UK academy calls for global cooperation to prevent misuse of science
The UK's Royal Society, an independent research academy, has called for global cooperation measures in order to ensure that 'misguided' scientists cannot simply move to another country to carry out unsafe work. The academy is to present a paper on codes of conduct in preventing the misuse of scientific research at a meeting of experts at the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, taking place from 13 to 20 June. The Royal Society currently favours an extension of the UK system in order to avoid questionable research being moved to other countries. 'At the national level we envisage that, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, the extension of current UK health and safety regulations will be one of the most effective ways to target specific areas of concern. However, we need global cooperation to harmonise regulations between different countries,' said Professor Julia Higgins, Vice President of the Royal Society. 'Minimum levels of safety regulation should be established to prevent a misguided scientist from carrying out unsafe research simply by moving to a different country.' The academy's report proposes an assessment of individual research projects in order to decide whether or not the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks. Three stages at which this assessment could be carried out are identified: when a scientist applies for funding; a local or national risk assessment; and when a paper is submitted to a journal for publication. '[T]he referees and editors should consider whether the results have destructive uses and whether, in extreme circumstances, this means the paper should be amended or rejected,' explains Professor Higgins. Highlighting the need for close collaboration for such a scheme to work, Professor Higgins added: 'The degree to which these measures are carried out at present varies greatly between organisations, so the aim is to develop consistently higher standards overall.' More generally, Professor Higgins points out that codes of conduct help to raise awareness and to foster discussion, and that a discussion on the potential for misuse of life science research is needed. 'The process of defining a code, including extensive consultation with target groups to ensure it is workable, should also increase the number of individuals who are aware that there are areas of concern. They also have an important role in training and education so that scientists are reminded of their legal and ethical responsibilities and consider the potential consequences of their research,' she said.
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