Conference, June 5, 2023, Berlin, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Research freedom enables researchers to find scientific questions themselves, to work on them on their own responsibility and to freely exchange ideas with other researchers within the legally guaranteed freedom of research. However, useful research results and methods can also be misused for harmful, for example political, criminal or military purposes. This places high demands on the personal responsibility of researchers in all scientific fields, especially in times of global armament. Courses at universities are attended by future researchers, employees in science management and other prospective academic professionals, who should develop a special awareness and competence with regard to these issues.
The conference of the Joint Committee on the Handling of Security-Relevant Research of the DFG and the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina aims to explain how this sensitization and competence building for security-relevant research issues, especially the possible misuse of research, can be integrated into teaching. To this end, the conference will first address relevant theories, methodologies and didactic concepts. Which teaching/learning forms seem particularly suitable for this? What materials and approaches can be used to create points of contact with students? Can the courses best be implemented in optional, compulsory, subject-related or interdisciplinary courses, in block courses or better continuously over the entire course of study?
In the second thematic block, teachers should present their own good practice examples, such as didactic strategies and case studies to illustrate the problem, from their courses. How do you connect with students’ experiences within your own subject? How does one create a sustained awareness and the necessary evaluative competence for security-relavant ethical issues in research?
