london

Rotblat: ‘work for good of humanity’.

Every academy of science throughout the world should set up a panel of members to study and monitor ethical problems arising from modern science, according to medical physicist Sir Joseph Rotblat, the Nobel peace prizewinner in 1995.

He also suggests that all scientists should be encouraged to sign an oath on graduation pledging to work for the good of humanity. Rotblat is a founder and was for many years president of the Pugwash conferences on science and world affairs, an organization of researchers dedicated to the cause of peace.

“Ethical problems should become part of the terms of reference of all academies of science,” Rotblat told a meeting in London last week. He outlined some of the ideas that he intends to present during a keynote speech on science and human values on the first day of the World Conference on Science.

Acknowledging that many academies are already engaged in such debates, Rotblat suggested that this role should become “normative” rather than optional. The job of scientists nominated to sit on such ethical committees, he said, “will be to try to work out the possible outcomes of scientific projects from the point of view of their potential impact on society”.

The physicist pointed out that medical projects involving humans have to be vetted by ethical committees. “Something similar should be carried out for other scientific projects, for example in genetic engineering.”

The code of conduct that Rotblat suggests should be followed by scientists would be similar to the Hippocratic oath taken by doctors. “This makes them aware that their prime duty is to the patient,” he said. “Now that science can affect the fate of so many humans, it is important for scientists to be aware of the situation.”

In his talk, Rotblat will address “the education of scientists as responsible citizens and contributors to the culture of peace”.

Full text: http://helix.nature.com/wcs/a42.html