By Emily Hubbell

Although ethical issues have always been a part of science, emerging fields such as nanoscience provide scientists with the opportunity to incorporate ethics into the classroom and the lab, said Dr. Arthur Zucker in his presentation at the 5^th International Congress of Nano-Bio Clean Tech.

“It’s not just nanoscience—it’s taking advantage of something new that people are looking at and changing the way scientists are taught to see science,” said Zucker, chair and associate professor of philosophy and member of NQPI.

Considering the public’s perception of science and the problems the public may have with it is an important aspect of ethics. “Doing science” should include thinking about the social and ethical implications of that science, preferably before performing research, he said.

Ethical issues in nanoscience include its possible effects on public health, privacy, self-identity and military uses.  

Professionals in nanoscience are already doing a good job focusing on ethics. Still, there is a need for more discussion of ethics in curriculum, taught by the scientists themselves and not separate ethicists, Zucker said.

“The goal is to think about these issues before problems arise,” he said.