Science and ethics

Science and ethics are inextricably bound together. Science is said to be objective and ethics is subjective as it is linked to personal choices. This dossier deals with the broad range of ethical complexities in science, research design and implementation, selection and use of material, implications of innovative outcomes and the interest of society. Attention is paid to the need for humanitarian use licences and standards as well as collaborative agreements concerning research cooperation including south-north and south-south collaboration. In his lead article: Ethics in Science for Development Prof. Michiel Korthals, Head of Department Applied Philosophy, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, discusses ethical dilemmas scientists often face. He poses that there are ethical values which must be adopted in the pursuit of science and asks, should scientists conduct experiment trials with new foods and drugs using human subjects in poor countries where the policy, regulatory and legislative frameworks governing such trials do not exist? Prof. Annabel Fossey of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa, in her lead article: Research Ethics and Agricultural Innovations – The Dilemma of Scientists states that since the advent of genetic engineering the view that scientists are, in general, trustworthy and ethically sound, and that agricultural research leading to new technological advances is intrinsically good has been altered, culminating in an ever growing societal interest in agricultural practices and their consequences. This poses new challenges for agricultural research and she concludes that scientists are responsible to ensure that private and/or public agricultural research should enhance agricultural performance and serve the broader society, in a sustainable manner both now, and in the future. Links to publications and downloadable articles and websites of relevant organizations on research ethics with regard to life sciences support this dossier. Prepared by KIT in collaboration with CTA – July 2008; edited by J.A. Francis, CTA & J. Sluijs, KIT