Ethics in Science

Syllabus: Spring 2012 Assignments | Missed Lectures

Instructor
Michael Kalichman
Director, San Diego Research Ethics Consortium, 858-822-2027
kalichman@ucsd.edu

Course Information
Meeting Location: Keck Amphitheater

March 28 - March 30 April 2 - April 5
Wed - Fri Mon - Thur
10 am - noon 1 - 3 pm

Course Description
The purpose of this course is to engage researchers in reading, considering, and discussing the responsible conduct of science. The course is designed as an option for meeting current NIH and NSF requirements for training in the responsible conduct of research.

Background Preparation (Prerequisites)
No prerequisites.

Texts and Journal References
Baseline information for each topic can be found at: research-ethics.net.

Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will:

  1. know rules, issues, options, and resources for research ethics
  2. understand the purpose and value of ethical decision-making
  3. have a positive disposition toward research ethics

Course Format
Course topics will be covered by a combination of lectures, student presentations, readings accessible on the Web, and discussion in class. In addition to those readings linked below, additional readings may be sent out in advance of some class meetings. Attendance, participation in discussions and completion of assignments will be the basis for credit. NOTE: The course schedule or organization may be changed if necessary to better achieve the course objectives.

Credit
This course is available for pass/fail credit not for a letter grade. To receive credit for the course or for the purpose of NIH or NSF training requirements, you must attend all 7 class meetings, complete assigned readings, prepare and present assigned presentations, and participate in class discussions. If you need credit for this course, but find that you cannot meet these requirements, then you should contact the instructor as soon as possible.
For a complete listing of assignments, please check the Assignments page.

Scientific and Professional Ethics
The work you do in this course must be your own. You must be aware when you are building on someone else's ideas, including ideas of classmates, professors, and authors of the materials you read. You must explicitly acknowledge the ideas of others. Feel free to build on, react to, criticize, and analyze the ideas of others but, when you do, make it known whose ideas you are working with. If you have questions about drawing the line between others' work and your own, ask the instructor for guidance.

Expectations and Logistics
The first session of the course will consist largely of lecture, but will also include opportunities for questions and some discussion. The remaining sessions of the course will be structured around student presentations of assigned topics. The course will include some readings and homework assignments to identify current events relevant to the course topics.


Schedule

LECTURE TOPICS (Required Readings)
1 Introduction, Overview, and Research Misconduct
2 Data Management
Bias, Conflicts of Interest
3 Animal subjects
Human subjects | Stem Cells
4 Authorship
Publication and Peer Review
5 Collaboration
Mentoring
6 Social Responsibility
Whistleblowing (also: Gunsalus, 1998)
7 Faculty Panel (to be announced)