Monday, 17 October 2016
Research Safety and Research Integrity
Research safety in laboratories
Laboratories provide hands on, minds on learning experience for optimal understanding of complex science concepts. Managing laboratory experiments require preparation, organisation, consistency and diligence.
Carelessness in laboratories may lead to disaster because you are handling caustic chemicals, open flames and hot glassware. The following are the guidelines to be followed in the laboratory:
- Create a calm, focussed atmosphere. Make an organised and neat environment. The risk of confusion and accidents decrease when you know where to find equipment and have sufficient room to work. Establish consistent locations for specific pieces of equipment and chemicals.
- Be prepared. Preparation is a critical step to ensure success and safety in laboratories. Develop skills in lighting a Bunsen burner, using a pair of tongs etc. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher or fire blanket or eyewash station. Should be prepared to respond during emergencies.
- Wear appropriate clothing’s for laboratory work.
- Avoid unsafe behaviour.
- Familiarize with the procedure before beginning an experiment.
- Provide sufficient time for experiments. The potential for accidents increases when you rush through the experiment.
- Clean up after an experiment.
Research Integrity
Integrity is the quality of being honest, fair and good. Research integrity includes the traditional ideals of honesty, fairness and compliance with research guidelines and policies, as well as the goal of integrating one’s work as a researcher with one’s broader life experience and values.
For an individual research integrity means individuals commitment to intellectual honesty and personal responsibility. It is an aspect of moral character and experience.
For an Institution, it is a commitment to creating an environment that promotes responsible conduct by embracing standards of excellence, trustworthiness and lawfulness.
Why is research integrity so important?
Research integrity is the commitment to the trustworthiness of the research process by the greater scientific community. It is so important because the greater scientific community can only innovate and flourish when its members function together as a body to ensure a climate that promotes confidence and trust in our research findings, encourages free and open exchange of research materials and new ideas and acknowledges and respects the intellectual contributions of others in the greater community.
What does research integrity require of you?
As a Student researcher you need to do the following:
- Make thoughtful use of the research time by coming to the lab on time, prepared to work, not fooling around and not leaving early.
- Learning to use the equipment properly and following the standard operating procedures.
- Carefully recording all your work.
- Asking questions about anything you don’t understand, like procedures so that you are safe as well as others are also safe.
- Sharing your research results with other group members so that everyone can grow in collective wisdom.
- Respect all research group members by listening to their ideas.
- Accepting and owning your limitations rather than manipulating, erasing or in any manner altering laboratory data, when you encounter problems.
- Confronting and not ignoring suspected research misconduct happening around you.
********
International Agricultural Research Centres IARCs
International Agricultural Research Centres IARCs
International agricultural research centres, including those of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) that emerged about 40 years ago to address key production constraints, operate within quickly changing natural and societal environments. To what extent they are able to respond to these changing conditions and adapt their philosophies and modus operandi will determine their future relevance.
The 15 International Agricultural Research Centres under CGIAR are:
- Africa Rice Center, Known as West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA) till September 2009. Situated in Cotonou, Republic of Benin , West Africa
- International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) expanded as Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali, Colombia
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) situated in Bogor, Indonesia
- International Maize and Wheat improvement Centre (CIMMYT) expanded as Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz Y Trigo situated in El Batán, Edo Mex, Mexico
- International Potato Centre (CIP) expanded as Centro Internacional de la Papain situated in Lima, Peru.
- International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic.
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) situated in Hyderabad, India.
- International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, DC
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria, Africa
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
- International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, Sri LankaWorld
- Agroforestry Centre, International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, ICRAF before 2002, Nairobi, Kenya
- World Fish Center, Penang, Malaysia
- Bioversity International Headquarters: Maccarese, Rome, Italy
Regional offices:
Americas,
Asia,
Pacific & Oceania,
Central, West & North Africa,
Europe and
Sub-Saharan Africa.
Apart from the International Agricultural Research Centres funded by CGIAR there are other International Agricultural Research Centres. They are:
- Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC), Shanhua, southern Taiwan
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Pest Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi, Kenya
- International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, U.S.A
- International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), Chaoyang District, Beijing, P.R. China
- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal
- Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) expanded as Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanzaa, Atlanta, Georgia. This is a U.S. non profit charitable corporation created to support sustainable rural development and conservation of the environment in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Foundation works to raise funds for and support the programs of the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center, commonly known by the Spanish acronym CATIE
- International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), Roma (Italy)
We need a revolution in agricultural research for development, to mobilize, reorient, strengthen and bring coherence to systems generating and sharing new knowledge around the world, to overcome systematic failings and efficiently lead to development outcomes for the poor:
The Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) provides this catalyst for change, the mechanism enabling all those concerned with the future of agriculture and its role in development around the world to come together and address key global needs. GFAR brings together their voices and collective actions through processes that are inclusive and equitable, fostering rapid actions and working to ensure agricultural innovation delivers its intended development impact.
GFAR actions are focused around four key areas:
- Global Advocacy
- Institutions for the Future
- Inter-Regional Partnerships
- Agricultural Knowledge for All
What does the Global Forum do?
GFAR brings together all those with the power to shape and determine the future of farming and puts the needs of the poor at the centre of agricultural research for development.
GFAR provides the inclusive global mechanism for their voices and collective actions, an essential for delivering rapid and sustainable change.
GFAR brings together the global agricultural research for development community to work coherently, inclusively and equitably, driven by the needs of the poor.
GFAR’s extensive stakeholder networks, together with the support of the funding agencies, bring:
- Improved alignment of research with development aims,
- Better coordination of activities,
- More integration of efforts,
- Real engagement with the intended end-users of agricultural research for development
- Greater linkage between research investment and development outcomes
*****
Courtesy:
www.catie.ac.cr/ - Translate this page
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)