1 / 36

Towards a Code of Conduct for Scientists? - UNESCO and the ethics of science - Division of Ethics of Science and Technol

Towards a Code of Conduct for Scientists? - UNESCO and the ethics of science - Division of Ethics of Science and Technology UNESCO __________________________________________. BIOETHICS AND ETHICS OF SCIENCE AT UNESCO UNESCO first reflections on ethics of life sciences

sitara
Download Presentation

Towards a Code of Conduct for Scientists? - UNESCO and the ethics of science - Division of Ethics of Science and Technol

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Towards a Code of Conduct for Scientists? - UNESCO and the ethics of science - Division of Ethics of Science and Technology UNESCO __________________________________________

  2. BIOETHICS AND ETHICS OF SCIENCE AT UNESCO UNESCO first reflections on ethics of life sciences 1974 Recommendation on the Status of Scientific Researchers 1993 Start bioethics program with creation of International Bioethics Committee (IBC), composed of 36 independent experts designated by DG 1998 Creation of Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC) composed of representatives of 36 Member States elected by the General Conference 1998 Expansion of program to ethics of scientific knowledge and technology. Creation of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST), composed of 18 independent experts, designated by DG and selected in consultation with Nat Coms and Academies of Sciences

  3. The Division of the Ethics of Science and Technology in Paris HQ acts as the Secretariat of these three advisory bodies. These Committees cooperate to produce advice, recommendations and proposals that each submits to the Director-General for consideration by UNESCO’s governing bodies and adoption by Member States.

  4. The World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology What is the task of COMEST? To formulate, on a scientific basis, ethical principles that can shed light on the various choices and impacts occasioned by new advancements in scientific and technological fields, thus fostering a constructive ethical dialogue on the values at stake.

  5. For the biennium 2006-2007, the action of COMEST is centered on new topics that have been identified as core issues: Environmental ethics Feasibility study on an ethical code of conduct for scientists Ethics of new and emerging technology (nanotechnology) Ethics teaching

  6. COMEST has held four Ordinary Sessions Oslo (Norway), April 1999 Berlin (Germany), December 2001 Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), December 2003 Bangkok (Thailand), March 2005 Next Session: AFRICA, 2007 Youth Forum Youth Forum Ministerial Meeting Youth Forum Ministerial Meeting

  7. Members of COMEST (Jan 2006) Mrs. Pilar Armanet Armanet, Chairperson, Chile, educator Mr. Khalid Abdulla Al-Ali, Qatar, scientist Mr. Ruben Apressyan, Russian Federation, philosopher Mrs. Midge Decter, United States of America, educator Mr. Cheick Modibo Diarra, Mali, scientist Mr. Jun Fudano, Japan, philosopher Mr. Diego Gracia, Spain, philosopher Mr. Johan Hattingh, South Africa, philosopher Mrs. Tafeeda Jarbawi, Palestine, educator Mr. Luiz Hildebrando Pereira da Silva, Brazil, scientist Mrs. Marta Kollárová, Slovak Republic, scientist Mr. Ulrich Heinz Jürgen Körtner, Austria, philosopher Mr. Alain Pompidou, France, medical doctor Mrs. Leila Seth, India, jurist Mr. Sang-yong Song, South Korea, historian Mrs. Nadja Tollemache, New Zealand, jurist Mr. Zhihong Xu , People's Republic of China, scientist

  8. Areas of work Capacity building - “Ethics around the world”: rotating conferences • providing information about UNESCO’s activities • contacting and networking with national and regional experts • - Global Ethics Observatory (GEObs): system of databases • Who’s who in ethics? • Institutions, departments, centers, commissions • Teaching ethics programs • Legislation, guidelines, policies • Codes of Conduct

  9. Areas of work standard setting Code of Conduct for Scientists Ethical Principles for Environment Ethical Principles for Outer Space

  10. Towards a Code of Conduct for scientists • Why is there new discussion? • - changing context of science • - basic values of science unclear • - challenges of implementation of UN texts and international codes in different cultures… • Call for new reflection on international level • 1999: World Conference on Science, Budapest • 2001: ICSU research • 2002: UN Policy Working Group • 2003: UN Interagency meeting at UNESCO • 2004: UNESCO • 3. UNESCO/COMEST activities

  11. Changing context of science Hostile and dual use Political pressures Economic pressures Pressure to publish Scientific misconduct Nov.2005: South Korea: Professor Woo Suk Hwang and stem cell research Jan.2006: Norway • The Lancet 2005; 366: 1359-66 • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk of oral cancer: • a nested case-control study.Sudbo J, Lee JJ, Lippman SM, Mork J, Sagen S, Flatner N, Ristimaki A, Sudbo A, Mao L, Zhou X, Kildal W, Evensen JF, Reith A, Dannenberg AJ.

