Current ETHOS Projects
For more information on ETHOS or if you wish to participate in the projects
please contact:
l.dennard@ucc.ie
Governance and Civic Culture
ETHOS formed in 2003 as a response to the changing political and social
realities of a globalised polis - as well to the possibilities implicit in a
changing science. Projects addressing these new realities are in development
across a range of issues.
PRAXIS
ETHOS operates from the principle that research is best when it occurs in
practice. Therefore, we favour an experimental attitude, one cognizant of the
creative and adaptive dynamics of social relationships. We learn from citizens,
practitioners in business and government and others about what best practices
for encouraging and sustaining an inclusive & creative civic culture are. Praxis
also allows for the strengthening of citizenship and civic culture as
individuals are engaged as active participants in social change.
Projects in Development
FP6 NEST Project: A proposal was submitted in April 2004 to the European
Union for funds to support a research design for a praxis project in Eastern
Europe. The design will provide a framework for participating in social change
as it emerges. The innovation proposed is to develop a corresponding curriculum
and research strategy that promotes non-regulatory approaches to creating and
sustaining civic culture through administrative practice and citizen
participation. ETHOS will hear about whether it has been funded for this project
in midsummer, 2004.
FP6 Integrated Project: ETHOS was funded in 2004 by Enterprise Ireland to
develop an international consortium to support an application to the EU for a
5-7 year praxis project. The IP project, which will be submitted with the next
relevant call for proposals, would put into effect the research design developed
in the previous NEST proposal.
Music & Civic Culture: ETHOS is currently collaborating with its partners
to develop a praxis project involving the use of music and music education in
the development of civic culture. The project draws on nonlinear dynamics that
suggest that social complexity is most easily accommodated in more complex and
universal languages like music. Curriculum will be developed as part of the
project for use in civic education and politics classes. A project will be
developed by fall 2004. Similar projects involving other areas of the arts
including theatre and film are also in planning.
Economics: ETHOS, in collaboration with its international partners, is
developing a project that would test principles of complexity and nonlinear
dynamics in provoking sustainable and ethical practices in markets and
businesses. A project will be developed by fall 2004.
Curriculum for New Science and New Society: ETHOS is co-creating with its
partners a Certificate in Governance and Citizenship at UCC which would address
the changing realities of a globalised society and make new advances in the
sciences and political theory accessible to public administrators, politicians,
and citizens. Besides EU funds, a proposal has also been submitted to support
the development of a ‘complexity’ curriculum’ through the National Science
Foundation in America by US ETHOS partners, which also addresses the concern of
ETHOS for human rights and the support of civic culture. In a similar vein,
ETHOS is collaborating with civic groups in Ireland in the development of
coursework and related projects relevant to youth and to immigrants. The
Department of Government at UCC currently offers innovative courses to refugees
to Ireland.
Complexity and the Law: ETHOS is engaged in research with its partners
which explores the regulatory environment and considers ways to make regulations
both more effective and more congruent with democratic aspirations as well as
non-regulatory, process approaches to social self-regulation. A praxis project
is being planned for 2005.
For more information on ETHOS or if you wish to participate in the projects
please contact:
l.dennard@ucc.ie
