The event is part of the Good Science series of public conversations to reflect on what good science looks like, what corrupts it, what challenges it, and what fosters it. It is organised by the Royal Irish Academy’s Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Sciences committee with support from the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry and Queen’s University.

The series is aimed at researchers, educators, policy makers – and anyone with a broad interest in the quality and direction of public science.

Professor Peter Robertson from Queen’s University’s School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is Chair of the working group responsible for the series. He said:

“Our goal with this discussion series was to bring a diverse range of perspectives together to discuss the topic of ‘Good Science’ in a public setting.

“We are delighted to be holding our second event at Queen’s University. Given that our multidisciplinary committee is made up of members from across the island of Ireland it makes sense to capitalise on the connections we have.”

Four panellists with diverse backgrounds in bioengineering, research governance, health research, and forensic and legal medicine  will each deliver a five-minute talk in response to the question, ‘What is ethical research?’

Following that, a discussion moderated by Prof Aaron Maule from the School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s will explore insights from these stories and consider some of the following questions:

• Who is research undertaken by and for?
• Who decides what is ethical?
• What frameworks are needed to support and regulate ethical research?
• How important is ethical research for ‘Good Science’?

The panellists for the event are:

1. Janet Diffin, Senior Programme Manager within Health and Social Care Research and Development Division

2. Louise Dunlop, Head of Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity, Queen’s University Belfast

3. Cliona McGovern, Head of Subject in Forensic & Legal Medicine, University College Dublin

4. James McLaughlin, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Ulster University

The event will take place from 18:00-19:30 on Thursday 13 June at Queen’s David Keir Building (Stranmillis Road, Belfast) and will be officially opened by Prof Steven Bell MRIA, Professor of Physical Chemistry, Queen’s and the Royal Irish Academy Vice-President for Research.

Those interested in attending can reserve their ticket and find more information here. The event is free to attend but booking is essential.

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Media inquiries to Una Bradley u.bradley@qub.ac.uk