Scientists and engineers face two types of ethics challenges, one focused on their conduct as professionals and the other focused on responsible participation in debates about public regulation of research or application of knowledge. Graduate students in science and engineering increasingly need to learn how international consensus on ethical concerns is forged; how persistent differences in national preferences are handled; and how national governments coordinate regulatory responses to transnational challenges. STS researchers are developing materials to better integrate globalization and international dimensions of science and engineering into educational practice.
Funding for the International Dimensions of Ethics Education in Science and Engineering Project comes from the National Science Foundation through grant number 0734887. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Project Leaders
Jane Fountain, PI; MJ Peterson, co-PI; Marc Achermann, co-PI; Paula Stamps, co-PI; Beverly Woolf, co-PI; Neal Anderson, Senior Researcher; Thomas Murray, Consultant; Michelle Goncalves, Project Manager.
How to Use Our Modules and Case Studies
Submissions from 2010
An Introduction to Principles of Ethics and Morality for Scientists and Engineers, Tom Murray
Case Study: Access to HIV Treatments in Developing Countries, M.J. Peterson
Case Study: Asilomar Conference on Laboratory Precautions When Conducting Recombinant DNA Research, M.J. Peterson
Case Study: Narmada Dams Controversy, M.J. Peterson, Osman Kiratli, and Ilke Ercan
Case Study: Reporting Incidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), M.J. Peterson and Paul A. White
Case Study: The EU-US Dispute over Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms, Plants, Feeds, and Foods, M.J. Peterson and Paul A. White
Case Study: Transboundary Trade in Hazardous Substances and Wastes, M.J. Peterson
Interactive Case Study: Recruitment of Egg Donors by South Korean Stem Cell Researchers, Tom Murray and MJ Peterson
Interactive Case Study: The Dhopal Disaster, Tom Murray, MJ Peterson, and John Ake
Interactive Case Study: The EU-US Dispute over Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms, Plants, Feeds, and Foods, Tom Murray and MJ Peterson
Interactive Case Study: The Green Dam Cyber-Censor Case, Tom Murray
Interactive Case Study: The SARS Epidemic, Tom Murray, MJ Peterson, and Sarah Keister
Submissions from 2009
Case Study: Bhopal Plant Disaster, M.J. Peterson
Case Study: Recruitment of Egg Donors by South Korean Stem Cell Researchers, MJ Peterson, Osman Kiratli, and Ilke Ercan
Cultural Competence in a Transnational Workplace, M.J. Peterson
Diagrams: Networks and Organizations, M.J. Peterson
Efforts to Control Information Flows, M.J. Peterson and Ilke Ercan
Hints on Cross Cultural Skills, M.J. Peterson
International Forums for Addressing Social Inclusion and Social Equity Issues, M.J. Peterson
Module 1.3.b: Transnational Conduct, MJ Peterson
Module 2.1: Variation in International Regulatory Processes, M.J. Peterson
Module 2.2: Responsible Participation by Scientists and Engineers in International Political Processes, M.J. Peterson
Module 2.3b: Stakeholder Inclusion, M.J. Peterson
Module 2.4: Social Inclusion & Equity, M.J. Peterson
Online Curriculum and Dialog Design for Ethics Skills for Science and Engineering Students, Tom Murray, John Ake, and MJ Peterson
Responsible Participation by Scientists and Engineers in International Political Process, M.J. Peterson
Stakeholders, M.J. Peterson and Ilke Ercan
The Concepts of Social Inclusion and Social Equity, M.J. Peterson
Transnational Differences in Ethical and Regulatory Standards, M.J. Peterson
Submissions from 2008
Appropriate Technology, M.J. Peterson
Diagrams of Scientific Organizations, M.J. Peterson
Diagrams of Transnational Diffusion, M.J. Peterson
Ethical Evaluation of New Technologies: Genetically Modified Organisms and Plants, M.J. Peterson and Ronald Sandler
Mechanisms of Transnational Accountability, M.J. Peterson
Module 1.1: Workplace Ethics in Transnational Contexts, M.J. Peterson
Module 1.2: International Accountability, M.J. Peterson
Module 1.3.a: Transnational Diffusion of Ideas and Practices, M.J. Peterson
Module 2.3.a: Ethical Conflicts Between Nations, M.J. Peterson
Multinational Corporations in Transnational Accountability, M.J. Peterson
Resolving Ethical Disagreements, M.J. Peterson
Roots of Interconnection: Communications, Transportation and Phases of the Industrial Revolution, M.J. Peterson
Transnational Aspects of Ethical Debate, M.J. Peterson
Transnational Diffusion of Ideas and Technologies, M.J. Peterson