[Coral-List] Parachute Science and how we work/engage

[Contessa Ricci]

Hello Martina,

That is awesome to hear! There is a lot of conversation focused on what we
as researchers can do but I worry that this does not hold funding agencies
accountable for their role in creating/perpetuating the practice of
parachute science. All levels need to be thoroughly and thoughtfully
considered.

Thank you for enlightening me! I hope other agencies enact similar
frameworks and actual enforcement of commitments to ethical research. I
love hearing examples of when things work.

Cheers!
Contessa

On Thu, Jun 24, 2021 at 4:25 AM martina <m.milanese at studioassociatogaia.com>
wrote:

> Hi Contessa,
>
> the largest EU research programme (previously Horizon 2020, current one is
> Horizon Europe) has a mandatory ethics list to check and complete in order
> to finalise the submission of proposals. Among the various items, one
> section refers to doing research in "third Countries" (= countries that are
> neither EU Member States nor Associated Countries) and asks for: specifics
> about using local resources (from genetic materials to historical
> materials); importing/exchanging materials or personal data; planning for
> benefit-sharing actions in case of low and lower middle income countries.
> Another item, focused on "Environment and safety", asks whether the
> research will include endangered flora/fauna and/or protected areas.
>
> While none of the above is specifically designed to avoid parachute
> science, this list is a first step to define some basic actions that have
> to be taken in order to be funded (after proposals are selected based on
> merit). For instance, asking for authorisations for work in MPAs in
> developing countries puts black on white that researchers need to establish
> a communication channel with local authorities (and hopefully communities)
> and/or enter into negotiations with them about rules/collaborations etc.
>
> Such items are not just a one-time box to tick - if the proposal is funded
> and the project starts, periodic deliverables to allow monitoring of ethics
> are also required (e.g. renewed authorisations).
>
> Finally, over the last decade or so, this funding programme has boosted a
> number of cross-cutting themes that should be included in the research plan
> irrespective of the specific text of the call for proposals. RRI (=
> Responsible Research and Innovation) is one of such themes, which are also
> considered at the evaluation stage.
>
> I must admit I still have to check how this applies in the new programme
> (Horizon Europe), but I'm sure it won't be modified much unless to
> strengthen it.
>
> Cheers!
> Martina
>
> Dr Martina Milanese, PhD
>
> skype: m.milanesehttps://it.linkedin.com/in/martina-milanese-46963436
> twitter: @martix_m
>
> Italian Mob. (WA) +39-338-1196672
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>
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>
> Il 23/06/21 22:50, Contessa Ricci via Coral-List ha scritto:
>
> Hello Dr. Perry - thank you for sharing this work. It is indeed
> thought-provoking and a very digestible read.
>
> I would like to know people's opinions on the role that funding agencies
> could/should play. For example, I know NIH has implemented a requirement to
> explain how sex differences will be taken into account for grant
> applications in human research (because much of our understanding of human
> health is based on white males). I wonder if something similar can be
> required by the NSF for grants proposing international work - for example
> also, how host-nations/universities/researchers/etc. will be involved in
> the work and appropriately compensated...
>
> Cheers,
> Contessa Ricci
>
> On Wed, Jun 23, 2021 at 10:13 AM Chris Perry via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
>
>
> Apologies if I have missed postings/discussions on this topic but this
> recent paper on the impacts of, and actions to address, what has been
> called parachute science has just come to my attention.
> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.029
>
> This short and thought-provoking piece in Current Biology should probably
> be read by everyone.
>
> There is a rapidly growing debate around this topic in the UK University
> sector (at least across my discipline) and we have had some quite
> challenging (and for me at times uncomfortable from a retrospective
> viewpoint) discussions around this topic.
>
> Anyway - it is worth a read and some thought.
>
> Chris
>
> *Professor Chris Perry*
> Geography
> University of Exeter
> 01392 723334www.exeter.ac.uk
> Room D431, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4
> 4RJ
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