Volume 1, Issue 6
by Dena Huisman
What Richard Gladon tries to get across to students is that he can't teach them what's ethically right or wrong. He can only help them see both sides of the issue in order to make the most informed decision.
A horticulture professor at Iowa State University since 1978, Gladon has played an instrumental role in initiating conversations about research ethics in his department as well as speaking to professors in other departments at the 1999 Bioethics Faculty Retreat.
He also has given presentations on ethical issues to classes. When a professor approached Gladon about speaking to her sustainable horticulture class, Gladon decided to speak about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). At the beginning, most of the students were against GMOs. After a presentation of both sides of the issue and a small group discussion, the students said the class had a tremendous impact on how they viewed the controversial topic.
"The most important thing for me was their reaction," Gladon said. "When they came into the class, they had their heels dug in about the issue. Afterward, they had a better understanding and were willing to discuss both sides of the GMO issue."
Then came the call from the ISU Honors Program, asking if he would be interested in teaching a class on ethical issues in the biological sciences. Bioethics Program Coordinator Gary Comstock had recommended Gladon for the course, the first of which was taught in the fall of 1999, with another scheduled for fall 2000.
Gladon allows the students to be involved as much as possible in the course, giving them choices in the topics so that issues important to them are discussed in class. At the beginning of the semester, Gladon gives students a list of 50 controversial issues in the biological sciences, including human cloning, organ transplants (from animal to human), and GMOs. Then he plans the course according to the topics most important to the majority of students.
Last fall, Gladon's class spent several weeks in a debate tournament. Due to the success of the event, Gladon decided to devote most of next semester's class to a full-fledged debate tournament. Using the system athletic organizations use, Gladon will create a round-robin first round where four teams have a chance to debate each other. According to their scores, teams then will be placed in a bracket, working their way down to semi-final, and a final championship debate. Trophies will be given to each member of the winning team and the runners-up.
Gladon's approach to teaching comes from his belief that ethics is not so much
about what is right or wrong for any given person, but about deciding what ought
to be done. "As a teacher and mentor, I feel the need to expose students
to these things," he said.
Honors 321E
Ethical Issues in the Biological Sciences
Dr. Richard J. Gladon
SPEECH TYPE TIME LIMIT
Constructive Speeches:
First Affirmative Constructive Four (4) Minutes
Speaker Response Reorganization Time One (1) Minute
Cross-examination by Second Negative Two (2) Minutes
Speaker Response Reorganization Time One (1) Minute
First Negative Constructive Four (4) Minutes
Speaker Response Reorganization Time One (1) Minute
Cross-examination by First Affirmative Two (2) Minutes
Speaker Response Reorganization Time One (1) Minute
Second Affirmative Constructive Four (4) Minutes
Speaker Response Reorganization Time One (1) Minute
Cross-examination by First Negative Two (2) Minutes
Speaker Response Reorganization Time One (1) Minute
Second Negative Constructive Four (4) Minutes
Speaker Response Reorganization Time One (1) Minute
Cross-examination by Second Affirmative Two (2) Minutes
Speaker Response Reorganization Time One (1) Minute
Rebuttal Speeches:
First Negative Rebuttal Two (2) Minutes
Speaker Response Reorganization Time One (1) Minute
First Affirmative Rebuttal Two (2) Minutes
Transition Time:
Back and Forth - - Lectern to Seat to Lectern Within Speaker Reorg. Time
Discussion Time:
Overall Discussion of Topic & Ideas from Debate As Available
Published six times per year
by the ISU Office of Biotechnology
and the Bioethics Program.
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Editor: Dena Huisman
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Last Update 05/23/03