An undergrad course: Ethics in Chemistry

[Entropia]

I am constructing an undergraduate course that deals with ethics in science, particularly in the field of chemistry.

Does anybody have any suggestions on material I should cover, and any good books that are thought provoking enough that ought to be used?

 

[Mike H]

You may want to take a look at the books Henry Bauer (prof. emeritus of chemistry and science studies at Virginia Tech) has written, as they touch upon some realistic perspectives on science, the scientific method, and ethics in science. He has a site on Ethics in Science here:

http://www.chem.vt.edu/ethics/ethics.html

If you're looking for a well done historical account of a rather recent science ethics case, I'd suggest The Baltimore Case by Daniel Kevles, it should be out in paperback as I recall.

As a number of biomedical graduate education programs have ethics requirements in order to maintain NIH funding, there are a couple of more bio/biomedically oriented ethics books out there. The book I remember being used at my undergrad alma mater was Scientific Integrity: An Introductory Text with Cases by Francis Macrina. While only having skimmed through it, it seemed to touch upon the standard issues and was well grounded in real life aspects of research. If you're looking for something that is much more theoretical in nature and philosophically oriented, not sure off the top of my head.

If I can remember anything else, I'll post it as it comes to me.

 

[hhegab]

Firstly, it is essential to cover the fundamental principles of ethics and how they apply to the scientific community. This can include topics such as integrity, objectivity, and responsibility in research and the potential consequences of unethical behavior.

Another important aspect to cover would be the ethical considerations in the use of chemicals and their impact on the environment and human health. This could involve discussing the responsibilities of chemists in ensuring the safe and responsible use of chemicals, as well as examining case studies of past incidents where ethical lapses have resulted in harm to individuals and the environment.

Additionally, it would be beneficial to explore the ethical dilemmas that chemists may face in their work, such as conflicts of interest, data manipulation, and issues of intellectual property. This can help students develop critical thinking skills and ethical decision-making abilities.

When it comes to thought-provoking books, a few recommendations could include "The Ethics of Science" by David B. Resnik, which delves into the ethical considerations in scientific research, and "The Poisoner's Handbook" by Deborah Blum, which explores the history of forensic chemistry and its ethical implications.

Overall, the course should aim to foster a deeper understanding of the ethical responsibilities of chemists and the impact of their work on society. It should also encourage students to critically reflect on their own ethical values and how they can apply them in their future careers in chemistry.