Following the perspective of the European Horizon 2020 project ‘NUCLEUS’, Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) should be brought to life in universities and scientific institutions. This study acts as one of the mobile nuclei of the NUCLEUS project, with the goal to operationalize RRI instead of building theories. The aim of this research is to stimulate reflexivity, one of the dimensions of RRI, amongst scientists in fundamental research within the TU Delft, using a simple tool or method. This is done using a self-developed co-design approach, based on design-based research. This research is the first attempt to create a tool together with the end-users, the fundamental scientists, to stimulate RRI.

In this study, the mirror tool is designed and tested. On micro-ethics level (first order) reflexivity was stimulated using the tool. Especially first year’s students mentioned that the mirror form would help guiding them when reflecting on large projects or when being stuck. However, macro-ethics (second order reflexivity) was not considered using the tool, and thus the socio-ethical and socio-economic aspects were not taken into account yet. Therefore, changes to the design are proposed assuring also macro-ethics will be considered.

Using the tool, not only reflexivity is stimulated, but also responsiveness is encouraged, due to the last question ‘So what?’. In this way, not only learning and thinking will change, but also adjustments can be made to the current way of working.

Implementation of the tool at the BN department of the TU Delft could be done via two ways: either via the graduate school or via the principle investigators. Furthermore, quantitative tests should be performed to statistically prove the effect of the tool, increasing its reliability. Besides, the tool could be more functional when digitalizing the mirror form, such that users are not limited by the amount of writing space and such that supplementary elements could be implemented.

Apart from using the mirror tool in their universities, the NUCLEUS consortium can additionally benefit from the new methodology to create a tool for RRI with and for scientists. Using the one page guideline (appendix 17), consortium members can conveniently create a tool for RRI for their specific target group and in their context.