Number: 2007-022-2-020
Title: Recommendations for Codes of Conduct
Task Group
Chairman: Graham S.
Pearson
Members: Sultan T. Abu-Orabi, Edwin
D. Becker, Alastair W.
Hay, Jo Husbands,
Peter G. Mahaffy, Robert
Mathews, Ting-Kueh Soon,
Leiv K. Sydnes, Natalia
P. Tarasova, Rietje
van Dam-Mieras, and Bernard
West
Objective:
To develop recommendations for Codes of Conduct for chemists that might
be promulgated by IUPAC and its NAOs.
Description:
IUPAC serves to advance the worldwide aspects of the chemical sciences
and to contribute to the application of chemistry in the service of
humankind. As a scientific, international, non-governmental and objective
body, IUPAC addresses many global issues involving the chemical sciences.
Adoption of recommendations for guiding principles for codes of conduct
by IUPAC would serve to promote the effective and responsible use of
chemical sciences.
As there is growing concern that chemicals should be used for good
and not for ill, there are responsibilities for those engaged in science
and technology using chemicals to ensure that their activities are aimed
only at bringing benefit to humankind and to the environment. Their
work needs to be, and perceived to be, in compliance with the international
treaties and national laws and regulations prohibiting chemical or biological
weapons, illicit drugs, and relating to banned and severely restricted
chemicals and the environment such as the Rotterdam Convention on the
Prior Informed Consent Procedure, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants, the Montreal Protocol and the Basel Convention on
Hazardous Wastes.
It is evident that increasing attention is being given around the world
to ethical principles and codes and that the new generation of chemists
are keen to see consideration of ethical and other considerations, such
as the environment, taken into account. Guiding principles for a code
of conduct would strengthen international chemistry, and help to achieve
high standards of excellence and relevance in academic, governmental
and industrial activities and promote the service of chemistry to society
and to global issues.
Guiding principles for a code recommended by IUPAC would recognise
the extraordinary benefits to the quality of life, public health and
agriculture throughout the world made available by the knowledge, methods
and techniques in science and technology using chemicals. It would promote
all aspects of chemistry, not just among members of the profession,
but increasingly to the worldwide community.
While chemistry can greatly improve the quality of life, we recognize
both the potential and power of chemistry, and acknowledge that it should
be approached with an appropriate mixture of enthusiasm and sensitivity
to social issues. While chemistry provides many valuable benefits for
humankind, it can also raise important ethical issues. These issues
can evolve as more development and uses of chemistry occur and guiding
principles for a code of conduct would provide a framework within which
to consider such issues.
While some principles relating to science and technology using chemicals
are codified in international treaties, national legislation, statutes
and regulations, guiding principles for a code of conduct recommended
by IUPAC is intended to provide guidance to all those using chemicals.
These principles would complement other codes at other levels.
In developing the guiding principles, a process of widespread consultation
across different cultural perspectives around the world will ensure
that the guiding principles for codes recommended by IUPAC are informed
by the experience of other professional bodies with codes, including
the extensive work in the chemical industry to develop codes such as
Responsible Care and the work by UNESCO and ICSU on education and codes.
In order to have an impact on practice, codes need to be dynamic rather
than static, and the codes need to be incorporated into a continuing
process that is considered prior to each new piece of work. Consideration
will be given to how to help ensure that IUPAC can, in the future, engage
in processes that help the guiding principles recommended by IUPAC to
be embodied in the practice of chemistry.
Progress:
Nov 2008 - Graham Pearson and Alastair Hay participated in August 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland at the Meeting of Experts of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. IUPAC participation in this BTWC meeting was useful in that it enabled the States Parties to be made aware of what IUPAC had done and is doing that is relevant to the ongoing efforts of the States Parties to the BTWC. Their statement delivered on 21 Aug 2008 is available here [pdf file - 156KB]. The meeting was also useful as it enabled this project chair to gain information on developments in regard to codes of conduct notably by the UNESCO Division of Ethics of Science and Technology as well to meet with other members of this project task group.
A report of that meeting will appear in CI.
Last update: 8 November 2008
<project announcement published in
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