Beyond box-ticking: towards ethics dialogues
‘Beyond Research Ethics: Dialogues in Neuro-ICT Research’ is the title of a recent article (Stahl et al 2019) published by the members of Ethics Support team of the Human Brain Project (HBP). This article outlines a dialogical approach that the Ethics Support team applies in its work in the HBP. This approach offers an alternative…
The Human Brain Project’s Ethics Advisory Board: Q&A with Shamim Patel
How and why the highly regarded HBP’s Ethics Advisory Board (EAB) was established? What its main achievement are? And what the future holds for the EAB? Our Question and Answer series with Ethics Support task leaders continues with Shamim Patel, task leader for the Ethics Advisory Board and Other Ethics Services. What is the Ethics Advisory Board…
Responsible Dual Use in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology
Neurotechnology as many other powerful technologies can potentially be ‘dual use’ technology, namely it can be used for beneficial as well as harmful purposes. How can we ensure that neuroscience and technology developed for civilian applications is not misused towards malicious ends? What can researchers, engineers, policy-makers and other stakeholders do to safeguard responsible use…
Ethics Rapporteur Programme: Q&A with Manuel Guerrero
How does the Ethics Rapporteur Programme in the Human Brain Project (HBP) work? What are its main achievements and future challenges? Our Question and Answer series with Ethics Support task leaders continues with Dr. Manuel Guerrero, task leader for the Ethics Rapporteur Programme. Q1: What are the aims of the Ethics Rapporteur Programme? The Ethics…
Dual Use and Responsible Research: Learning about Ethical Challenges Ahead
Winter-Gladys Wanjiku and Inga Ulnicane The 2nd Human Brain Project (HBP) Curriculum Workshop ‘Research, ethics & societal impact. Dual use and responsible research: ethical challenges’ took place at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm from the 14th to the 17th of November 2018. This workshop showcased the interdisciplinary nature of not only the HBP itself, but…
Making sense of changing relationships between technology, security and society in Europe
How do new technological developments influence security in Europe? What role do drones, artificial intelligence and social media play in contemporary European society and security? And what to expect from recent trends in European Union’s (EU) security policy such as plans to fund defence research? These were some of the questions addressed at the workshop…
Ethics and Neurorobotics workshop
What is neurorobotics and how does it differ from ‘classical robotics’? What are potential future developments in this field? What social and ethical questions might they pose and how do we address them? These were some of the topics discussed at the Ethics and Neurorobotics joint workshop bringing together researchers from the Human Brain Project’s…
Ethics Support @ HBP Open Day and Summit 2018
Last week the Ethics Support team was at the annual Human Brain Project (HBP) Open Day and Summit in Maastricht (Netherlands). This event was the halfway mark for the HBP which was started in October 2013 as a ten-year FET Flagship Project funded by the European Commission. The Open Day on 15th October brought…