Society for Scientific Values Ethics in Scientific Research Development
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Society for Scientific Values Ethics in Scientific Research Development and Administration News and Views Volume 1 March 2004 No. 1 LEAD US FROM UNREAL TO REAL Regd. Office: DST Centre for Visceral Mechanisms Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi Delhi - 110007 Editor Dr. P.N. Tiwari Block B-65, SFS Qrs., Sheikh Sarai, Phase – I, New Delhi - 110 017 Associate Editor Dr. P.S. Datta Dr. I. M. Mishra Project Director & Professor Senior Scientist Nuclear Research Laboratory Divn. of Agricultural Engineering. IARI, New Delhi – 110012 IARI, New Delhi – 110012 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Editorial Advisory Committee Dr. A.S. Paintal (New Delhi) Dr. P.M. Bhargava (Hydearbad) Dr. A.R. Verma (New Delhi) Dr. P.N. Srivastava (Gurgaon) Dr. K.L. Chopra (New Delhi) Dr. (Mrs.) Indira Nath (New Delhi) Dr. S.R. Valluri (Bangalore) Dr. M.V.S. Valiathan (New Delhi) Dr. G. Govil (Mumbai) Office Bearers of the Society ( 2002-2004 ) President Vice President Secretary Dr. K.L. Chopra Dr. Narendra Nath Dr. P.S. Datta (Ex-Director, IIT Kharagpur) 259 Sector 7, Urban Estate Project Director & Professor M-70, Kirti Nagar Kurukshetra – 136118 NRL, IARI, New Delhi – 12 New Delhi – 110015 Ph : (011) 25843297/ 25842454 Ph. : (011) 25154114 Fax: (011) 25842454/25847705 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Joint Secretary Treasurer Dr. Ashima Anand Dr. I. M. Mishra Principal Scientific Officer Senior Scientist DST Centre for Visceral Mechchanisms Divn. of Agricultural Engineering. VP Chest Institute, Delhi-110007 IARI, New Delhi-110012 Ph. : (011) 27667749 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Main objectives of the 'Society for Scientific Values' (i) To promote objectivity, integrity and ethical values in pursuit of scientific research, education and management, and (ii) To demote and curb the unethical acts in these areas. EDITORIAL The Society has been publishing a bulletin titled 'Society for Scientific Values: News and Views'. The title of the bulletin has been changed from last issue to 'ETHICS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION', with a hope that it will transform into renowned journal in due course of time. The readers are invited to contribute articles and letters to Editor on any aspect of ethics in science, technology, development and administration including the role of scientists in society especially in India and relation between science and spirituality. The manuscripts may preferably be sent by e-mail to both the Associate Editors. The typed and printed manuscripts should be sent to the Editor. The Society would also consider publishing a gist of some very good articles in its area of interest published elsewhere or reproduce full article if there is no restriction on its reproduction. The readers are welcome to send a copy of such articles to the Editor. The issue contains a letter of Dr. R.S. Valluri, Ex-Director NRL, Bangalore and of Dr. Lalji Singh, Director CCMB, Hyderabad written to the Secretary, SSV expressing their views, expressions and suggestions about the bulletin. The articles included in this issue are: (1) 'Management of Science & Technology in India-Ethical concerns' by Dr. K.L. Chopra, Ex-Director, IIT, Kharagpur; (2) 'Where is Indian Science Going' by Dr. S.R. Valluri, Ex-Director, NAL; (3) 'Enhancing the Health of Science in India' by Dr. I.P. Abrol, Ex-Dy. Director General, ICAR, New Delhi; and (4) 'Making Management of Indian Science and Technology More Creative' by Dr. P.N. Tiwari, Ex-Project Director, NRL, IARI, New Delhi. Reports on the recently investigated cases of unethical acts in research, and some similar cases currently being pursued are also included in this issue. The Society has been defending the cause of science in India against heavy odds by investigating specific instances of misconduct in scientific research and publication brought to its notice, and sending its findings to concerned institutions for taking appropriate action. Some of them have taken disciplinary action, while others pretended to ignore. To make the Society more effective it should be recognized by the Government of India as the prime Non-Governmental Body: (1) to articulate ethical issues in scientific research and management, and to formulate code of conduct of scientists and technologists and; (2) to investigate cases of unethical conduct in scientific research and management brought to its notice, and pass on the findings to concerned organisations for taking appropriate action. A suitable linkage of the Society with the office of the Prime Minister would help in taking its findings seriously by the concerned organisations. The 'Office of Research Integrity' established by the US President has been doing work similar to the Society in USA. Letters to the Editors To: Dr. P.S. Datta 