"IMAGINE RRI" Group Discussions

Platform members developed a card-based discussion method, "IMAGINE RRI" (Felt et al. 2018, inspired by Felt et al. 2014) that allows participants to develop and negotiate positions on responsibility. The method provides a repertoire of statements, practices and contexts to open up the imagination on the broad range of responsible practices in research. In a playful way, this allows individual reflection and opens up spaces for collective debate in group discussions.

Applying this method, the research platform regularly organises workshops with life scientists to explore the many moments in the research process in which responsibility matters in taking decisions. Usually, responsibility is invoked to discuss innovations in the form of ready-made products or directly applicable knowledge, and their implications for society. This rather narrow understanding outsources and removes questions of responsibility from basic research as practised at universities or related institutions. The workshops follow a broader understanding of responsibility and consider the many – seemingly small – decisions that researchers take in their everyday research activities.

References:
Felt, U., Fochler, M., & Sigl, L. (2018). IMAGINE RRI. A card-based method for reflecting on responsibility in life science research. Responsible Innovation, 5(2), 201-224. doi:DOI: 10.1080/23299460.2018.1457402 (link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2018.1457402)
Felt, U., Schumann, S., Schwarz, C. G., & Strassnig, M. (2014). Technology of imagination: a card-based public engagement method for debating emerging technologies. Qualitative Research, 14(2), 233-251.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in participating in a workshop, or in organising a group discussion at your research organisation or for teaching purposes!