WERA204: Animal Bioethics
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
WERA204: Animal Bioethics
Duration: 10/01/2000 to 09/30/2005
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Social structures are changing rapidly. In addition, scientific accomplishments have led to some negative consequences that were neither intended nor anticipated by scientists. Scientists typically view science as value?free enterprise, and therefore, ignore the moral considerations of their work. Nevertheless, science is a social practice and supports cultural
Objectives
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Create a forum in which animal scientists and non-animal scientists (philosophers, social scientists, etc.) may work together to examine and discuss contentious social issuses.
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Provide a means of encouraging the development and coordinating the activities of research projects dealing with bioethics of the animal sciences.
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Develop mechanisms of outreach that would allow animal scientists profession in the contextt of consumers and our critics who may question our science and / or production methods.
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Provide the means for ongoing critical analysis of the animal science profession in the context of its ability to address moral and socio-political issues.
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Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- Increased credible dialog between science and non?scientist community about contentious social issues. This will occur through increased number of scientific lay publications.
- Increased cooperative research between Animal Scientists, social scientists and philosophers.
- Development of new methods of publishing Animal Science information in forms that are both easily accessible by society and easily understandable to the greater public.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
The initial activities of the committee will, of course, be focused primarily on existing participants and the sharing of information with other possible participants. The group's efforts will then develop to include symposia and presentations at national and international meetings for both animal scientist and animal producer groups. In addition, the committee will develop the methods by which (electronic) concerned citizens may ask for clarification of concerns such as BST, animal welfare, animal rights, corporate farming, biotechnology, environmental problems, etc.
Organization/Governance
Literature Cited