Students for Responsible Research
University of California, Berkeley
Mission and Objectives
Students for Responsible Research is committed to promoting responsibility, integrity, diversity and open communication in the development, execution and dissemination of research conducted under the auspices of the University of California.
As a public institution, the University of California is responsible for following the spirit of its charter in promoting research in the interest of the public good. As a premier research entity, the University of California has the opportunity to set national and international standards for integrity of research. Our aim as concerned members of the University community is to use education, outreach and action to promote opportunities and responsibilities including:
| We urge university researchers to recognize their responsibility to the University and to the public in the design, execution and dissemination of their research. We believe that researchers and administrators alike should assume a critical stance regarding the role of outside financial and political influences in the determination of their research directions. |
| We believe that diversity is critical to all aspects of research, including: 1) funding sources, 2) research directions, and 3) the recipients of knowledge produced by research. Pursuit of financial diversity is vital to maintaining academic freedom and overall independence from individual sources. The University should be committed to ensuring a plurality in funding sources so as to avoid a homogenization or concentration of sources at the level of department, college or the whole University. The University should also promote diversity in the way research is conducted, including basic, applied, interdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary approaches. Alternatives to the mainstream trends of research should not be suppressed when funding overwhelmingly supports the mainstream. The recipients of research-produced knowledge should be representative of the diversity of the greater community, reaching an audience beyond industry, to include community groups, non-profit organizations, and the general public. It is essential that the University commit resources to monitor and critique the interaction between funding, conduct, department and University research priorities, and dissemination of the results of research on an ongoing basis. |
| We are committed to transparency and communication with all members of the University and public with regard to the direction, funding, conduct and dissemination of results of research. Acknowledging the importance of the university’s relationship with the greater community, we urge administrators and researchers to actively engage in an ongoing dialogue with the community in order to maintain public awareness about research, and in order to be sensitive and responsive to community needs and concerns. |
We strive to raise awareness and appreciation of these values throughout the campus community and the public.