Description: This UNESCO Recommendation sets international standards for the rights and responsibilities of scientific researchers and the governance of science in society. It updates a 1974 text to address contemporary ethical and governance challenges in research. The Recommendation calls for member states and institutions to ensure transparent, ethical and accountable governance of research – for instance by safeguarding academic freedom while also enforcing research integrity and social responsibility. It emphasizes principles like equality (e.g., gender equality in science), open access to data and results, and the engagement of the public in decision-making about science policy.
Key Resources: UNESCO’s official text of the Recommendation (available on UNESCO’s website and UNESCO documentation center) is the primary reference. It outlines duties for stakeholders: governments should create policies that encourage open and responsible science, institutions should provide training in ethics and ensure misconduct is prevented, and researchers should commit to high standards of integrity and societal considerations. The Recommendation was adopted by all UNESCO member states, giving it broad legitimacy. An analysis by the American Association for the Advancement of Science notes that a motivation for the 2017 update was to reflect “ethical and regulatory challenges relating to the governance of science and society”.
https://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/UNESCO%20Recommendation%20Analysis_Final_September%202022_0.pdf#:~:text=,to%20the%20governance%20ofhttps://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/UNESCO%20Recommendation%20Analysis_Final_September%202022_0.pdf#:~:text=,to%20the%20governance%20of
How It Helps Researchers: Though high-level, this Recommendation influences national policies (many countries align their science policies or codes of conduct with it). For researchers, that means better support and clearer expectations for ORRI. For example, a country might enact an open science policy or a research integrity code in line with UNESCO’s guidance – directly affecting researchers by requiring open publication of publicly funded research, or providing legal protections for whistleblowers of misconduct. It also empowers researchers: the Recommendation affirms their right to contribute to policy-making and insists on their responsibility to communicate and consider the societal implications of their work. Overall, it strengthens the governance ecosystem around researchers so that responsible innovation is recognized and rewarded, not left to individual heroics.
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