Interview with Dr Rosarii Griffin FRSA (Secretary, ICORSA) for the ISC
Tell us a bit more about your organization, its activities and its members?
ICoRSA stands for the ‘International Consortium of Research Staff Associations’ and is an umbrella organisation for researchers and research staff associations. It also represents the interests of a variety of researchers both working within the public and private sectors of society. This includes researchers working within third level or higher education institutions commonly referred to as ‘Research Performing Institutions (RPOs), researcher-led associations, research think-tanks, researchers in industry and researchers in the not-for-profit sector. ICoRSA represents researchers at all stages of their career: early stage researchers, post-docs to senior researcher fellows, etc.
Why does your organization (and its members) consider it valuable to be part of the ISC?
ICORSA aligns with the values of ISC, and see science as a public good. It also pays particular attention to the social sciences which we feel must act in tandem with the hard sciences to create a more holistic approach to scientific endeavours, this includes society, social engagement, social diplomacy and science communication. ICORSA and ISC are both in favour of Open Science that must be harnessed for the benefit of all of humanity, to address grand social challenges, particularly working within the framework – and beyond – to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
What are your key priorities for the next few years? What do you see as the key priorities for science in the coming years?
Our key priorities at the moment are to make science accessible to all. To ensure that science is not weaponised for malevolent purposes. To ensure that the ethical principles that govern science are universally applied and accepted, including great transparency, accountability, access and that the highest possible standards are maintained in the safeguarding and protection of sensitive data, particularly personal data pertaining to persons or populations. Also, another key priority is to ensure that researchers worldwide have secure futures, and do not live in precarious circumstances. Therefore, we are working to ensure the rights and freedoms of researchers worldwide. This also pertains to academic freedom from undue political, religious, economic, historical, geographical or cultural biases. Therefore, we work closely with researchers to ensure that they enjoy the best possible conditions, training and development (including career development) opportunities so they can grow, develop and flourish as an important contributing group to the peaceful, sustainable progression of society at large.
