:

RECR in CURES (find the full list here):

• Diaz-Martinez, L. A. et al. Current Approaches for Integrating Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) Education into Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences: A National Assessment. CBE Life Sci Educ 20, ar38 (2021). PMCID: PMC8715818
• Diaz-Martinez, L. A. et al. Recommendations for effective integration of ethics and responsible - conduct of research (E/RCR) education into course-based undergraduate research experiences: A meeting report. CBE Life Sci Educ 18, (2019). PMCID: PMC6755229
• Olimpo, J. T., Diaz-Martinez, L. A., Bhatt, J. M. & CE, D. Integration of RCR and Ethics Education into Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences in the Biological Sciences: A Needed Discussion. J Microbiol Biol Educ 18, (2017). PMCID: PMC5577973

Examples of RECR education implementation:

• Hills, S. & Light, C. J. Training for Responsible and Ethical Management of Lab Notebooks in a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience. J Microbiol Biol Educ 23, (2022). PMCID: PMC9429884
• Sjogren, C. A., Comstock, G. & Goller, C. C. Connecting Ethical Reasoning to Global Challenges through Analysis of Argumentation. J Microbiol Biol Educ (2023) PMCID: PMC10117146

Ways to get involved:

• Visit the ENCOUR website

If you are interested in learning more and participating please join this group or email Jeff Olimpo.

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