  12. Changing context of science Hostile and dual use Political pressures Pressure to publish Economic pressures Scientific misconduct New reflection on the basic values of science January 2006: Indian Science Congress, Swiss Nobel laureate Richard Ernst: - “there is a loss of the accepted ethical foundations of research” - It is insufficient to simply train specialists in science and technology; ethics and social responsibilities must be considered as important as scientific skills, knowledge and understanding

  13. BASIC VALUES OF SCIENCE autonomous values heteronomous values values intrinsic to science Personal interests/values Science = pursuit of truth Political interest/values • Robert K. Merton (1957): • Organized scepticism • Independence • Universalism • Communalism Economic interests/values Military interests/values Science = knowledge production

  14. The call for a new reflection on international level Nov. 1974 – UNESCO 18th General Conference adopts the “Recommendation on the Status of Scientific Researchers” calling for: Scientific researchers’ highly responsible attitude Encouragement of spirit of community service Development of educational techniques for awakening and stimulating ethical personal qualities and habits of mind Reinforcement of scientific researchers’ sense of vocation Definition of scientific researcher’s ethical responsibilities and rights

  15. The call for a new reflection on international level World Conference on Science, Budapest, 1999 Special attention to ethical principles and responsibilities in the practice of science The WCS International Forum of Young Scientists strongly supports the establishment of a scientific Hippocratic Oath The final document “Science Agenda – A framework for action” states: “Ethics and responsibility in science should be an integral part of the education and training of all scientists” … “Young scientists should be appropriately encouraged to respect and adhere to the basic ethical principles and responsibilities of science”. UNESCO’s World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) and ICSU have a special responsibility to follow up on this issue

  16. Report of the Secretary-General Policy Working Groupon the UN and Terrorism (2002) 11 Sept. 2001 - the terrorist attack against USA adds a specific anti-terrorist concern to the scientific ethics agenda October 2001 - UN Secretary-General establishes a "Policy Working Group on the United Nations and Terrorism" to identify longer-term implications and broad policy dimensions of terrorism for the United Nations 2002 - The Working Group issues a Report with 31 Recommendations

  17. Report of the Secretary-General Policy Working Groupon the UN and Terrorism (2002) Recommendation 21 “Relevant UN offices should be tasked with producing proposals to reinforce ethical norms, and thecreation of codes of conduct for scientists, through international and national scientific societies and institutions that teach sciences or engineering skills related to weapons technologies, should be encouraged. Such codes of conduct would aim to prevent the involvement of defence scientists or technical experts in terrorist activities and restrict public access to knowledge and expertise on the development, production, stockpiling and use of weapons of mass destruction or related technologies.”

  18. Report of the Secretary-General Policy Working Groupon the UN and Terrorism (2002) The UN General Assembly and Security Council endorse the Report and its Recommendations, transmitting it to all the Organizations and Specialized Agencies of the United Nations System February 2003 - A UN Inter-Agency Consultative Meeting is held at UNESCO HQs in Paris, to discuss Recommendation 10 (focused on education, tolerance and respect of human dignity) andRecommendation 21 of the Report

  19. United Nations Inter-Agency consultative meeting, 26 February 2003 – UNESCO Headquarters, Paris General Recommendations: Encouraging ethical codes of conduct for scientists and engineers Promoting ethics of science education and awareness COMEST could play a decisive role in fostering dialogue on education and ethics of science Involvement of COMEST together with ICSU in the field of ethics of science and responsibility of scientists The ethical task given by the WCS to COMEST and ICSU is recalled and reinforced

  20. ICSU Standards for Ethics and Responsibility in Science (2001) ICSU research takes into account 115 ethical standards for science (39 international and 23 national) shows an exponential increase of the number of standards over the years (6 before 1970; more than 40 during last 5 years)

  21. ICSU Standards for Ethics and Responsibility in Science (2001) Material is classified into 15 categories oath, pledge, code, guidelines, declaration, principles, appeal, recommendation, manifesto, statement, declaration, resolution, convention, charter, law, others Five cluster groups pledge, guidelines, statement, law, others Out of 115 ethical standards, only 6 are oaths and pledges, as an oath is perceived to be of a more binding nature than mere guidelines

