Home / Ethical Conduct of Research / Case Studies in Scientific Ethics (CHPH 714)

Events during the past decade have highlighted the issues of ethical conduct in scientific research. This course will address the intersection of ethics and science following the "case study" approach of On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research, Third Edition (The National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2009), but using actual examples from recent controversies in physical sciences.

We will look at the causes, rationales and consequences of ethical decisions, as they affect individuals, organizations and the relationship between science and society.

Active engagement of students in the coursework is essential. During each week we will discuss a case on Wednesday morning; students must submit an essay (maximum 600 words) by e-mail by Thursday evening. These essays will be anonymized and analyzed during the class discussion on the Friday morning.

A pass grade in this course will certify that the student has read, and passed an examination on, the Federal Policy on Research Misconduct (Federal Register, Vol. 65, No. 235, Wednesday, December 6, 2000, pp. 76260-76264).

The course will meet from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Wednesdays and Fridays, January 6 - 22, 2010, in Plant Science 1146. Instructor: Charles W. Clark.

Preregistration via Testudo is strongly recommended.

Required and recommended readings, lecture outlines and assignments can be found in the links to the left.

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