Paula Otero-Hermida
MY BACKGROUND:
Phd in Political Science, I have participated in RRI and equality research projects (SUPER_MoRRI, INPERRI, ADSIDEO) at INGENIO CSIC-UPV, at U. Santiago de Compostela, and in corporate social responsibility research projects at ETNOR Foundation. Previously, I´ve been working as area director in the Valencian region for the Spanish Red Cross (2010-2016) managing corporate social responsibility, diversity and employment programmes. I had developed teaching and advisory activities with public, non-profit and firms in Uruguay, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Spain. I am participating in the working group in innovation in the Spanish Observatory of Women and Science (Ministry of Science and Innovation).
WHY AM I INTERESTED IN RESPONSIBLE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION:
I like to conceive the world as a complex and interconnected entity, where each action has its impact. Because we have the capacity for more, deeper and long-term impacts, both positive and negative, I think it is interesting to bear in mind the poet phrase “In dreams begin responsibilities” (Yeats, 1914). Science and Innovation are involved in highly relevant discussions about which knowledge is worthy or not, what is defined as knowledge and innovative, that is afterwards publicly promoted. I´m interested in who participates in the discussions, which with values and visions and how positively policies are built to orient processes and products of science and innovation according to these visions of responsibility.
WHAT DO I HOPE TO LEARN / CONTRIBUTE AS COUNTRY CORRESPONDENT:
I am sure we all will learn a lot about different RRI visions and national configurations of their policies and monitoring that would be very useful to the SUPER_MoRRI project as a whole, contributing to different working packages. Also, it is sure we´ll learn more about ways of doing science and useful practical approaches towards research questions. Probably I have more to learn than contribute, but I have some experience in case studies and participatory research that may be useful during our work, that is mainly qualitative. Also, I have some experiences in corporate social responsibility in firms and in equality policies promises and pitfalls, that could help in detecting some common aspects in normative policies.