Science, Ethics & Society

 

Portfolio 1
Due Oct 5 (150 points)

Submit in class or to Serrano mailbox in Biology Office Foster 275 by 4:30 pm Oct 5

Format
Contents

10/03/07 ees

 

Scientific integrity
25 pts

Mentorship
20 pts

Codes of conduct
10 pts

Pugwash
15 pts

Ethics sites
20 pts

Case Studies
60 pts


Format

·         The portfolio should be in a loose leaf notebook or other bound format, neatly organized, and separated by assignment.

·         The  portfolio cover page should have the last five digits of your social security number but not your name! 

·         All assignments should be numbered, typed and doubled-spaced with 0.75 inch margins

·         Keep a copy of the portfolio for your records

·         OPTIONAL. It is STRONGLY recommended that you supplement your portfolio with other notes, web sites, thoughts, news clippings etc you may have assembled as part of the class assignments.  This will be a valuable resource for YOU.  I would enjoy seeing this if you wish to submit it for me to review.  The supplement should be included as a separate appendix at the end of your portfolio.

 

Contents

  • Scientific integrity (25 points) Prepare a 2-3 page essay that answers the following:
    • What is meant by scientific integrity?  What is scientific misconduct and how is it defined? Do you  believe that the accepted definition of scientific misconduct is adequate?  Why/ why not? 
    • In class we discussed academic misconduct.  What parallels exist between scientific and academic misconduct? Do you believe that academic misconduct guidelines and procedures are enforced by students?  Should they be? How important is it for individuals engaged in scientific or academic misconduct to be accountable? 
    • Who is responsible for ensuring that misconduct is identified and indemnified? 
    • What are the consequences for scientific misconduct?  who is affected?
    • what advice would you give a fellow student starting research regarding the workplace and scientific conduct?
  • Mentorship  (20 points)  Prepare a 1-2 page essay that identifies potential difficulties in the mentor student relationship.  What qualities should a mentor cultivate to ensure the relationship is productive for student and mentor? What qualities should be cultivated by the student?
  • Submit your professional code of conduct and a one paragraph critique of ambiguities or other concerns you identify in the code (10 points).
  • Ethics sites exploration, responses for TWO website from the following five (20 points) 
    • who is responsible for organizing and maintaining this website?
    • who funds the website?
    • what are the ethical concerns about science addressed by this site?
    • summarize your overall impression of the site.  What novel information if any did you learn? 
  • Case studies (60 points)
    • (40 points) Analysis You have been provided with literature about ethics as part of this course. For this  assignment, write a 700-1000 word essay that critically analyzes the approach that you used to assess the case studies. In particular, 
      • Evaluate whether overall your decisions were based on teleological (outcomes-basd),  deontological (duty based) ethics, virtues etc. 
      • Describe how your approach to analyzing ethical dilemmas changed or evolved (if it did) as the  course progressed.  What role if any, did other students, class discussion, and the  readings play in this process? What insights were offered when you meet in the small groups? 
      • As part of your essay evaluate how you approached solving the case studies.  What method if any did you use?  Did your approach vary as you completed more of the case studies? 
      • Describe your present analytical approach to analyzing ethical dilemmas. 
      • Now that you have completed this assignment, what recommendations can you offer to others as they begin to prepare case studies for analysis? 
    • (20 points) Cases Using the analytical approach you presented in your essay, prepare a detailed analysis of four  case studies  you deemed difficult or especially interesting  from those  assigned. Explain why you chose these three
      • Each of the 4 should come from a different chapter. 
      • At least one case study must be from Fundamentals of Ethics