Can scientists really govern themselves ethically, or does responsible research require something more than collective reflection? Christine Aicardi unpacks the AREA framework for responsible research and innovation, revealing both its promise and its structural limitations when applied inside large-scale projects like the Human Brain Project. Subscribe for more from the Convergent Science Network podcast series. Christine Aicardi joins Paul Verschure and Tony Prescott to discuss what responsible research and innovation actually means in practice. Drawing on her experience leading ethics and society work within the Human Brain Project, she describes the AREA framework, Anticipate, Reflect, Engage, Act, as a process-oriented approach that asks researchers to scan the horizon for societal implications, seek diverse perspectives, and close the loop  ...