Organisation - November 17, 2011
‘Researchers have to be accountable'
Adri van den Brink follows Herman Eijsackers as chair of the Ethics Committee at Wageningen UR.
Ethics course
As professor of Landscape Architecture and of Land Use Planning, Van den Brink had first-hand experience of ethical issues related to the planning and design of outdoor spaces. Researchers should be aware of the ethical dimensions of their research, he feels. And this applies to education as well. ‘I am thinking of starting courses for PhD students. There are still supervisors who don't think the ethical dimension is important. That is a pity. You should be aware of the impact research can have on society.'
The Ethics Committee advises the Executive Board on scientific ethics and has drawn up a Code of Conduct for Scientific Practice.