Bodies and committees

Research ethics is regulated through a set of laws, regulations, guidelines and norms.

The University is primarily responsible for ensuring that research is conducted in accordance with these regulations, and has established a committee to build a culture of good research ethics and follow up possible violations of research ethics norms.  

Committees at UiB

The Central Research Ethics Committee  

The Central Research Ethics Committee is the university’s highest institutional body for handling cases concerning possible breaches of research ethics norms and allegations of scientific misconduct.

The Central Research Ethics Committee shall handle cases involving suspicion of breaches of recognized research ethics norms and cases of scientific misconduct. The committee may also review faculty statements when cases are concluded at the faculty level. In addition, it may overturn the conclusions in a faculty’s statement, initiate cases on its own initiative, and request the faculty to investigate a particular case.

The Research Ethics Committee is appointed by the Rector and shall include members with expertise in research, research ethics, and law. The committee includes one member who is not employed by the institution.

The Research Ethics Committee is appointed by the University Board and consists of the Viece-Rector as chairperson and four members with expertise in research, research ethics and law, one of whom is not an employee at UiB.   

Members of the Committee

The committee shall include members with expertise in research, research ethics, and law. The committee includes one member who is not employed by the institution.

Members:
Professor Berte-Elen Reinertsen Konow, Faculty of Law (Chair)
Professor Anders Goksøyr, Department of Biological Sciences
Professor Liliia Oprysk, Faculty of Law
Professor Øivind Torkildsen, Department of Clinical Medicine (K1)
Senior Researcher Emeritus Inge Amundsen, CMI

Deputy Members:
Professor Rasmus Tore Slaattelid, Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities (deputy for internal members)
Professor Torger Kielland, Faculty of Law (deputy for Oprysk)
Professor Knut Ims, Norwegian School of Economics (deputy for the external member)

Secretariat
Silje Haaskjold Sætre, Office of the University Director
Helge Gismarvik Høvik, Office of the University Director

Local research ethics committees  

The National Research Ethics Committees is an independent professional body affiliated with the Ministry of Education and Research. The committees have drawn up research ethics guidelines that codify recognised values, norms and practices that form the basis for all research. The guidelines are intended to promote ethical reflection among researchers and in the research community. 

Read more about The National Research Ethics Committees on forskningsetikk.no   (external link)

The National Research Ethics Committees consists of the following professional, independent committees:  

The National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct is organised under the National Research Ethics Committees, and represents a national resource for institutions in the university and university college sector for processing cases involving research misconduct. 

The commission is a supplement to UiB’s own bodies. As a research institution, UiB, just like the rest of the sector, must report processed cases to the National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct. The commission also serves as an appeals body for cases where the Research Ethics Committee has conluded with research ethical misconduct.

Read more about The National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct on forskningsetikk.no (external link)