UNIT-5

SCIENTIFIC ETHICS

 Transparency and Fairness in scientific pursuits

 Scientific inventions for the betterment of society

 Unfair application of scientific inventions

 Role and Responsibility of scientist in the modern society

 SCIENTIFIC ETHICS

 Definition:

Scientific ethics refers to the moral principles and

standards that guide research and practice within the
scientific community.
This field addresses both the ethical obligations of
scientists in conducting their work and the impact of
scientific discoveries on society.
 Role of Scientific Ethics

1. Honesty and Integrity

 Scientists are expected to present their findings truthfully and

accurately.
 This includes transparency in methods, reporting of results,

and the acknowledgment of any limitations in their work.

 Fabricating, falsifying, or omitting data is a major ethical

violation.
 Role of Scientific Ethics

2. Objectivity
 Scientific research should be unbiased and free from

personal, financial, or ideological influences that could

distort results.
 Peer review and open data practices are ways to promote

objectivity and ensure credibility in research findings.

 Role of Scientific Ethics

3. Responsibility to Society
 Scientists have a duty to consider the potential impact of

their work on society.

 Research with possible negative implications—like

biotechnology or artificial intelligence—requires a careful

balance between innovation and public safety, privacy, and
welfare.
 Role of Scientific Ethics

4. Respect for Intellectual Property

 Proper citation of sources, respect for copyrights, and

avoidance of plagiarism are critical.

 Recognizing and crediting others’ work ensures fair

acknowledgment and upholds the integrity of the

scientific community.
 Role of Scientific Ethics

5. Accountability and Transparency

 Scientists should make their research methods and data

accessible to other researchers for verification and

replication, which strengthens the validity of findings.
 Openness is also crucial for public trust, especially in

fields with societal impacts like medicine, environmental

science, and engineering.
 Role of Scientific Ethics

6. Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

 Research involving human participants requires informed

consent, confidentiality, and a commitment to minimizing

harm.
 Animal research must follow strict guidelines to ensure

humane treatment and consider alternatives when possible.

 Ethics review boards often oversee studies involving humans

and animals.
 Role of Scientific Ethics

7. Environmental Responsibility
 Scientists must consider the environmental implications

of their research.
 Studies that could harm ecosystems or contribute to

pollution have ethical responsibilities to mitigate potential

negative impacts.
 Role of Scientific Ethics

8. Data Ethics and Privacy

 In an age of big data and AI, ensuring data privacy,

managing consent for data use, and avoiding misuse are

critical.
 Data ethics also extends to maintaining the security and

confidentiality of sensitive information.

 Key Ethical Principals in Science

(a) Respect for Autonomy:

 Individuals have the right to make informed decisions
about their participation in scientific studies.
 Researchers must obtain clear and understandable
permission from participants before proceeding with the
study.
 Beyond the initial permission process, respect for
autonomy for the protection of participant’s privacy.
 Key Ethical Principals in Science

(b) Beneficence and Non- Maleficence:

 Beneficence expects that researchers will maximize the

positive impacts of their research while minimizing any

potential risk.
 Ethics in science encourages researchers to ensure that

the benefits of the research outweigh any potential

negative outcomes.
 Key Ethical Principals in Science

(c) Research Integrity:

 Scientists are expected to be truthful in reporting data, methods,

results, and analyses.

 Misrepresentation, data fabrication, or falsification are serious

ethical violations that compromise the scientific record.

 Integrity involves presenting findings as they are, acknowledging

limitations, and refraining from selectively reporting only

favorable outcomes.
 Key Ethical Principals in Science

(d ) Objectivity in Research:
 Objectivity means that scientists must aim to remain unbiased

and avoid conflicts of interest.

 Personal beliefs, financial interests, or sponsorships should not

interfere with the scientific process.

 Objectivity is reinforced by practices like peer review, which

ensures that research is scrutinized and validated by

independent experts.
 Ethical Standards In Science

1. Standards of methods and process address the design, procedure, data

analysis, interpretation, and reporting of research efforts.

2. Standards of topics and findings address the use of human and animal
subjects in research and ethical implications of certain research
findings.

Core Principles of Standards:

 Honesty in reporting of scientific data.

 Careful transcription and analysis of scientific results to avoid error.

 Ethical Standards In Science

 Analysis and results based on data and not on the influence of external

source.
 Open sharing of methods and data through publications and presentation.

 Sufficient validation of results through replication and collaboration with

peers.
 Proper crediting of sources of information, data, and ideas.

 Moral obligations to society in general, in some disciplines,

responsibility in weighing the rights of human and animal subjects.

 Importance of Scientific Ethics

 Ethical standards guide researchers in treating research participants,

colleagues and their work with respect and consideration.

 Without ethical guidelines in place, there is a risk of erosion of public trust

in science.

 Scientific ethics are essential for transport reporting, rigorous methodology

and responsible data handling in research.

