Pitt Physics REU

University of Pittsburgh
Research Experience for
Undergraduates in Physics

Science Ethics

In 2001, the National Science Foundation created the Societal Dimensions of Engineering, Science, and Technology (SDEST) program. (you can view the original NSF proposal paper here). The SDEST aims to spur exploration of science ethic issues. As a result, all NSF-funded REU programs are required to participate in some form of ethics component.

Ethics Forum Participation and Guidelines:

Pitt Physics REU students participate in a half-day ethics forum attended by undergrads from a variety of local REU programs.

REU students present a "scenario" (created in advance by them and approved by Ethics Forum staff) to students from other REUs for a 12-minute presentation period, followed by 8 minutes of audience questions and discussion.
The following should be used as a guideline to the discussion:
1. What are the relevant facts?
2. What are the ethical issues?
3. Who are the primary stakeholders?
4. What are the possible alternatives?
5. What are the ethics of the alternatives?
6. What are the practical constraints?
7. What actions should be taken?
8. Other general questions?
All group members should share in the 12-minute presentation, although one group member should take clear "MC" responsibilities.
Students also prepare a written "case study" consisting of:
- Cover sheet (Names of group members, facilitator/mentor, date, and ethical topic)
- One-page summary of the ethical issue researched (above questions may be used as guideline)
- Reference page, with relevant journal articles or other reliable sources (see links below for some resources)

A PDF version of the above participation information (created for Summer 2002) can be downloaded here.

Some online science ethics links

"On Being A Scientist".
The 1994 booklet on research ethics by the National Academy of Sciences.

Online Ethics.
The NSF-established online ethics center for engineering and science. Contains information and case-studies in five general areas, including diversity in the scientific/academic workplace.

History of tenure in universities.
It can be argued that the highest moral standard in academia should be Truth, and the discovery and dispensation of knowledge. This notion is central to the story of the modern practice of university tenure.

Secrecy in Science
A 1999 Colloquium at MIT, sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Explores the tension between national security interests (which tends to favor restriction of information on biochemicals, weapons, and computer cryptography) versus traditional pure science ethos (founded on the open and free sharing of knowledge). Very timely in post 9/11 America, and important to everyone interested in science. See also this article from November 2003 about post-9/11 anti-bioterrorism regulations having the unintended effect of squelching research and making criminals out of scientists.

"The Language Police", a recent (2003) book about textbook censorship, and a PBS interview with the author.
Should American high school textbooks downplay evolution as 'just a theory'? Should standardized test questions re-write historical passages in the attempt to shield young readers from 'politically incorrect' terminology or potentially controversial words or ideas? A new book has re-ignited this important ethical issue. Also see this New York Times article on the same issue. (Note: "Jerry Becker" is the person who posted the article, not the NYT writer of it.) And a recently-new website at U. Berkeley has been set up to help teachers fend-off anti-evolutionist rhetoric, and could give ample ethics-debate fodder.

Medical conflicts of interest
An April 2004 story in Washington Monthly about the growing conflicts of interest as medical academics forge ties with drug companies.
Academic Freedom Initiative.
Seeks to challenge threats to academic freedom around the world; one of the ongoing initiatives of Human Rights Watch.
"Misconduct in Science".
A 1997 essay by Virginia Tech instructor Vincent Hammer.
An extensive science ethics bibliography.
Created by chemistry professor Linda Sweeting of Towson University.
A list of online resources in ethics.
Maintained by the Poynter Center at Bloomington.
Links on science and ethics.
From Wilton High School chemistry, Wilton, Connecticut.

Last updated on 01-25-07 by Russell Clark.
All information subject to change without appearance here.

main REU page: http://www.phyast.pitt.edu/~reuphys

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.