Event
Responsible conceptualization: thinking about concepts in research and innovation
Thursday, November 20, 2025
5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Virtual
Lauren Gomes
lagomes@umd.edu
Please join us for a virtual lecture by Dr. Arleen Salles, co-founder of the Institute of Neuroethics Think and Do Tank (IoNx) and the founder and director of Neuroética Buenos Aires in Argentina.
Thursday, November 20, 2026
5:30-7:30 pm
https://umd.zoom.us/j/
Title: Responsible conceptualization: thinking about concepts in research and innovation
Abstract:
In recent years, calls for responsible research and innovation (RRI) have gained momentum across various communities, particularly in response to the rapid advances of emerging and disruptive technologies. RRI calls for more than risk management or regulation: it proposes a cultural and systemic shift in how science and innovation are governed, ensuring that their purposes and trajectories are ethically shaped and aligned with societal values. In this talk, I present and explore the role of 'responsible conceptualization' (RC) to argue that it should be a core component of any attempt to embed responsibility in research and innovation processes. Scientific progress depends not only on data and discovery but also on the clarity of the concepts that guide them. However, in fast evolving fields such as neuroscience and AI, conceptual vagueness often leads to confusion, hype, and misplaced expectations. RC addresses this issue by promoting conceptual clarity and accuracy, elements that are necessary for productive scientific practice, meaningful ethical discussion, clear and trustworthy communication, and effective policies.
Bio:
Arleen Salles, MA, PhD, is the co-founder of the Institute of Neuroethics Think and Do Tank (IoNx) and the founder and director of Neuroética Buenos Aires in Argentina. Trained in philosophy, her scholarly work focuses on the ethical, social, and philosophical issues emerging from brain research and neurotechnology. She served as the Deputy Leader of the Responsible Research and Innovation Work Package of the EU-flagship Human Brain Project and leader of the Neuroethics and Engagement task, and she continues to work towards bridging theoretical insights with practical applications. Salles is affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College and serves as a member of the IEEE Recommended Practice for the Responsible Design and Development of Neurotechnologies Standard Development Group and as an executive board member of the International Neuroethics Society.
5:30-7:30 pm
https://umd.zoom.us/j/
Title: Responsible conceptualization: thinking about concepts in research and innovation
Abstract:
In recent years, calls for responsible research and innovation (RRI) have gained momentum across various communities, particularly in response to the rapid advances of emerging and disruptive technologies. RRI calls for more than risk management or regulation: it proposes a cultural and systemic shift in how science and innovation are governed, ensuring that their purposes and trajectories are ethically shaped and aligned with societal values. In this talk, I present and explore the role of 'responsible conceptualization' (RC) to argue that it should be a core component of any attempt to embed responsibility in research and innovation processes. Scientific progress depends not only on data and discovery but also on the clarity of the concepts that guide them. However, in fast evolving fields such as neuroscience and AI, conceptual vagueness often leads to confusion, hype, and misplaced expectations. RC addresses this issue by promoting conceptual clarity and accuracy, elements that are necessary for productive scientific practice, meaningful ethical discussion, clear and trustworthy communication, and effective policies.
Bio:
Arleen Salles, MA, PhD, is the co-founder of the Institute of Neuroethics Think and Do Tank (IoNx) and the founder and director of Neuroética Buenos Aires in Argentina. Trained in philosophy, her scholarly work focuses on the ethical, social, and philosophical issues emerging from brain research and neurotechnology. She served as the Deputy Leader of the Responsible Research and Innovation Work Package of the EU-flagship Human Brain Project and leader of the Neuroethics and Engagement task, and she continues to work towards bridging theoretical insights with practical applications. Salles is affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College and serves as a member of the IEEE Recommended Practice for the Responsible Design and Development of Neurotechnologies Standard Development Group and as an executive board member of the International Neuroethics Society.
