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Please find below the first call for papers for a session organised for the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual Conference, Edinburgh 3 - 5 July 2012 (http://www.rgs.org/AC2012). Convened by Nina Morris (University of Edinburgh) Doing ethical research in developing countries This session will address the ethical issues arising from collaborative research in developing countries and, in particular, research collaborations between developed and developing countries. Experience has shown that the application of ethical guidelines developed for research in developed countries to research in developing countries is frequently impractical and raises a number of contentious issues (e.g. the conceptual appropriateness of individual informed consent). This, alongside a dearth of properly functioning research ethics committees in developing countries, has prompted numerous attempts by academics and sponsor organisations to suggest guidelines more appropriate to the developing world context. The direction derived from these sets of guidelines is useful in suggesting generally agreed principles (e.g. the importance of prior ethical review, adherence to a reasonable risk-benefit ratio, awareness of the cultural context, the participation of local people, and the provision of feedback to local communities), however, it has its limits. Work in this area is dominated by the fields of bioscience, medical research and nutrition and, whilst they have done much to advance our understanding of and sensitivity to issues such as informed consent, there is very little advice available for those seeking to undertake collaborative social science or natural science research in developing countries. Guidance from relevant sponsor organisations is also scant and researchers wishing to undertake research in these areas are often forced to obtain advice from a number of disparate sources (e.g. professional Codes of Conduct in related disciplines, national and international legislation, international treaties, etc.). Those submitting a paper to the session are invited to reflect on their experience of conducting collaborative social science or natural science research in developing countries. The session aims to highlight the challenges faced by researchers undertaking this type of work (on both sides of the collaboration) but also to foreground examples of best practice. Also welcome are papers which attempt to address the issue of ethical guidance and how we might collectively work towards designing more culturally sensitive and appropriate studies, and make better choices before, during and after time spent in the field. Please send your name, affiliation details, and email address along with your abstract of 250 words (max.) to Nina Morris ([log in to unmask]) by 26 January 2012