The Evolution of the Scientific Virtues Toolbox Approach to Responsible Conduct of Research Training

Abstract

The Scientific Virtues Toolbox is a novel scientific virtue-based workshop model for responsible conduct of research (RCR) training. This paper gives a brief overview of how Pennock’s vocational virtue theory, which had previously been delivered in courses, was transformed into discussion-based RCR workshops using the Toolbox structured dialogue method. The interdisciplinary BEACON Center, which combined biologists, computer scientists, and engineers, and which aimed to model a culture of excellence, ethics, and inclusion, proved to be an ideal environment to develop and test this approach to the cultivation of scientific character. The paper describes the guided-dialogue structure of the workshops, the nature of the discussion prompts, the pilot assessments carried out, and how the workshops are now evolving beyond their scientific origin.