  22. ICSU Standards for Ethics and Responsibility in Science (2001) Core traits or virtues related to individual behaviour: Honesty | Openness | Fairness Truthfulness | Accuracy | Conscientiousness Respect | Collaboration | Loyalty Core traits or virtues related to the scientific community: Social responsibility | Environmental responsibility Sustainable development | Socio-economic development Social welfare | Socio economic equity Gender equality | Scientific freedom Peace | Democratic development Human rights

  23. UNESCO – COMEST activities Executive Board, April 2004 169 EX/Decision 3.6.1 requests the Director-General, with COMEST and ICSU advice, to undertake studies on the advisability of elaborating an international declaration on science ethics to serve as a basis for an ethical code of conduct for scientists

  24. Expert Meeting, March 2005 (UNESCO, Paris) Mr Robert Coupland, International Red Cross, Legal Division Mr Malcolm Dando, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Mr. Pieter Drenth, All European Academies Mr. Jens Fenstad, Chair of COMEST Mr. Andre Jaegle, World Federation of Scientific Workers Mrs Michele Jean, President of the International Bioethics Committee Mr. Alex Michaelos, Canadian Commission for UNESCO Mr. Graham Pearson, University of Bradford, Department of Peace Studies Mr. Cathage Smith, International Council for Science (ICSU) Mr. Sang-yong Song, Member of COMEST Mr. Zbigniew Szawarski, Warsaw University, Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology Mr. Hub Zwart, Radboud University Nijmegen, Faculty of Sciences Ms. Julia Hasler, Natural Science Sector, UNESCO

  25. Recommendations of Expert Group: 1. A two-tier approach is feasible: - UNESCO focuses on a universal normative framework (a declaration onscience ethics - academic and professional organizations develop (national, regional, professional) codes of conduct 2. Scope: wide, not exclusively referring to the context of bio-terrorism. 3. Range: cover science in general, not only life sciences 4. Usefulness: A declaration on science ethics will provide a framework for ethics teaching in the sciences.

  26. Based on the conclusions of the Expert Group, at its 4th Ordinary Session (23-25 March, 2005, Bangkok) COMEST made the following recommendations: UNESCO should focus on a general framework of ethical principles for sciences - general principles that underline the responsibilities of scientists. On the basis of such general framework codes of conduct can be elaborated in various regions and for different sciences, primarily by scientists and scientific organizations themselves. In order to analyse the modalities, it is advised to carry outafeasibility study.

  27. UNESCO organs September 2005, 172nd Executive Board: “…prepare a feasibility study … on the elaboration of an international declaration on science ethics to serve as a basis for an ethical code of conduct for scientists” October 2005, 33rd General Conference: “…to continue…the reflection on the subject…and to submit a report to the Executive Board at its 175th session” (Sept/Oct.2006)

  28. Planned activities 1. International Consultations Europe and North America Region and International Organizations 11-12 May 2006: Geneva, Switzerland Asia Region 14 April 2006: Tokyo, Japan 24-25 April 2006: New Delhi, India 15-16 May: Bangkok, Thailand Latin America and Caribbean 30 and 31 May 2006: Belo Horizonte, Brazil Africa and Arab Regions: 2007

  29. Planned activities • 2. Review of previous work of UNESCO • Recommendations on the Status of Scientific Researcher, 1974 • taken as basis of assessment in the consultations • necessary to update? • useful as basis of explicitly ethical document?

  30. Planned activities • 3. Analysis of existing codes of conduct • Establishing a collection of all codes • Critical comparative analysis of strengths and weaknesses • Creating a database in the Global Ethics Observatory (GEObs)

  31. Planned activities international consultations analysis of codes June 27-28: Paris: Extraordinary Session of COMEST Report to 175th Executive Board September/October 2006

  32. Why Regional Consultations? 1. Take account of identified needs and priorities at the regional level in a coordinated manner with HQ and field 2. Advise and assist Member States in the identification of their needs and priorities and oversee the preparation and implementation of activities throughout the regions in regard to ethics of science and technology and bioethics in accordance with the UNESCO Programme of Ethics of Science and Technology and bioethics 3. Promote the role of ethics in the formulation and evaluation of development strategies and programmes, and disseminate information on the UNESCO Programme of Ethics of Science and Technology and bioethics. This meeting is one of the steps in this process to interact and to identify network partners, needs and priorities, learning from progress to date.

  33. Thank you! UNESCO Social and Human Sciences Sector Division of Ethics of Science and Technology 1, rue Miollis, B 1-17 75732 Paris Cedex 15, France Tel: + 33-1.45.68.49.98 Fax: + 33 1 45 68 5515 Our website: http://www.unesco.org/ethics

More Related