Published by: Office of Biotechnology, Bioethics Outreach
Ames, Iowa 50011-3260, (515) 294-9818, biotech@iastate.edu
Questions about the site? E-mail biotech@www.biotech.iastate.edu
Copyright © 2003, Iowa State University. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, Issue 3
by Kristen Hessler, Bioethics Outreach Coordinator, ISU Office of Biotechnology and Cooperative Extension
Are you one of the science professors on campus who is increasingly interested
in adding a bioethics unit to their classes? It's a great idea! Discussions
of ethics in science classes clarify to students the larger social context in
which scientific activity takes place, making science more attractive to students
who might otherwise never consider a science major. For all science students,
including ethics in the curriculum has the distinct benefit of preparing them
to be ethical scientists and to participate in wider social debates about the
ethical implications of their work.
An important thing to remember when designing a bioethics component for your
class is that you do not have to be an ethicist to discuss the ethical issues
associated with your discipline. Most ethicists are trained in philosophy and
specialize in philosophical questions such as, "Where does ethics come
from?" or "Isn't ethics relative to one's society?" These questions
may be intimidating, but you don't need to address them to discuss ethics in
the context of your science class. As an expert in your discipline, there are
several approaches besides the philosophical approach that you can use.
One possibility is to take the current events approach, which focuses the unit on teaching students the terms of the current debate. Suppose you're teaching concepts relevant to stem cell research, a current controversial issue. Some students will know that there are ethical issues related to stem cell technology. Students probably won't ask philosophically based questions if they know they will be required only to answer questions about how groups argue for or against stem cell research on ethical grounds. If philosophical questions do come up, you can reasonably reply that while the question is fascinating and appropriate for a deeper understanding of the issues, it is beyond the scope of your class to address it. Encourage students to research the answers to these questions outside of class and refer them to the philosophy department for assistance.
Another option is the historical approach. This approach focuses on the history of an ethical issue. For example, if you are interested in research ethics, you could teach about the development of protection for human subjects in scientific and medical research. This approach combines the virtues of teaching students about the process by which an ethical issue was recognized as such in your field and about the current practice in your field on that issue. This kind of lesson can be extremely valuable for students, both practically, as they'll learn the current protocol for dealing with ethically sensitive issues, and as a spur for further reflection about the importance of ethical standards for human subjects research.
Whatever your approach, there are lots of resources to help you develop your curriculum. Below are two web-based resources worth your attention:
The University of Wisconsin-Madison hosted a Bioethics Institute this summer, with more than 30 participants from 18 institutions. Four Iowa State faculty members attended the training program.
The Institute was funded by the USDA consortium grant involving Iowa State University and eight other land-grant institutions in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Its purpose is to address the social, economic, and ethical aspects of biotechnology. The Institute also was supported by the National Agricultural Biotechnology Council, of which the Office of Biotechnology at Iowa State is a founding member.
The Institute is a week-long seminar to help professors incorporate ethical discussions into their life-science classrooms. The Institute structure was developed at Iowa State University through the support of the Office of Biotechnology and has been used for seminars at universities across the United States and internationally.
The Wisconsin Institute focused on helping professors and extension specialists understand ethical theory and practice as well as providing more specific techniques for teaching students and the public about ethics in an effective way.
Kristen Hessler, ISU bioethics outreach coordinator for the Office of Biotechnology and Cooperative Extension and lecturer in the philosophy and religious studies department, discussed using the Internet as a teaching tool for ethics. She also moderated a case study on golden rice that the participants at the Institute worked through.
A major component of the Institute was the development of case studies by small groups of participants. The case studies encourage students to apply ethical theory to specific situations.
Other speakers at the event discussed research ethics, environmental and animal ethics, and argument analysis.
Rob Streiffer, coordinator of the event, said the Institute was a success. "It was very well received, exceeding most participants' expectations," he said.
Research Ethics Online
(www.biotech.iastate.edu/Bioethics/research_ethics.html)--The
ISU Bioethics web site now offers a series of links for researchers and educators
on research ethics. The page contains links to classroom resources, online publications,
and organization links on research ethics. The links are intended to provide
basic information and tools for building ethics components into science and
research-based classes.
Genetically Modified Food Papers (www.biotech.iastate.edu/publications/IFAFS/SpecialReports-Economics.html)--Information on the economic and consumer issues associated with the sale of genetically modified foods is available on the Office of Biotechnology site, under the USDA consortium grant to address economic, ethical, and social issues of biotechnology.
