THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY IS IRELAND'S LEADING BODY OF EXPERTS IN THE SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

The Royal Irish Academy/Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann champions research. We identify and recognise Ireland’s world class researchers. We support scholarship and promote awareness of how science and the humanities enrich our lives and benefit society. We believe that good research needs to be promoted, sustained and communicated. The Academy is run by a Council of its members. Membership is by election and considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

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Maura Hiney

Permanent Working Group Science and Ethics

Dr Maura Hiney is the Academy’s nominee to the ALLEA Permanent Working Group Science and Ethics (PWGSE). The Permanent Working Group on Science and Ethics (PWGSE) is concerned with a wide range of problems, 'internal' (within the scientific community) and 'external' (relations between science and society). Since ethical considerations have been an essential component in the consolidation of the new Europe, and in the creation of ALLEA, the PWGSE has been extending its capacities and activities during recent years, in order to fulfil adequately its mission of collective deliberation on topics like those listed below.

The PWGSE meets at least twice a year and also convenes thematic meetings in wider settings, typically in partnerships with other relevant organizations such as European Science Foundation (ESF), the European Commission, the Council of Europe, Pugwash, International Council for Science (ICSU), or UNESCO. Some of the issues recently addressed include: scientific integrity and research misconduct, research on human embryos, quantitative evaluation of research, ethical aspects of risk, education in ethics.

Dr Maura Hiney is Head of Post-Award Management and Evaluation, and European Relations at the Health Research Board Ireland. The Unit also provides a policy development function, contributes to national strategic initiatives and hosts the National Delegate and National Contact Points (Health) for EU Horizon 2020 and the National Focal Point for the EU Public Health Programme.

Maura has a particular interest in issues pertaining to research integrity and ethics in research. She is Chairperson of the Science Europe Working Group on Research integrity, which will provide a number of publications in this area, and was a Working Group Chair of the European Science Foundation Forum on Research Integrity. She has organised two national seminars on Research Integrity, is a member of the National Forum on Research Integrity and was one of the authors of an Irish National Policy on Research Integrity. In 2015 she acted as expert advisor to the Luxembourg Ministry for Research and Education on research integrity, during the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU, culminating in adoption of Ministerial Competitive Council Conclusions on Research Integrity in November 2015.

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