You are here

  1. Home
  2. 'Fairness in knowing': How should we engage with the sciences?

'Fairness in knowing': How should we engage with the sciences?

Dates
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 - 18:00 to 19:00
Location
Berrill Lecture Theatre, Walton Hall, The Open University, MK7 6AA

As The Open University celebrates its 50th anniversary and its mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas, Richard Holliman, Professor of Engaged Research, will deliver his inaugural lecture on the need to investigate and inform practices of representation and engagement to reduce epistemic injustice and promote fairness in knowing.

Attend in person

Watch the webinar online

Please take the opportunity to have your questions answered by our speakers LIVE during the event:  

Email your questions Use #OUtalks on Twitter

Abstract

Science has the power to influence our lives, raising questions about how it should be governed, represented and funded. Who should have a voice in framing scientific investigations? How should contemporary scientific research be conducted? Who should be involved in shaping how the outputs from scientific investigations impact on society and the economy?

To celebrate The Open University at 50, I will explore selected examples from the OU’s curriculum, research and knowledge exchange portfolios in this inaugural lecture. In so doing, I will address normative, substantive and instrumental motivations for how we should continue to engage with the sciences. I will argue that engagement with the sciences should have a moral imperative, to act as a route to promoting epistemic justice, or ‘fairness in knowing’.

About Professor Holliman

Richard Holliman, Professor of Engaged Research, has studied and worked at the Open University (UK) since the mid-1990s. Now based in the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, his research interests lie in exploring the ways that academic research is communicated via a range of media and genres. This includes ideas about how (upstream) public engagement with research is shifting and extending social practices.

Read more about Professor Holliman

Event Programme

Timings Item
17:00-18:00 Tea/coffee on arrival
18:00-18:40 Inaugural lecture: 'Fairness in knowing': How should we engage with the sciences?
18:40-19:00 Q & A
19:00-20:00 Drinks reception

Attend in person