Science affects every aspect of life, at least in the Western world. Most of this is taken for granted. Some aspects, such as new medicines for people and their animals, better transport systems and faster computers, are valued enormously by the ‘general public’ (i.e. those who do not participate directly in scientific activities). Other facets can be disliked, distrusted and even feared, such as genetically modified foods, cloning, or the use of animals in research.

As scientists, we are members of society and have a responsibility to that society. This includes not only acting in an ethical and responsible manner, but also disseminating and explaining what we do and discover, the implications and applications of our research and the potential benefits, and being honest and open about potential disadvantages or failures.

THE CHANGING SCENE

The responsibilities of scientists to society at large have changed significantly in recent years. Just a decade or so ago, most of the scientific community would assume it perfectly acceptable to work on whatever they chose (as long as they could obtain sufficient funds), without concerns about the potential impact of their discoveries or about explaining their research to non-scientists.