NUCLEUS: New Understanding of Communication, Learning and Engagement in Universities and Scientific Institutions

NUCLEUS is a new €4 million Horizon 2020 project launched on September 1st, with Principal Investigator Dr. Padraig Murphy as part of the project Executive Board. NUCLEUS  develops, supports and implements inclusive and sustainable approaches to Responsible Research and Innovation within the governance structures of research and Higher Education Institutions across Europe. Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is the European Commission response to science-society interactions by focusing on gender, engagement, open access,  science education, ethics and governance issues in the development of science and technology.

A major goal of this transdisciplinary project will be to facilitate the communication and governance of research and innovation which continuously reflects on and responds to societal needs guided by the principles of RRI.  In order to achieve this, NUCLEUS (which stands for  New Understanding of Communication, Learning and Engagement in Universities and Scientific Institutions),  will combine the RRI resources of 26 institutions from 15 countries, among them leading representatives of 14 universities, to  collaboratively identify, develop, implement and support inclusive and sustainable approaches to RRI. By means of a mutual learning and exchange process, the project will reach out beyond the European Research Area by including renowned scientific institutions in China and South Africa. Within a 4-year timeframe NUCLEUS will systematically uncover and analyse structural and cultural obstacles to RRI in scientific institutions. The partners will collaboratively develop innovative approaches to overcome these barriers. 

By offering new research and practical recommendations derived from 30 ‘RRI test beds’ across Europe and beyond, NUCLEUS will contribute to the debate on science policies both on a national and European level, including the  future design of Horizon 2020 and the European Research Area (ERA).

The project coordinator, Prof Alexander Gerber from Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Germany has said the project demands that we re-think the foundations of communication governance in institutional science  to create stronger links between economy, policy, HEIs and the public in producing excellent research and innovation.