Multidisciplinary Engagement with Nanoethics Through Education—The Nanobio-RAISE Advanced Courses as a Case Study and Model

Abstract

This paper presents and evaluates two advanced courses organised in Oxford as part of the European project Nanobio-RAISE and suggests using their format to encourage multidisciplinary engagement between nanoscientists and nanoethicists. Several nanoethicists have recently identified the need for ‘better’ ethics of emerging technologies, arguing that ethical reflection should become part and parcel of the research and development (R&D) process itself. Such new forms of ethical deliberation, it is argued, transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries and require the active engagement and involvement of both nanoethicists and nanoscientists with the broader issues surrounding technological developments. Whereas significant research efforts into multi- and interdisciplinary collaborations during R&D processes are now emerging, opportunities for encouraging multidisciplinary engagement through education have remained relatively underexplored. This paper argues that educational programmes could be a natural extension of ongoing collaborative research efforts ‘in the lab’ and analyses how the Nanobio-RAISE courses could be used as a model for course development. In addition to exploring how the elements that were conducive to multidisciplinary engagement in this course could be preserved in future courses, this paper suggests shifting the emphasis from public communication towards ethical deliberation. Further course work could thus build capacity among both nanoscientists and nanoethicists for doing ‘better’ nanoethics.

Paradigm Lost: A Reasoned Review of the Literature on the Relationship between Ethics and Technological Innovation

“…[43] Schuurbiers et al 2009 This paper presents two advanced courses organised in Oxford and argues that educational programmes could be a natural extension of ongoing collaborative research efforts "in the lab".…”

The Question of Ethics in Nanomedicine

“…Several nanoethicists have lately identified the need for 'better' ethics of emerging technologies and believed that researchers should consider ethical reflection as part and parcel of the research and development processes and should be transferred to nanomedicine [13]. Therefore, it is essential to proactively address the ethical, social and regulatory aspects of nanomedicine in order to diminish its side effects on the environment and public health and also to avoid a public reaction [11,14].…”

Learning About the Societal Impacts of Nanotechnology Through Role Playing

“…Characters and events in the case study can be based on actual historical events or fictional. Role playing helps students appreciate the perspectives of others (Schuurbiers et al, 2009). Unlike most scientific and engineering topics they learn, realistic ethical issues do not have clear-cut answers.…”

“…Many nanotechnology educators and researchers worry that practitioners of this field are not fully engaging the public in a discussion of the potential benefits and risks related to nanotechnology (Jacobs et al, 2010;Schuurbiers et al, 2009). In fact, this is a longstanding concern (Roco & Bainbridge, 2001a;Cobb & Macoubrie, 2004;Bhushan, 2004).…”