A Survey of Attitudes and Actions on Dual Use Research in the Life Sciences A Collaborative Effort of the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2009) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
4 Conclusions and Recommendations
4 Conclusions and Recommendations
Pages 115-122
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 115... ...
The survey obtained information from a diverse group of academic, government, and industry researchers. The survey data provide evidence about how the respondents perceive the sources of risk related to dual use research, the actions that some scientists are taking to reduce the risk of misuse of science, and the prospects for acceptance of various policy proposals aimed at reducing the risks of misuse of legitimate life science research.
|
From page 116... ...
to be significant barriers. It may be that one's perceived risk of such an attack is related to one's support for taking measures to reduce the risks that life sciences research might be misused.
|
From page 117... ...
Many of the respondents indicated that they believe that personal responsibility, including measures such as codes of conduct, could foster a positive culture within the scientific community to evaluate the potential consequences of their research for public safety and national security. They also indicated that they believe that individual researchers, professional scientific societies, institutions, and scientific journals should be responsible for evaluating dual use potential of research and/or fostering the culture of scientific responsibility.
|
From page 118... ...
The survey suggests that most of the respondents (82 percent) favor their professional societies' prescribing a code of responsible conduct to help prevent misuse of life sciences research.
|
From page 119... ...
Institutions should provide mandatory training for 55 scientists regarding dual use life sciences research. Greater restrictions should be placed on access to specific 47 biological agents or toxins.
|
From page 120... ...
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH A major reason for conducting the survey was to inform efforts for education and awareness-raising about dual use research by providing empirical data on the attitudes of a sample of the life sciences community. In general, the respondents to this survey would likely support educational and outreach activities aimed at raising awareness of the dual use dilemma.
|
From page 121... ...
In particular, based on the survey results and its own deliberations, the committee offers the following recommendations: Oversight, Education, and Outreach 1. Explore how to continue and to expand the dialogue within the life sciences community about dual use research of concern.
|
From page 122... ...
5. Conduct additional surveys of life scientists outside the United States that would enable comparisons of attitudes toward dual use research of concern and inform educational and outreach programs so that they can be effective on a global scale.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.