About the GEO Ethics Committee
The Faculty Board of the Faculty ITC has established a Geo-Information Science domain ethics committee. This committee is one of four domain-specific ethics committees at the University of Twente, as outlined in the UT Research Ethics Policy (2019). The goal of the GEO Ethics Committee (GEO EC) is to ensure that the our (geo)research is compliant with relevant ethical principles, norms, and standards by conducting quality geo-ethical review procedures. Geo-ethics involves research and reflection on the values that underpin appropriate behaviour and practice wherever human activities interact with the geospher . As such, the GEO EC addresses the ethical, social, and cultural implications of Earth (Observation) and Geo-Information Sciences education, research, and practice, providing a point of intersection for (Geo)spatial sciences, Urban and Rural Studies, Sociology, Economy, and Environmental sciences.
Contact| ethicscommittee-GEO@utwente.nl
Scope
The GEO Ethics Committee focuses primarily on conducting ethical review procedures for Earth (observation) and Geo-Information Science research, mainly covering:
- Research that focuses on typical issues such as security and legal order, (geo)health, land rights, water rights, infrastructure provision, human rights, natural hazards and disaster management, and resource management, among others.
- Research that deals with problems that relate to human life and livelihood as well as the environment.
- Research that pays attention to adverse aspects of applications in geo-information technology and geo-AI by considering the ethical, cultural, and economic repercussions that applications may have on society.
To do so, the GEO EC employs the following activities:
- It reviews research proposals in the Geo-Information Sciences, according to and falling within the scope of the Research Ethics Policy of the University of Twente. It includes the self-assessment and provision of information to researchers regarding the review procedure.
- It keeps records of the reviews and archives the reviews according to legal provisions and applicable policies of the University of Twente.
- It periodically reports to the ITC Faculty Board and to the University of Twente on the ethical review procedures carried out within the GEO domain.
(For further information, see Faculty Regulations of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation Article 10f)
composition
- Prof. Dr Karin Pfeffer (chair)
- Dr Francesco Nex (vice-chair)
- Masoome Shariat (EC professional secretary)
- Dr ir Rolf de By (ITC EC member)
- Dr Fran Meissner (ITC EC member)
- Brian Masinde (PhD candidate)
- Dr Azadeh Akbari Kharazi (external member, BMS)
- Irene de Graaf (administrative secretary)
Former members
- Dr Michael Nagenborg (external member, BMS)
- Dr Ana Maria Bustamante Duarte (EC professional secretary)
- Dr Marga Koelen (EC professional secretary)
House Rules of the GEO Ethics Committee
The 'House Rules of the GEO Ethics Committee' provide comprehensive details on the structure and functioning of the GEO Ethics Committee. If you have questions on how the GEO EC works, including, but not limited to, the review process, the frequency of committee meetings, and other similar questions, this document contains all this information.