Is it time for scientists to swear an ethical oath similar to the Hippocratic oath used by physicians? Should they promise to conduct research only in socially responsible ways?
Many who attended a major international UNESCO conference on science and society in Budapest last week believed it was time for such an oath. Co-organised with the International Council for Science (ICSU), the conference was entitled "Science for the 21st century: a new commitment".
The first such UNESCO conference on science in 20 years, it represented an attempt to define the future course of science and scientific research, and to find ways of improving the usefulness of science to society.
There was strong pressure for some agreement on an ethics oath, but the participants failed to include such a demand in the conference declaration when the meeting came to an end last Thursday.
For six days issues related to the way science is perceived, taught and carried out were debated by around 1,800 participants, including about 90 ministers of science, policy-makers, Nobel laureates, leading researchers and representatives of NGOs. National delegations, including the Irish group, comprised the majority of those in attendance.
In setting the future agenda for science, its impact on society was a recurring theme of the conference, so it was not surprising that questions of ethics were to the fore.
During the opening session on Saturday June 26th, Sir Joseph Rotblat, founder and former president of the Pugwash conferences on science and world affairs, made a strong call for scientists to take an oath similar to the Hippocratic oath for doctors.
The reaction of the Nobel prize-winner in physics, Prof Leon Lederman, was typical of many participants. "A scientific Hippocratic oath is a good idea, but the wording will need some time and care," Prof Lederman told an informal press briefing.
"I do believe we need a higher level of ethical behaviour, but the trouble is that Rotblat says all science should be for the advancement of society. He would probably not have allowed Einstein to work on the theory of relativity."
About 50 requests for substantive amendments to the draft declaration on science and the use of scientific knowledge, which had been circulated in advance, were made to the drafting group. It also worked on a complementary document called the Draft Scientific Agenda Framework for Action.
Some amendments made in advance were already incorporated into the two drafts, including one from Ireland on the need for the availability of lifelong learning.
The issue of an oath took up most of the drafting groups' time, and they finished their work five hours late on Wednesday night. Taking of an oath was not rejected, however. Instead, the group kicked to touch with a recommendation in the final document that young scientists should be appropriately encouraged to respect and adhere to the basic ethical principles and responsibilities of science.
The ethics commissions of both UNESCO and ICSU have been charged with following through on this.
Traditional knowledge, including folk medicine, failed to be reclassified as science during the meeting. Its contribution to the development of modern science was recognised, however.
Gender issues fared better, with amendments urging countries to set up national, regional and global programmes to encourage more women to participate in science.
The Irish delegation, led by Dr Cearbhail O Dalaigh of the Department of Education and Science, was part of a consensus to approve the final documents on Thursday evening.
The Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce, Mr Treacy, had visited Budapest on Wednesday afternoon to present Ireland's perspective on science, and he voiced his support for the draft. "The declaration underpins the direction of Irish science and technology policy, from the educational and scientific position," he told The Irish Times.
The declaration and framework are not binding on UNESCO members, but will now be submitted to the General Conference of UNESCO and the General Assembly of ICSU.