Scientafic!

Science is …

• An endeavor: science is a collective human endeavor in curiosity, creativity, and rigor; it has a rich, albeit fragile past, present, and future
• A contract: scientists have a contract with society to do good by the public while minimizing harm and excessive personal gain
• A duty: scientists carry the duty and privilege of mentoring future generations, passing on knowledge, and maintaining and advancing progress
• A privilege: the career of a scientist is one that extremely few have ever had, but also one that is trivial compared to the greater endeavor

Research scientists are all required to participate in ethics courses on the responsible conduct of research. In biomedical research, for instance, theses courses often cover topics including research integrity, rigor and reproducibility, conflict of interest, ethical treatment of human and animal subjects, mentor/mentee relationships, collaborations in research, peer review, data sharing and ownership, and authorship. These fundamental topics in ethics are mandatory for any and all researchers to bear in mind. However, science is much more than a career path and vastly greater than the career of any individual scientist. Taking the rich and fragile history of science and its intricate role in society into consideration, the required introductory ethics courses do not adequately address all the complex issues and responsibilities scientists face. Therefore, I propose an advanced ethic for research scientists, a set of moral principles all scientists should recognize and reflect on in their daily lives. The advanced ethic is presented in the above graphic and stated below:

• Nurture curiosity
• Apply creativity when asking questions and rigor when answering them
• Produce work that has value and makes you proud
• Only do experiments that benefit science and the greater good
• Take seriously the economic, societal, and environmental costs of research
• Regard science as a collective human endeavor
• Think of research funding as a burden, not as an award
• Avoid seeking excessive personal gain from publicly funded work
• Pursue multiple ways to preserve and advance progress and knowledge
• Consider the opportunity for a career in research as a unique honor
• Engage with the public
• View teaching and mentorship as a privilege, not as an obligation
• Appreciate and surround yourself with good scientists
• Always remember that science is ultimately about promoting the truth, which is infinitely more important and precious than the career of any individual scientist

Graphic design was inspired by “An Introductory Ethic for Designers” by Rick Griffith.