 Transport reporting complies researchers to accurately communicate their

methods, results and conclusions allowing others to replicate the study.

 Importance of Scientific Ethics

 Rigorous methodology ensures that research is conducted with

precision, minimizing biases and errors and ensuring replicability.

 Responsible data handling safeguards the privacy and confidentiality

of research participants.
 Ethics promotes the aims of scientific research including knowledge,

truth, and avoidance of error.

 Any kind of deviation of ethics in scientific research may result in

research misconduct including falsification, fabrications and

plagiarism.
 Do’s To Ensure Ethics in Science

1. Maintain Transparency – Ensure other researchers to replicate and build

upon past work.

2. Highlight Collaboration – Highlight the effort and contribution of

collaborators.

3. Disclose Conflict of Interest – By openly acknowledging any potential

conflicts of interest.

4. Follow Policies and Guidelines – Thoroughly review the rules established by

research institutions and collaborators to ensure that adhering to everything

correctly.
 Don’ts To Ensure Ethics in Science

1. Don’t Manipulate Research or Its results – Avoiding altering or

manipulating research methods, materials, or data to fit preferred conclusion.

2. Don’t Plagiarize Past Research – Prevent plagiarism by abstaining from

using or reproducing findings from prior work without appropriate attribution.

3. Don’t Shun Contradictory evidence - Failing to consider information that

contradicts can undermine the scientific process.

4. Don’t Artificially Inflate Research Records- This involves refraining from

excessively citing oneself and submitting identical work to multiple journals

without explicit permission.

 Scientific Pursuits

 A method of investigation in which a problem is first

identified and observations, experiments, or other relevant

data are then used to solve it.
 Scientific pursuits involve activities related to scientific

research.
 Transparency in Scientific Pursuits

 It is an ethical approach to research which improves

research integrity and enhances the informational value

and impact of research.
 Research transparency encompasses a range of open

practices including registering studies, sharing study data,

and publicly reporting research findings.
 Role of Scientific Pursuits

 Scientific pursuits is important because it allows us

understand and the physical world live in.

 It also allows to improve many aspects of lives or mitigate

threats to survival.
 Advantages of Scientific Pursuits

1. Systematic Approach: Provides a systematic and

structured approach to problem-solving.
2. Objectivity: Reducing the influence of personal biases
and subjective opinion.
3. Reproducibility: Allowing others to verify and build
upon previous results.
4. Rigorous Testing: Lead to more reliable and robust
conclusions.
 Advantages of Scientific Pursuits

5. Objective and Impartial: Avoids subjective or biased

opinions. It aims to discover the truth about phenomena.

6. Generates New Knowledge: Powerful tool for generating

new knowledge and discovering new insights into the natural
world.

7. Allows for Peer Review and Replication: Relies on peer

review and replication to ensure that findings are reliable and
accurate.
 Disadvantages of Scientific Pursuits

1. Time-Consuming: Especially in comparison to quick

decision-making based on common sense.

2. Resource-Intensive: Conducting experiments and gathering

data can be costly and required specialized resources.

3. Complexity: Too complex for simple everyday problems.

4. Limited Applicability: Some problems may not be easily

addressed using the scientific method.
 Disadvantages of Scientific Pursuits

5. Limited by Available Technology: Limited by available

technology and resources.

6. Reductionist: Reductionist in nature, as it focuses on specific

variables and ignores the larger context in which they occur.

7. Limited to Empirical Evidence: Limited to empirical

evidence and cannot address questions of morality, ethics, and
aesthetics.
 Fairness in Scientific Pursuits

 Fairness is the product of moral judgment – the process

by which people determine what is morally right and what

is morally wrong.
 Difference B/W Fairness and Transparency

S.No Fairness Transparency

1. It refers to treating people equally It refers to being open and honest
and fairly based on their status. about what do with people’s
information.
2. The principle of fairness requires The principle of transparency
organizations to ensure that their requires organizations to provide
data collection and processing individuals with clear and concise
activities do not discriminate information about their data
against individuals. collection and processing activities.
3. For example, an employer must For example, an online retailer must
not use personal data to provide customers with clear and
discriminate against potential concise information about how it
hires based on their race, gender, collects and process their data,
age, or other characteristics. including the use of cookies and
other tracking technologies.
 Scientific Invention

Definition:

It is a machine or device or a specific technique which

either helps or completely solves human problems that he or she
face in daily life.

