Absent, yet present? Moving with ‘Responsible Research and Innovation’ in radiation protection research

M. Van Oudheusden, C. Turcanu, S. Molyneux-Hodgson

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

© 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) remains an essentially contested concept, yet potentially facilitates the development of a substantial network comprising actors with a variety of roles, expectations, and stakes, including researchers across technical and social sciences and humanities. Although the notion of RRI is absent in research programs for nuclear research and development (R&D), it is nonetheless recognized by various stakeholders in nuclear fields. In this commentary, we draw on our experiences as embedded science and technology studies (STS) scholars in the burgeoning nuclear subfield of radiation protection, singling out instances where RRI is discussed among R&D managers, scientists and technologists, and social science and humanities (SSH) researchers. Our exploration highlights recurring challenges and opportunities in introducing RRI into the radiation protection research space which pertain to: the strong evaluative connotation of RRI and its top-down character; the lack of industry involvement in RRI processes; and the hybridization of SSH through inter- and transdisciplinary research. Our analysis urges us to consider how RRI facilitates STS movement in the nuclear arena through the formation of relationships with radiation protection stakeholders and with SSH colleagues, and through the transferal of methods, concepts, and practices across research domains.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)241-246
JournalJOURNAL OF RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION
Volume5
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 May 2018
Externally publishedYes

Funding

This research was partially supported by the EC CONCERT project, funded through the H2020 Euratom research and training programme 2014–2018 under grant agreement No 662287; and in part by the UK Economic and Social Research Council funded grant ‘Nuclear Futures: a seminar series to re-make sociotechnical research agendas’ 2015–2018 [grant number ES/ N009444/1].

FundersFunder number
EC CONCERT
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme662287
H2020 Euratom
Economic and Social Research CouncilES/ N009444/1

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Absent, yet present? Moving with ‘Responsible Research and Innovation’ in radiation protection research'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this