Science Beyond Prestige: On Values, Ethics, and Research Responsibility | Gdańsk University of Technology

The conference took place on 24 April at Gdańsk University of Technology and was addressed to academic staff involved in scientific research and the protection of intellectual values. University authorities also participated in the event.

The conference opened with a lecture entitled “On Values in Science, the Instrumentalization of Research, and the Pitfalls of the Prestige Economy” delivered by Professor Dominik Antonowicz from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. Professor Antonowicz is the head of the Department of Research on Science and Higher Education at the Institute of Sociology at NCU.

“In the pursuit of prestige, amid ubiquitous rankings managed by external bodies that impose their criteria upon universities—criteria to which we must inevitably adapt—we often lose sight of what is truly essential in the work of a scientist,” said Professor Antonowicz. “We lack the curiosity and the drive to explore phenomena, to understand and describe them scientifically, because our focus is on matters that should be of secondary importance.”

Professor Antonowicz accurately described the mechanisms influencing the functioning of higher education institutions in Poland and their direct impact on research practices. He also addressed current evaluation methods for both institutions and individual researchers, which frequently determine publication practices.

The second part of the conference featured a panel discussion entitled “Contemporary Trends and Ethics in Scientific Research”, moderated by Professor Joanna Żukowska, Ombudsperson for Academic Rights and Values at Gdańsk University of Technology. The panel included Aleksandra Ławniczak, Chair of the Doctoral Student Council; Professor Aleksandra Parteka from the Faculty of Management and Economics; Professor Dariusz Mikielewicz, Vice-Rector for Research; and Professor Sławomir Milewski, Chair of the Committee for Research Ethics. The multi-threaded discussion focused on identifying methods to reduce unethical research practices and reinforce integrity and accountability in research work.

The final segment consisted of interactive workshops prepared and facilitated by Marta Jankowska and Tatiana Ilczyszyn from the Center for Strategic Analysis. Researchers from various scientific disciplines at Gdańsk University of Technology worked collaboratively on developing potential solutions to support adherence to ethical standards in research. These solutions addressed four key areas: the use of AI in research, financial pressure and its impact on research integrity, ethical conduct and academic responsibility of researchers, and challenges in determining co-authorship.

The workshop participants defined what research ethics means to them and identified the values, needs, and consequences associated with failing to implement those values. In the latter part of the workshop, these elements were linked to real-world challenges, culminating in the development of proposed solutions.

The workshops employed elements of the design thinking methodology, which centers on the needs of end users and aligns those needs with organizational goals. This approach also encourages the integration of diverse and often contrasting perspectives among participants, fostering the creation of more effective and innovative solutions.