SCIENTIFIC FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY

Science and its applications now affect the quality of life for everyone, largely technological developments that can bring great benefits but can also expose us, and our environment, to grave and often unforeseen hazards. Scientific experts who feel an obligation to speak out on such issues may come into sharp conflict with their employers, or with other vested interests. This report maintains that the professional societies should assume a greatly increased responsibility for their members, in conflicts that involve defense of the public interest on issues related to the professional competence of the members of the society. The difficulties associated with this proposal, and possible ways of solving them are discussed. Some of these problems are illustrated by the case of the three Bay Area Rapid Transit engineers who warned of dangerous deficiencies in the BART automatic control system. /HRIS/

• Corporate Authors:

  American University

  Development Education and Training Research Institute
  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Edsall, J T
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Pagination: 50 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic control; Public opinion; Rapid transit; Scientists; Technology
• Identifier Terms: San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District
• Old TRIS Terms: Scientific societies; Transportation effects
• Subject Areas: Highways; Public Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00125502
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Misc. Pub. 75-4
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 16 1982 12:00AM