Study to look at ethics in biobusiness

Research at the University of Newcastle is investigating the role of ethics and ethics education in biotechnology.

Third year Marketing and Biotechnology student Tamra Lysaght is studying differences in the perceptions of undergraduate biotechnology students and senior managers of biotechnology organisations towards formal ethics education.

Lysaght said advances in biotech had stimulated debate - not just in public, but also in commercial and professional circles - about the development and use of new technology.

"This debate has primarily been concerned with the ethics of biotechnology rather than its science," she said. "Embryonic stem cell research, genetically modified organisms, reproductive cloning and genetic mapping, to name but a few, are examples of the types of issues that have emerged as the technology has advanced."

Lysaght said that from her own involvement with the biotech sector, she saw evidence that industry figures and educators recognised that encouraging ethical behaviour may be important to the long-term development and sustainability of the biotechnology industry.

"We already see this in the adaptation of policies that endorse a code or practice of ethical behaviour, as well as the incorporation of ethics education into tertiary biotechnology educational programs," she said.

"But the incorporation of ethics education into undergraduate training is based upon largely untested assumptions, including that ethics in biotechnology is important, that ethics can be taught, that students can learn how to behave ethically by being aware of and sensitised to ethical issues, and that undergraduate ethics education will influence the behaviour of graduates."

Lysaght said she hoped the study results could help the industry's efforts to encourage ethical practice, and tertiary institutions to set up formal ethics programs.

She said the results could also shed light on biotechnologists' perceptions of the importance of ethics and ethical behaviour, and the relevance of ethics to the biotechnology industry.

The study is being supported by the Commonwealth government agency Biotechnology Australia.

If you would like to take part in the study, call Tamra Lysaght on (0402) 289 308.