How Do the Leading U.S. Nano-scientists View Their Social Responsibility for Nanotech Research?

Transcription

1 How Do the Leading U.S. Nano-scientists View Their Social Responsibility for Nanotech Research? Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) conference November 3-5, 2013 Youngjae Kim, Arizona State University Elizabeth A. Corley, Arizona State University Dietram A. Scheufele, University of Wisconsin - Madison CNS-ASU research, education and outreach activities are supported by the National Science Foundation under cooperative agreement #

2 Scientists Social Responsibility If we did not do our scientific work someone else would; but if we neglected our social responsibilities as scientists, there would soon be no science. Paul Langevin (French physicist, ) The communities in which you live and the communities much farther out are ultimately affected by the work that you do. Mark S. Frankel, 2013 AAAS annual meeting

3 Importance of Scientists Social Responsibility Regulatory Vacuum & Unknown Risks - Individual social responsibility might be the only check Cross-sector and cross-disciplinary calls for scientists social responsibility STS scholars (Shrader-Frechette, 1994; Jasanoff, 2010) Professional organizations (AAAS; NSABB) Scientists themselves (Eggleson, 2013)

4 Implementation of Social Responsibility for Scientists Two examples Scientific codes of conduct and research ethics standards Demands for changes in education for scientists and engineers

5 Scientific Codes of Conduct - Nanotech European Commission Recommendation Responsibility of European scientists dealing with nanomaterials Principle of accountability in nano-research: researchers and research organizations should remain accountable for the social, environmental and human health impacts (EC, 2008, p7) Focus on academic research

6 Scientific Codes of Conduct Science InterAcademy Council (IAC) Responsible Conduct in the Research Enterprise (2012) National Institutes of Health (NIH) NIH Policy on Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) (2001)

7 Implementation of Social Responsibility for Scientists Two examples Recent developments of scientific code of conducts and research ethics standards Demands for changes in education for scientists and engineers

8 Education & Training for Scientists Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge (World Conference on Science, 1999) Ethics and scientific responsibility should be a primary part of the education and training of all scientists Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (General Conference of UNESCO, 2005) Nations should foster education and training to achieve a better understanding of the ethical implications of scientific and technological developments

9 Research Question How do the leading nano-scientists view their sense of social responsibility for research and public safety?

10 Nano-Scientist Survey: Methodology Methodological details 2011 Mail survey (N=444) Sampling description 189,014 nano-publications from ISI Web of Knowledge (published in 2008 & 2009) Most highly cited, most active, U.S.-affiliated nano-scientists Response rate: 31.6%

11 Descriptive Statistics (N=444) Demographic Variables Percent Male Respondents Age (Mean) Percent White Career & Political Variables Percent working in universities Percent Republican 6.31 Percent Democrat Percent Independent 45.05

12 OLS Regression Analysis 1. Demographics 6. Risk & Benefit Perceptions 2. Media Attention Scientists Social Responsibility Perception 5. Regulatory Perceptions 3. Public Engagement 4. Political, Social, and Ethical Perceptions

13 OLS Regression Analysis: Dependent Variable Scientists Social Responsibility Perception (Mean: 4.96 ; SD: 2.05) Summative index of the two statements (1=Strongly Disagree; 5=Strongly Agree) (1) Scientists are responsible for the misuse of their discoveries by other people. (2) As members of society, scientists share responsibility for any use or misuse of their discoveries.

14 Demographics (Only significant variables shown) 1. Demographics Female (-) White (-) Academic Position (-) Republican (-) H1: Demographic factors are correlated with individuals social responsibility perception Scientists Social Responsibility Perception Final R-square for the regression model: 0.310

15 H2: Media attention is correlated with respondents sense of social responsibility Media Attention (Only significant variables shown) 2. Media Attention Attention to Science & Technology (-) Attention to Social/ethical Implications (+) Scientists Social Responsibility Perception Final R-square for the regression model: 0.310

16 Public Engagement (Only significant variables shown) H3: Public engagement & communication increase as scientists social responsibility increases Scientists Social Responsibility Perception 3. Public Engagement Write a Science Blog (+) Communicate to the Public Immediately (+) Communicating does not affect public attitudes toward science (-) Final R-square for the regression model: 0.310

17 Political, Social, and Ethical Perceptions (Only significant variables shown) H4: Individual value predisposition affects one s responsibility perception Scientists Social Responsibility Perception 4. Political, Social, and Ethical Perceptions We Depend Too Much on Science (+) Advancing Nanotech is Important (+) Ethical Obligation for Worker Safety (+) Scientific Discovery is Value Neutral (-) Authorities Should Oblige Scientists to Respect Ethical Standards (+) Final R-square for the regression model: 0.310

18 H5: Opinions about regulation will affect respondents social responsibility perception Regulatory Perceptions (Only significant variables shown) Scientists Social Responsibility Perception 5. Regulatory Perceptions Government Should Protect Public from Unknown Nano-risks (-) Final R-square for the regression model: 0.310

19 Risk & Benefit Perceptions (Only significant variables shown) H6-1: Scientists who perceive more nanotech benefits would have weaker responsibility perception H6-2: Scientists who perceive more nanotech risks would have stronger responsibility perception Scientists Social Responsibility Perception 6. Risk & Benefit Perceptions Nano Risk Perception (+) Nano Benefit Perception (-) Final R-square for the regression model: 0.310

20 Conclusion Responsible research has become a central concern in the discussion of nanotechnology governance Scientists differ (on individual characteristics) in their sense of social responsibility Policy makers should consider ways to formalize scientific social responsibility to society

21 Questions & Answers Thank you! Acknowledgement This material is based on work supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (SES ), the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics at ASU, and the John E. Ross Chair in Science Communication at the University of Wisconsin. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF, The Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics, or the University of Wisconsin.