Doing Science: Methods, Ethics and Dissemination

The course is aimed to train all PhD students in natural sciences and technology students to become eminent scientists, to understand the role of science in society, and to perform and communicate their science efficiently and ethically. It includes an introduction to the history of science, the principles and challenges of scientific enquiry, central and controversial issues on the interface between science and society, scientific writing, dissemination of science through media, and the ethics of proper scientific conduct. An overarching goal is to make students reflect upon scientific practice including their own work within the broader framework of scientific enquiry, as it has evolved over the centuries. The course also aims to provide students with the tools to relate and communicate science to society at large.

After the course, students should have achieved the following: Knowledge of - central issues in the history of science - theory and fundamental methods of scientific enquiry – their potential and limitations - central issues regarding the interface between science and society - principles of scientific and popularized dissemination - ethical issues in scientific conduct Skills in - performing science and testing scientific hypotheses in a rigorous, systematic and critical way - discussing and presenting the role of science in society - scientific writing - dissemination of science to the general public, stakeholders and end users - performing science according to high ethical standards and in detecting cases of scientific misconduct Competence in - principles of scientific enquiry - good scientific practice - critical reflection about own and other science - communicating science - ethical scientific conduct

MN8000 is an intensive course (3-5 days per week, 6 hours per day) with a mandatory attendance policy that is taught once a year every January. The course is based on a combination of lectures and seminars. The seminars are interactive, with a strong focus on student involvement and discussion. The teaching of principles of scientific inquiry, of good and bad scientific conduct, and of scientific writing will be related directly to examples from the student's own work and related scientific practice. The course will be taught as five modules: 1. Communication in Science, 2. History of Modern Science, 3. Ethics in Science, 4. Scientific Theory, 5. Science and Society