How Does the College Ethics Approval Procedure Work?

If you are applying for external funding, you will be required to sign a declaration that you have understood your obligations under the institutional Research Ethics Framework and, where appropriate, the RCUK requirements.

If your research falls into one or more of the categories above and is not subject to review by NOSRES or under Home Office regulations, please complete the downloadable checklist and forward it to the Clerk of the College Ethics Board  (copsethics@abdn.ac.uk).

The form will be forwarded to either

• the Computing Science Ethics Committee chaired by Professor Ehud Reiter;
• the School of Geosciences Ethics Committee chaired by Professor Neil Price;
• the School of Engineering Research Committee chaired by Professor Vladimir Nikora;
• or it will be taken forward as appropriate by the College Ethics Board chaired by Professor Stephen Reid.

Some projects may require additional advice from Mr David Blair, the University Data Protection Officer or on intellectual property issues by colleagues in Research & Innovation.

The College is required to report on ethical review activity, therefore it is important that all reviews are directed to the Clerk of the College Ethics Board (copsethics@abdn.ac.uk).

Most reviews will be undertaken by circulation to appropriate reviewers within the University, and the outcome of the review should be with the applicant within 2 weeks, although very complex proposals may take longer.  The outcome of the review will be communicated to you by the Clerk of the College Ethics Board as soon as practicable.

For further information please contact the Clerk to the College Ethics Board in the first instance, copsethics@abdn.ac.uk.