Appeals

In research ethics it has become common practice that through appeals, declarations and codes, researchers attempt to convince each other to take a stand for or against various research fields and methods. One primary example is Nobel Prize winner Joseph Rotblat's challenge to scientists to sign a type of Hippocratic Oath. Associating oneself with a certain ethical code is naturally completely voluntary and does not constitute a formal commitment. Below is a sample of such appeals, thematically ordered.

excellence in research and reducing waste

• Seven reasons to care about integrity in research (Science Europe)
• The Initiative for Open Citations (I4OC)
   

Biotech & the environment

• Earth Charter
• MOSAICC - Micro-organisms sustainable use and access regulation. International Code of Conduct
• Our Common Future under Climate Change - Outcome Statement (CFCC15 Scientific Committee)
• Scientists in Support of Agricultural Biotechnology (AgBio World Foundation)
• Transition to Sustainability in the 21st Century: The Contribution of Science and Technology. (InterAcademy Panel on International Issues)
• World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity
   

Genetics and life's beginnings

• The Genetic Bill of Rights (Council for Responsible Genetics)
   

Other medical research

• Fair Research Contracts: Guidance (Council on Health Research for Development)
• All Trials Registered | All Results Reported
• “The Ilulissat Statement” - Synthesizing the Future: A vision for the convergence of synthetic biology and nanotechnology (Kavli Futures Symposium ‘The merging of bio and nano: towards cyborg cells’, 11-15 June 2007, Ilulissat, Greenland)
• The Ancillary-Care Obligations of Medical Researchers Working in Developing Countries (Participants in the 2006 Georgetown University Workshop on the Ancillary-Care Obligations of Medical Researchers Working in Developing Countries)
• Resolution on the TRIPS Agreement and access to medicines (European Parliament)
   

Warfare, arms development and peace

• Declaration of the 8th World Science Forum on Science for Peace
• Ethics: A Weapon to Counter Bioterrorism - paper by Margaret A. Somerville and Ronald M. Atlas in Science
• Missiles to Sunflowers - Abolition 2000 International Petition
• Rigour, respect and responsibility: A universal ethical code for scientists (Department of Trade & Industry, UK)
• The Russell-Einstein Manifesto and the homepage of the Swedish pugwash movement
• Scientists' and Engineers' Pledge to Renounce Weapons of Mass Destruction (International campaign from various US organisations)
• World Medical Association Declaration of Washington on Biological Weapons
• World Medical Association Declaration on Nuclear Weapons
   

Overall appeals & other topics

• An oath for Bioscientists - a proposal (Journal of Biomedical Sciences)
• Budapest Open Access Initiative - on open Internet access to scientific articles
• Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge (UNESCO)
• Declaration on the Responsibilities of the Present Generations Towards Future Generations (UNESCO)
• Statement on Academic Sanctions or Boycotts (World Medical Association)
• The Washington DC Principles for Free Access to Science