What responsibility does a scientist have to society?

Greetings Everyone:

What responsibility does a scientist have to society? Should the scientific community commit to communication as an integral part of a researcher's professional role? These are the very pertinent questions posed by David Dickson, Director of SciDev.Net, the online Science and Development Network. David has written an editorial on this subject and introduces readers to a draft set of guidelines prepared by the International Council for Science addressing the issue This global body is committed to ensuring that science is used for the benefit of all, that excellence in science is valued and that scientific knowledge is effectively linked to policy making.

Quite aside from the fact that the editorial is well-written and usefully sets the guidelines in a broader context, the online discussion immediately below the editorial is worth reading too with many respondents looking at the need for training in communications as an integral part of science education.

Read more here http://www.scidev.net/en/editorials/communication-a-responsibility-of-all-scientists.html

With best wishes, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat
*********************************************************
To unsubscribe from this list or request monthly digest of messages write to ramsar-cepa-eng-owner@lists.ramsar.org

Sandra HAILS
CEPA Programme Officer
Ramsar Convention Secretariat
Rue Mauverney 28, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
hails@ramsar.org
Tel: +41 22 9990176
Fax: +41 22 9990169
www.ramsar.org/CEPA-Programme/