Ethical Issues in Global Science

Increasingly, nations are forming relationships that blur traditional “borders” in the broadest sense.  As these relationships develop, differing cultures can become entangled with ethical issues.  Standards that are presumed to be universal may be viewed quite differently.  An attempt to set a global “standard” for scientific research integrity was formulated by the 2^nd World Conference on Research Integrity.  Their “Singapore Statement of Research Integrity” can be found at www.singaporestatement.org.  Research integrity is but a portion of ethical issues in global science, yet even this that many would regard as “universal” is “intended to challenge governments, organizations and researchers to develop more comprehensive standards, codes, and policies to promote research integrity both locally and on a global basis.”  When moral particulars are included, the challenge to universality becomes particularly difficult.  This paper will examine the ethical conflicts and contributions that differing cultures can make to ethical issues in global science, and the impact of differing ethical standards on international cooperation in science and technology, in light of increasing integration of national identities.