Conference on the Microbiologist & Biological Defense Research: Ethical & Social Issues, Spring 1991 Baltimore, Maryland

伦理和价值观研究支持关于科学、技术和社会相互作用的伦理和价值方面的研究和教育项目。项目审查社会价值以及在这些互动中产生的相互义务和责任。审查的一个重要领域涉及生物科学的新进展，这些进展可用于研究和开发有效的生物战(BW)制剂。这一威胁如此严重，以至于国防部(DoD)增加了其生物防御研究计划。因此，许多科学家都有机会从事与生物武器相关的研究。在考虑这一机会时，科学家面临着与个人价值观、职业道德、国际法产生的责任以及对国家的责任有关的棘手问题。澄清这些问题是拟议会议的主要目标。第二个目标是引起学者们对美国微生物学会(ASM)档案在美国微生物学历史研究中的可用性的关注。会议及其出版的会议记录将产生有助于科学家决定是否开展国防部资助的研究的信息；它将勾勒出科学学会在指导其成员方面的作用；它将把这些棘手的问题告知公众，以便它能够做出明智的决定。ASM和其他科学组织是这次会议的共同赞助者。会议的主要调查员、策划委员会成员和演讲者资质高；主办适当；议题重要；结果将适当传播。该项目功勋卓著，推荐获奖。

Ethics and Values Studies supports research and educational projects on ethical and value aspects of the interaction between science, technology and society. Projects examine the social values and mutual obligations and responsibilities that arise in these interactions. One important area for examination concerns new advances in the biosciences that may be applied to research and develop efficacious biological warfare (BW) agents. This threat is so serious that the Department of Defense (DoD) has increased its biological defense research program. As a consequence, many scientists are given the opportunity to undertake BW-related research. When considering this opportunity, scientists face difficult questions related to personal values, professional ethics, responsibilities stemming from international law, and duties towards their country. It is the main objective of the proposed conference to clarify these issues. A second objective draws scholars' attention to the availability of the American Society for Microbiology's (ASM) archives for research on the history of microbiology in the U. S. The conference, and its published proceedings, will generate information that will help scientists decide whether to undertake DoD funded research; it will delineate the roles of scientific societies in guiding their members; and it will inform the public of these difficult questions so it can make informed decisions. The ASM and other scientific organizations are co-sponsors of the conference. The principal investigator, planning committee members, and speakers for the conference are highly qualified; sponsorship is appropriate; the issues are important; results will be appropriately disseminated. The project is meritorious and recommended for award.