According to Wikipedia,

It is a unique or novel device, method, composition or

process. It may be an improvement upon a machine or product,
or a new process for creating an object or a result.
 Scientific Inventions For The Betterment Of Society

1. Fire 2. Wheel
3.Optical Lenses 4. Compass
5. Paper 6. Printing Press
7. Electricity 8. Steam Engine
9. Telephone 10. Vaccination
 Scientific Inventions For The Betterment Of Society

11.Cars 12. Airplane

13. Penicillin 14. Rockets
15. Nuclear Fission 16. Personal Computer
. The Internet
 Other Valuable Scientific Inventions

Genome Editing

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)

RNA – Sequencing

The Molecular Structure of DNA

Levodopa

Painkillers and Anaesthetic

Advantages of Science and Inventions for the Betterment
of Society

1. Help in the Development

2. Help in Medicinal Growth
3. Help in Understanding World
4. Have Led to the Invention of New Devices
5. Help to provide Better Education
 Disadvantages of Science and Inventions for the
Betterment of Society

1. Can be Misused
2. Disturbing Nature
3. Harmful Because of the Crazy Experiments
4. Harmful to Animals and People
5. Can have Unintended Consequences
 Pros of Scientific Innovations

1. Improved quality of life

2. Economic Growth
3. Environmental Benefits
4. Increased Knowledge and understanding
 Cons of Scientific Innovations

1. Ethical Considerations
2. Displacement of workers
3. Environmental Impact
4. Unequal Access
 Unfair Applications of Scientific Inventions

Environmental Impact

Ethical Concerns

Economic Disparities

Unintended Consequences

Dependency and Vulnerability

 Disadvantages of Scientific Inventions

 Environmental Damage

 Job Loss & Economic Disruption

 Healthy Risks

 Ethical Concerns

 Social & Psychological Impact

 Weapanization and Misuse

 Overuse and Dependency

 Moral and Cultural Challenges

 Potential for Unequal Disruption

 The Role of Scientists in Modern Society

1.Innovation and Technology Development

2. Public Health and Medicine

3. Environmental Protection and Climate Change

4. Education and Knowledge Dissemination

5. Policy and Decision-Making

 The Role of Scientists in Modern Society

6.Ethics and Responsible Innovation

7.Global Challenges and Humanitarian Efforts
8.Economic Growth and Job Creation
 The Responsibilities of Scientists in Modern Society

1.Commitment to Objectivity and Integrity

2. Ethical Considerations and Accountability
3. Transparent Communication with the Public
4. Advocacy for Evidence-Based Policies
5. Social Responsibility and Equity
 The Responsibilities of Scientists in Modern Society

6. Responsibility to Educate and Mentor

7. Self-Regulation and Peer Review

8. Preventing Harmful Misuse of Research

9. Global Perspective and Collaboration

10. Advocating for Science in Society

 Types of Scientists in Modern Society

1. Business Scientist:
 Excellent management & Business skills

 Supporting evidence-led decision-making within

companies

 Confidential in business environment

 Variety of roles from R&D, Marketing and C-Suite

 Types of Scientists in Modern Society

2. Communicator Scientists;
 Communicate the message to the people according to their

expectation and needs.

 Inform and get their messages across through an empathy.

 Expertise in media and other communication channels work.

 Science communicators are found across TV and radio,

advertising and promotion as well as social media.

 Types of Scientists in Modern Society

3. Developer Scientists
 Uses the knowledge generated by others and transforms into

something society can use.

 Might be developing products, ideas and services.

 Work with entrepreneur and business scientist to bring their

ideas into market.

 Types of Scientists in Modern Society

4. Entrepreneur Scientists:
 Their knowledge are connected in deep to see opportunities for

innovation.

 Not just in business but also in the public sector and other sectors of

society.

 They blend their knowledge with people management skills and strong

understanding of business and finance to start their own business.

 Types of Scientists in Modern Society

5. Explores Scientists:
 Someone who likes the crew of the enterprise.

 Likes the journey of discovery.

 Boldly go where no one has gone before.

 Rarely focus on specific outcome or impact.

 Likely to be in R&D at an organisation.

 Types of Scientists in Modern Society

6. Investigator Scientists:
 Digs into the unknown observing, mapping, understanding

and piercing together in depth knowledge and data.

 Likely to be found in university or research centre.

 Likely multi-disciplinary environment.

 Types of Scientists in Modern Society

7. Policy Scientists:
 Use their knowledge to understanding of government and policy

making to ensure policy have a sound evidence based.

 Some policy scientist describes themselves as 75% scientist and 25%

politician.

 Employed in many environments including government and

Parliament,NGOs.
 Types of Scientists in Modern Society

8. Regulator Scientists:
 Reassure to the public that system and technology are reliable and

safe.
 They will have mix of skills not involved in lab work,through

understanding of science.
 They are found in regulatory bodies such as Food Standards

Agency.
 Types of Scientists in Modern Society

9. Teacher Scientists:
 Sharing their knowledge and train to next generation of

scientists.

 Have the passion for teaching others about their

application of science.
 Types of Scientists in Modern Society

10. Technician Scientists:

 Provides operational scientific services in a wide range of

ways.
 They depend on within the health service, forensic service,

food science, health and safety, materials analysis and testing,

education and etc.,
 They are found in laboratories and other support service

environments.
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