Online Bioethics Course
(www.biotech.iastate.edu/IFAFS/onlinebioethicscourse.html)--Iowa's
first online bioethics course will be offered again during the fall semester.
The course is designed for educators who would like to learn about bioethics
in agriculture and human health and to incorporate bioethics into their courses.
The course will be held from September 16 through December 13, 2002, and is
taught by Kristen Hessler, bioethics outreach coordinator for the Office of
Biotechnology. Deadline for registration is September 9. For more information
or to register, contact Lori Miller at 515-294-9818 or lorimill@iastate.edu;
or Kristen Hessler at 515-294-7576 or khessler@iastate.edu.
Open forum on proposed safety reviews for genetically engineered crops
Thursday, August 29; 4:10 p.m.; 2050 Agronomy Hall
The ISU Office of Biotechnology and the Department of Agronomy Global Agricultural Science and Policy Initiative are hosting an open forum to discuss the proposal by the Bush administration for safety reviews of genetically engineered crops.
The title of the document published in the August 2 Federal Register is "Proposed Federal Actions to Update Field Test Requirements for Biotechnology Derived Plants and to Establish Early Food Safety Assessments for New Proteins Produced by Such Plants."
Public comments on the proposal are requested by the Office of Science and Technology Policy until September 30.
Walter Fehr, Director of the Office of Biotechnology and Distinguished Professor of Agriculture, will moderate the forum. Everyone is encouraged to attend and express their opinions.
Attendees are asked to bring to the forum a copy of the proposal, which is available in html or PDF format at www.biotech.iastate.edu/news_releases/open_forum.html. For more information, contact the Office of Biotechnology, 515-294-9818.
The Emerging Global Water Crisis
Wednesday, September 11; 4:10 p.m.; 2050 Agronomy Hall
Pierre Lecture in Soil Science. William Jury, University of California, Riverside. More information at 515-294-1890.
Food, Land, and Culture: Biotechnology Conference
Thursday-Friday, October 3-4; Lac Courte Oreilles Casino, Lodge, and Convention
Center, Hayward, WI
This conference, for extension faculty and other adult educators, will examine the social, economic, and ethical aspects of agricultural biotechnology. On the evening of Thursday, October 3, a Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa tribal leader and story teller will participate in an evening of Native American foods and a community forum on values and viewpoints about agricultural biotechnology.
Walter Fehr, director of the Office of Biotechnology, has been invited to give a presentation, "The Neighborhood Issue: Can GMO, Non-GMO, and Organic Farmers Coexist?"
Other topics of discussion will include labeling of genetically modified (GM) products; genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and food allergens; risk communication; Native American perspectives; and environmental and ethical issues of biotechnology. An optional tour of the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College will follow the adjournment of the conference.
There is no fee to attend the conference, but pre-registration is required (www.biotech.wisc.edu/seebiotech/lcoconf/register.html). More information about the conference, as well as location and lodging information, is available at www.biotech.wisc.edu/seebiotech/lcoconf/index.html.
The conference is sponsored the USDA consortium grant involving Iowa State and eight other land-grant institutions, including Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College in Hayward, WI, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Friday, November 1, 2002; Deadline
Faculty Development Support from the Office of Biotechnology
Funds from the Office of Biotechnology are available to provide partial support for conferences, symposia, and workshops related to biotechnology that are organized by faculty members and held on campus. Events that draw on broad participation by faculty, staff and student researchers are preferred. Applications for support should be submitted by Nov. 1, 2002, for proposed events for the 2003 calendar year. The applications will be reviewed by the Biotechnology Council in early November and the awards made by the end of November. Application forms are available by contacting Teri Peterson, Office of Biotechnology 515-294-4779 or tlpeters@iastate.edu.
Published four times per year
by the ISU Office of Biotechnology
and the Bioethics Program.
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Editor: Dena Huisman
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 318 Beardshear Hall, 515-294-7612.
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Published by: Office
of Biotechnology, Bioethics Outreach
Ames, Iowa 50011-3260, (515) 294-9818, biotech@iastate.edu
Questions about the site? E-mail biotech@www.biotech.iastate.edu
Copyright © 2003, Iowa State University. All rights reserved.
Last Update 05/23/03