20th August, 2003 Secretary, SSV Dear Dr. Datta, I just saw your e-mail about renaming the SSV bulletin. It is a welcome change. I note you have invited me to be on the editorial advisory committee. I will be glad to serve on it. Such a publication with wider circulation is badly needed to make the scientific community become aware of the need to control scientific misconduct. It is very important that it receives much wider circulation, particularly where it counts most, namely among the young scientists and the university student body. It has been my experience that although there are many among the senior scientific community with unblemished records, they are not keen to take a stand in such matters, nor consciously inculcate a code of ethics among their junior colleagues. In fact when I was asked recently to address some new recruits to the CSIR labs in Chennai, it came as a no surprise for me when I was told that they were under pressure from their seniors to have their (seniors) names also included as co-authors of papers to which their contributions were nil. We do not seem to carry much credibility elsewhere in the world due to such practices and due to the involvement of people like vice chancellors indulging in such misconduct. It is all the more tragic that we seem to take note of it more if a foreign scientist draws attention to such practices, as for example in Rajput case or in the Gupta case. I ardently hope like the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in the US which has become the keeper of the conscience of the nuclear scientists, the new SSV Bulletin will become the keeper of the conscience of the Indian scientific community to promote the cause of science, an ideal for which Prof. Raman founded the Indian Academy of Sciences and the Journal of Current Science. With kind regards and good wishes, Dr. S R Valluri. Ex-Director National Aeronautical Laboratory Bangalore To: Dr. P.S. Datta 4th December, 2003 Secretary, SSV Dear Dr. Datta, Thank you very much for sending me the August, 2003 issue of the Society for Scientific Values. The issue no doubt represents features from eminent authors and certainly will go a long way in helping the persuasion of aims and objectives of SSV. I have a few minor suggestions to make. 1. I looked at the web site of SSV. There is no provision for institutional membership. Why is it so, especially when active participation of the institution will certainly help in pursuing ethical issues? (Please refer to Page Nos.13 and 14 of Prof. P.N. Srivatava's article). 2. Membership list as it is on the web needs to be updated/revised; because a few members whose names appeared in the list are not living any more. With regards and best wishes, Lalji Singh Director Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad Management of Science & Technology in India: Ethical Concerns* Prof. K.L. Chopra Former Director, IIT, Kharagpur Evolution of Ethical Concerns: Ethics and values, simply defined, are a set of principles and a sense of purpose. Be good and do good to all, or do unto others what you would like others to do unto you are Vedantic and Biblical definitions. Ethical values evolve out of our consciousness and are fundamental to a civilized society. At the dawn of civilization, the hunter-gatherer was blessed with personal spiritual values as a part of his/her consciousness. With the emergence of social groups, societal values in the form of spiritual and religious ethics evolved. During the early history of mankind, numerous philosophers, sages and religious prophets in different civilizations created classical and immortal literature expounding and codifying spiritual and ethical codes of conduct. Vedanta, Gita and Ramayana are classic in Indian civilization "Hippocratic Oath" devised as early as 400 BC as physician's code of conduct continues to be followed even today. After the Industrial Revolution, ethical values assumed much importance in business and management. Consequently, during 60's, most Management Institutions incorporated ethics as co curriculum and some have established special departments for the subject. This also led professional institutions, societies and academics world over to draft relevant codes of conduct for engineers and scientists. As a result of revolutionary changes brought about by tech-nomic-globalization, digital convergence and knowledge power, 1990's have witnessed the emergence of Ethical Values to Centre stage of all professional societal activities. Just how important ethical values are in a variety of Life Science S&T areas is indicated by the fact that it is now a part of mandatory teaching and learning process in life science curricula all over the world. The new millenium has ushered in enormous S&T activities on a molecular/nano level in physical, chemical, engineering, agro, medical and biosciences. Convergence and integration of some of these S&T areas has started taking place.