Challenges to ethical public engagement in research funding: a perspective from practice [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
European research funding organizations (RFOs) are increasingly experimenting with public engagement in their funding activities. This case study draws attention to the challenges they face in preparing, implementing, and evaluating ethical public engagement in the context of setting funding priorit...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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F1000 Research Ltd
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Open Research Europe |
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| Online Access: | https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/4-179/v2 |
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| _version_ | 1850192681627549696 |
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| author | Neelke Doorn Martijn Wiarda Kalli Giannelos |
| author_facet | Neelke Doorn Martijn Wiarda Kalli Giannelos |
| author_sort | Neelke Doorn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | European research funding organizations (RFOs) are increasingly experimenting with public engagement in their funding activities. This case study draws attention to the challenges they face in preparing, implementing, and evaluating ethical public engagement in the context of setting funding priorities, formulating calls for proposals, and evaluating project proposals. We discuss challenges related to seven themes: (1) recruiting participants; (2) commitments and expectations; (3) meaningful dialogue and equal engagement; (4) accommodating vulnerability; (5) funding call formulations; (6) lack of expertise in engagement ethics; and (7) uncertainty, resource constraints, and external factors. To address these challenges, we propose the following seven interventions: (1) developing comprehensive recruitment strategies with experienced recruiters and community organizations; (2) establishing clear communication of roles, expectations, and outcomes through codes of conduct; (3) training mediators to address power imbalances; (4) designing flexible engagement methods and providing tailored support; (5) implementing collaborative feedback loops for inclusive funding call formulation; (6) enhancing ethical standards through internal expertise and external advisory inputs; and (7) developing adaptive strategies for flexible and ethical public engagement. These recommendations emphasize the need for context-adaptive insights to support funding organizations to implement ethical public engagement activities, even when faced with organizational constraints and a lack of ethical expertise. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b42a4986b1cc4032bfdfb648ae3797b4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2732-5121 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | F1000 Research Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Research Europe |
| spelling | doaj-art-b42a4986b1cc4032bfdfb648ae3797b42025-08-20T02:14:27ZengF1000 Research LtdOpen Research Europe2732-51212024-11-01410.12688/openreseurope.18126.220362Challenges to ethical public engagement in research funding: a perspective from practice [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]Neelke Doorn0Martijn Wiarda1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3059-0182Kalli Giannelos2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8704-4484Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The NetherlandsFaculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The NetherlandsGovernance and Regulation Chair, University of Paris Dauphine-PSL, Paris, Île-de-France, 75016, FranceEuropean research funding organizations (RFOs) are increasingly experimenting with public engagement in their funding activities. This case study draws attention to the challenges they face in preparing, implementing, and evaluating ethical public engagement in the context of setting funding priorities, formulating calls for proposals, and evaluating project proposals. We discuss challenges related to seven themes: (1) recruiting participants; (2) commitments and expectations; (3) meaningful dialogue and equal engagement; (4) accommodating vulnerability; (5) funding call formulations; (6) lack of expertise in engagement ethics; and (7) uncertainty, resource constraints, and external factors. To address these challenges, we propose the following seven interventions: (1) developing comprehensive recruitment strategies with experienced recruiters and community organizations; (2) establishing clear communication of roles, expectations, and outcomes through codes of conduct; (3) training mediators to address power imbalances; (4) designing flexible engagement methods and providing tailored support; (5) implementing collaborative feedback loops for inclusive funding call formulation; (6) enhancing ethical standards through internal expertise and external advisory inputs; and (7) developing adaptive strategies for flexible and ethical public engagement. These recommendations emphasize the need for context-adaptive insights to support funding organizations to implement ethical public engagement activities, even when faced with organizational constraints and a lack of ethical expertise.https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/4-179/v2engagement participation responsible research and innovation research funding ethics public engagementeng |
| spellingShingle | Neelke Doorn Martijn Wiarda Kalli Giannelos Challenges to ethical public engagement in research funding: a perspective from practice [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] Open Research Europe engagement participation responsible research and innovation research funding ethics public engagement eng |
| title | Challenges to ethical public engagement in research funding: a perspective from practice [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_full | Challenges to ethical public engagement in research funding: a perspective from practice [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_fullStr | Challenges to ethical public engagement in research funding: a perspective from practice [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges to ethical public engagement in research funding: a perspective from practice [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_short | Challenges to ethical public engagement in research funding: a perspective from practice [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_sort | challenges to ethical public engagement in research funding a perspective from practice version 2 peer review 2 approved 1 approved with reservations |
| topic | engagement participation responsible research and innovation research funding ethics public engagement eng |
| url | https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/4-179/v2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT neelkedoorn challengestoethicalpublicengagementinresearchfundingaperspectivefrompracticeversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations AT martijnwiarda challengestoethicalpublicengagementinresearchfundingaperspectivefrompracticeversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations AT kalligiannelos challengestoethicalpublicengagementinresearchfundingaperspectivefrompracticeversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations |