Ethics and code of conduct policy.

NEUROssance operates across research, education, and consultancy in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cognitive science, and neurotechnology, fields that have significant societal impact. This policy ensures that all activities undertaken by NEUROssance are conducted with integrity, responsibility, and transparency while contributing positively to scientific progress and societal development.

This policy applies to all individuals and entities engaged with NEUROssance, including employees, researchers, collaborators, consultants, advisors, students, trainees, institutional partners, external contractors, and contributors.

Compliance with this policy is a condition of participation in NEUROssance programmes, research projects, or collaborations.

NEUROssance adheres to the following governance principles:

Integrity

All activities must be conducted honestly, transparently, and in accordance with professional and scientific standards.

Accountability

Individuals and teams are responsible for the consequences of their professional decisions and actions.

Scientific rigour

Research and educational activities must maintain high standards of methodological integrity, accuracy, and reproducibility.

Responsibility to society

Emerging technologies developed or studied within NEUROssance programmes must be evaluated in terms of their potential societal impacts.

Transparency

Institutional decisions, research collaborations, and funding arrangements must be conducted transparently and documented appropriately.

NEUROssance recognises that emerging technologies can influence social, economic, and political systems. Therefore, all research, teaching, and consultancy activities should adhere to principles of responsible innovation.

This includes assessing societal implications of emerging technologies, encouraging interdisciplinary perspectives, avoiding technological applications that may cause significant societal harm, and promoting equitable access to technological knowledge and education.

All research conducted under NEUROssance must comply with internationally recognised standards for research ethics.

Researchers must conduct research honestly and accurately, avoid fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism, properly acknowledge intellectual contributions, disclose potential conflicts of interest, and maintain accurate research records.

Research involving human participants must comply with applicable ethical review requirements and legal regulations.

NEUROssance educational programmes are grounded in evidence-based scientific knowledge.

Educational materials must be scientifically accurate, distinguish clearly between established knowledge and emerging hypotheses, and encourage critical thinking and intellectual independence.

Educational programmes should not promote unsupported claims or pseudoscientific interpretations of scientific research.

NEUROssance is committed to protecting personal and research data.

All data collected by NEUROssance will be processed and stored in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Data governance measures include:

• Secure storage of participant data
• Restricted access to sensitive information
• Anonymisation or pseudonymisation of research data where appropriate
• Responsible handling and retention of personal information

Individuals affiliated with NEUROssance must disclose any personal, financial, or professional interests that may influence their work or decisions.

Potential conflicts may include financial relationships with partner organisations, personal relationships affecting professional decisions, or external professional commitments. Conflicts must be declared and managed transparently.

NEUROssance is committed to maintaining a professional environment characterised by mutual respect and intellectual openness.

Expected conduct includes respectful communication, professional collaboration, intellectual honesty, and inclusivity.

We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and discrimination of any kind. NEUROssance reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to remove individuals from the courses and any associated learning activities or groups to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all participants, collaborators, and lecturers.

Individuals collaborating and representing NEUROssance must communicate responsibly in professional and public settings.

Public communication should be factually accurate, avoid misleading claims, respect confidentiality agreements, and protect intellectual property rights.

This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with international research ethics standards, technological developments, regulatory changes, and organisational growth.

Updates will be communicated to all stakeholders.

All research and educational activities conducted by NEUROssance adhere to internationally recognised ethical frameworks and professional standards.

In particular, our work follows the ethical guidelines established by:

• The British Educational Research Association (BERA) Revised Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research
• The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Framework for Research Ethics

These frameworks guide the responsible design, implementation, and evaluation of research involving human participants.

Protection of minor participants

Special care is taken when working with high-school participants and other minors. Additional safeguards include:

• Clear informed consent procedures for participants and, where required, parental or guardian consent
• Age-appropriate explanation of research participation and activities
• Enhanced privacy and data protection measures
• Careful monitoring of online participation and communication environments

Participation will not proceed until it is clear that the participant understands the nature of the activity and their rights.