Ethics at the Intersection of Academic Research and Human Rights Practice

Activity Type: 
Lecture
Promo Image: 
Presenter: 
Jay D. Aronson, PhD, Professor of Science, Technology, and Society, Director of the Center for Human Rights Science, Carnegie Mellon University
Date: 
Friday, October 21, 2022 - 12:00 to 13:00
Event Status: 
As Scheduled
Location: 
Zoom
Contact Person: 
Lisa Parker
Contact Email: 
lisap@pitt.edu

Abstract: Dr. Aronson recounts that “in this informal talk, I will focus on a few of the many ethical and moral dilemmas that I’ve faced working at the intersection of social science-oriented research and human rights practice for the past fifteen-plus years. Examples include my obligations to people I am interviewing about very painful moments in their lives (i.e., the deaths of loved ones); feelings of recurring regret (though I’m not even sure that’s the right word) about advancing my own career through the gathering and analysis of other peoples’ suffering; and, more generally, my responsibilities to the people I interact with who are in far more precarious positions than I am. Part of what I hope to accomplish during our hour together is just to clarify the actual ethical principles that underlie what I experience as feelings or thoughts that ‘keep me up at night.’”

UCIS Unit: 
Global Studies Center
International Week
Is Event Already in University Calendar?: 
No