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
Last modified: 2023-07-16