Abstract
IN the summary of the proceedings of the meeting of the Committee on Science and its Social Relations held in Paris during June 15–16 which has been sent to the scientific press and to scientific organisations, special emphasis is placed on a declaration on the principles of a charter for men of science. This declaration is the outcome of a discussion on the obligations and rights of scientific men in which due note was taken of the charter proposed by the World Federation of Scientific Workers and of a resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the International Council of Scientific Unions in London in July 1946. This resolution, which arose out of discussions on research on nuclear energy, affirmed the conviction of the International Council that international security and welfare would be impossible if in any country military secrecy be allowed to dominate scientific discovery or to prevent the frank discussion and open publication of scientific results. Accordingly, the General Assembly, in the name of the men of science of the nations represented, acknowledged in this resolution the duty on the part of scientific workers : (a) to maintain a spirit of frankness, honesty, integrity and co-operation and to work for international understanding ; (b) to promote the development of science in the way most beneficial to mankind and to exert their influence as far as possible to prevent its misuse ; (c) to serve the community not only by their specialized work but also by assisting so far as they are able the education of the public in the purposes and achievements of science.
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Freedom and Obligations. Nature 162, 507–508 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/162507a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/162507a0