Laikipia University Institutional Scientific Ethics Review Committee (LU-ISERC) conducted a Research Ethics Training for the academic staff of the University at the School of Education boardroom on 8th October, 2024.
LU-ISERC was accredited by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) in 2020. NACOSTI's mission is to facilitate quality in the research, science, technology and innovation sectors through regulation, promotion, and provision of advisory services.
LU-ISERC operates and conducts ethics review of research proposals in Biomedical, Environmental, and Social Sciences being undertaken by members of Laikipia University who comprise undergraduate and postgraduate students, the staff as well as the community surrounding the University. This practice ensures that quality is upheld and researchers do not contravene animal and human rights in the course of research proposal writing as well as data collection in the field and the actual report writing.
Ms. Teresia Nyawira, a Principal Scientist at NACOSTI highlighted the importance of upholding ethical principles during research.
Respect for a person's independent opinion and choices, voluntary decisions, self-determination, and autonomy must always be taken into consideration when handling participants. For Minors, a legal representative should be requested to give consent. Further, transparency, awareness, and literacy, as well as adaptive governance must be taken into consideration when undertaking research.
Ms. Nyawira also highlighted the importance of creativity and taking ownership of research projects in an era when Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research is really taking over human research.
In the process of conducting research, researchers must also ensure that they are not harming anyone by violating participants’ privacy and confidentiality or through the biasness of their research topics. Harm avoidance is an extremely important concept in ethical research.
The LU-ISERC in conjunction with NACOSTI plays a pivotal role in approving research proposals for Laikipia University students, staff and researchers within the region.
The session was moderated by Prof. Mbuthia Ngunjiri, Chairperson LU-ISERC, and assisted by Dr. Prisca Tarus, member of LU-ISERC. The secretariat comprised Mr Anthony Mwaka and Mr. Joseph Maina. Presentations were done by Prof. Peter Mwaura, Dean School of Business and Vice Chair LU-ISERC; Prof. Felicia Yieke, Director Corporate Affairs; Dr. Janerose Mayabi Mulamba, Secretary LU-ISERC; and Ms. Teresia Nyawira of NACOSTI.
