Biological Weapons Control Program Announces New Ethical Education Materials for Life Scientists
March 1, 2005
For more information contact: Alan Pearson, apearson@armscontrolcenter.org
The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation announces the initial release of new course materials for life scientists entitled Biosecurity: Risks, Responses, and Responsibilities.
The course can be accessed here
According to Alan Pearson, Director of the Biological and Chemical Weapons Control Program at the Center, “the problem of biological weapons requires serious attention. Whatever governments decide to do, life scientists will have a major role to play in managing the security risks associated with modern biology and biotechnology. These educational materials, created for life scientists by life scientists, will help them meet their responsibility.”
The course materials are designed to educate scientists in academia, industry, and government about the potential misuse of life sciences knowledge and biotechnology for hostile purposes, and about their responsibilities to help mitigate that risk. There has been a growing recognition of the need for such education, which was the first recommendation of a high profile National Academies of Sciences Committee report issued last year (titled “Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism”). The Bush Administration also highlighted this need when it established the National Science Advisory Board on BioSecurity, also in 2004.
The educational materials are designed primarily for use by students who are embarking on careers in the medical and life sciences - advanced undergraduates and first-year graduate biology and medical students – and their teachers. These students know the basics of molecular biology and biotechnology but may not yet appreciate the ease with which legitimate work could be exploited for hostile purposes. They may have no more than the conscientious citizen’s knowledge of national security, international affairs, and biological weapons control. The educational materials also provide contextual background for non-scientists interested in these policy-critical areas.
The materials are organized into several educational modules comprising short multi-media presentations and case studies relating to biological weapons, potentially dangerous experiments, and bioethics. They can be used by individuals or in a classroom setting. The case studies are being developed to facilitate group discussion of the complex set of issues surrounding the misuse of biology.
The current release is a test version of the course materials, which are being further developed by the project team. “We seek feedback and suggestions for improvement from viewers to help us revise and upgrade the materials so that they will best meet the needs of young scientists today,” says Pearson. “At the same time, by releasing these materials now, we hope to catalyze ongoing efforts by the life sciences community to meet the challenges and responsibilities that come with modern biology and biotechnology.”
The project director and lead developer of the educational modules is Lynn Klotz, Ph.D., a biochemist and member of the Scientists’ Working Group on Biological and Chemical Weapons located at the Center. Early work on this project was made possible by generous funding from Carnegie Corporation of New York. The test version is currently being hosted on-line through the generous efforts of Politics and the Life Sciences, a journal edited at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, and is available for review and comment on the Center's website.
The Center is working with other organizations to disseminate course materials internationally.
For more information on the new course materials, contact Alan Pearson at 202-546-0795 or apearson@armscontrolcenter.org or contact Lynn Klotz at 978-281-6015 or lklotz@armscontrolcenter.org. For more information about the Biological and Chemical Weapons Control Program of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, contact Alan Pearson.