PhD Courses in Denmark

Welcome to Ethics and Social Responsibility for Scientists, Engineers and Health Researchers (2025)

Description: The course addresses ethical dilemmas that young researchers might face in turbulent times, where clear-cut distinctions between pure and applied science can no longer be upheld, and try to create a space where the participating PhD students can qualify their reflections on their role as young researchers by drawing on philosophical, sociological, and ethical perspectives in analyzing possibilities and problems of contemporary science, engineering, technology, and health research.

Prerequisites: A MSc degree in science, engineering, health science, and/or an interdisciplinary topic (e.g. various combinations of STEM and SSH).  

Learning objectives: 

1. Knowledge of different approaches to ethics and responsibility in science, engineering and health research  

2. Skills in liaising the presented approaches of ethics and responsibility to own research  

3. Competence in ethically assessing own research.

Teaching methods: Lectures, Discussions, Exercises, and Presentations by participants. 

The course is designed so that each day is split up into two sessions: One before lunch and one after. Usually a session begins with a lecture (90 minutes, including breaks) followed by discussions, excersises, or group work. During the last session on the last day participants are kindly asked to do a PP presentation on ethical issues in their Ph.D. project (duration: no more than 15 minutes) followed by questions and discussions. We will use the group work and discussions during the first two days to qualify the  presentations. It is, however a good idea, to begin reflecting on ethical issues before the course begins when reading the course material.

Criteria for assessment: 

- Read the course material uploaded on Moodle before the course embarks.    

- Participation in all course sessions, answer questions during the course, engage in discussions, excersises, and group work.    

- Participants need to prepare and do a presentation of ethical issues in their own PhD project.    

- During the course, the participants are asked to ethically analyze their PhD projects, and present their analyses. To facilitate the ethical analyses of PhD projects several topical case studies and relevant analytical tools are presented.

Key literature: 

Birkholm, Klavs (2013): "The Ethical Judgment: Teaching and learning techno-ethics (reprint)" on Teknoetik.org - (https://bit.ly/3cOU1YV)    

Flyvbjerg, B. (2001): Making Social Science Matter. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.  -  Chapters: 5. "Values in social and political inquiry" (pp. 53-65) and 8. "Empowering Aristotle" (pp. 110-128). As e-book: https://bit.ly/2Tr6URz - or see Map above.    

Løgstrup, K.E. (2007): Beyond the Ethical Demand. Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press. - Chapter 4: "Norms and Expressions of Life" (pp. 123-139).    

Rotblat, J. (1985). Leaving the bomb project. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 41:16-19.    

Schummer, J (2018). Ethics of Chemical Weapons Research: Poison Gas in World War One. HYLE - International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry, 24:5-28.     

Van de Poel, I. (2013). Translating values into design requirements. Philosophy and engineering: Reflections on practice, principles and process (pp. 253-266) Springer.    

Burget, M., Bardone, E., & Pedaste, M. (2017). Definitions and conceptual dimensions of responsible research and innovation: A literature review. Science and Engineering Ethics, 23(1):1-19.    

Von Schomberg, R. (2019). Why responsible innovation? In "International handbook on responsible innovation" Edward Elgar Publishing.    

Felt, U., Fochler, M., & Sigl, L. (2018). IMAGINE RRI. A card-based method for reflecting on responsibility in life science research. Journal of Responsible Innovation, 5(2), 201-224.    

"Growth in Surveillance may be hard to scale back after Pandemic, experts say". The Guardian, 14 April 2020.    

Algorithm Watch: "Automated decision-making systems and the fight against Covid-19". 2 April 2020.    

University of Twente: Campus Talks. Episode 1: "Corona Apps". (Video): https://bit.ly/2XjKmmI    

Sandel, M.J. (2004), "The Case Against Perfection". The Atlantic Monthly, Apr. 2004, p. 50-62.

Organizer: Tom Holmgaard Børsen

Lecturers: Tom Holmgaard Børsen

ECTS: 2.5

Time: 1 - 4 December 2025

Place: Aalborg University

Zip code: 9220

City: Aalborg

Maximal number of participants: 20

Deadline: 11 November 2025 

Important information concerning PhD courses: 

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

For external PhD students: This course is a general course and is prioritised for PhD Students enrolled at Aalborg University. If there are available seats, PhD students from other universities will be accepted. You will be notified shortly after the deadline if you have been accepted.

To attend courses at the Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology you must be enrolled as a PhD student.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at aauphd@adm.aau.dk When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.