Ethics in Plant and Environmental Sciences (Note: one edition per year in person; one online)

Course schedule

Dates Start time End time Location Coordinator registrations
app/max
   
29 April 2024 (In person) 09:30 17:00 Anouk de Plaa 19 / 25 Registration ended at 29/03/2024
30 October 2024 (Online) 09:00 17:00 Online Anouk de Plaa 25 / 25 Registration ended at 15/10/2024
09/04/2025 (In person) 09:00 17:00 Anouk de Plaa 10 / 25 Registration possible from 10/12/2024

Course description

When performing research and communicating the findings and conclusions scientists may be confronted with ethical dilemmas, some which they at first had not expected to be confronted. The question accordingly is how to deal with these dilemmas. This requires an insight in the ethical values and how these can be interpreted in the scientific context.

This course focuses on ethical issues that are encountered when doing research in plant and environmental sciences. It includes hands-on dealings with ethical, philosophical, and societal issues surrounding science.

Objectives:

  • to have a fair understanding of what plant & environmental ethics
  • a practical orientation (class discussion and individual assignments)
  • critical reflection and exploration on basic concepts
  • critical assessment of arguments on plant & environmental ethics
  • deliberation about several practical ethical questions: (e.g. deforestation; environmental restoration; ethical dilemmas in nature-inclusive agriculture)
  • reflection on the role of scientists in relation to societal/ethical debates
  • We recommend taking this course in combination with Research Integrity (RI), which focuses on key principles of good science and good scientific conduct, and on (ways of coping with) integrity tensions.

 

We recommend taking this course in combination with Research Integrity (RI), which focuses on key principles of good science and good scientific conduct, and on (ways of coping with) integrity tensions.

General Information

Target Group: PhDs and postdocs
Group size: Max. 25 participants
Course duration: 1 day
Language: English
Credit points: 0.3 ECTS
Name lecturer: Norbert Peeters
Venue: Online / In person

Programme

1. Introduction to plant ethics

2. Individual assignment + pitch presentation

Lunch

3. Introduction to environmental ethics

4. Individual assignment + pitch presentation

5. Reflection on the role of science and scientists in ethical/societal debate

Fee

Reduced fee:
• PhD candidates of Wageningen University with an approved Training and Supervision Plan (TSP) who are registered at one of the WU graduate schools (EPS, PE&RC, VLAG, WASS, WIAS, WIMEK)
• Postdocs of Wageningen University who are registered at one of the WU graduate schools
€ 65
University fee: All other PhD candidates / Wageningen University postdocs and staff € 110
External fee: All other participants € 200

Fee includes study and training material, coffee/tea and lunch.

In person version:

In the first part of the year we organise the in person version of this course. We encourage people who are in Wageningen when the course takes place, to partake in the in person version.

Online version

We organize one online version of the course in the second half of the year. We only allow participants for this online version of the course that are working abroad at the time the course is given. We encourage people who are in Wageningen to join the in person version.

Cancellation condition

You may cancel free of charge up to four weeks before the start of the course. After this date you will be charged the University fee. Unless:

  • You can find someone to replace you in the course and supply the course coordinator with the name and contact information of your replacement.
    In this case you will only be charged a € 50,- cancellation fee.
  • You (PhDs and postdocs of Wageningen University) have a valid reason to cancel (illness or death in the family 1st or 2nd degree).
    In this case you will be charged the reduced fee and your supervisor/PI must send a mail indicating the reason for cancellation.

Information

For more information please contact Anouk de Plaa: anouk.deplaa@wur.nl