Whose Responsibility?

Don Prosnitz

ResearchPublished 2007

How should scientists and engineers respond to the concern over technology-driven threats? Although there are persuasive arguments for the proposition that they not engage in public policy debates or speculate about the possibility of social harm emanating from research and development, the author believes that they should possess the analytical techniques to evaluate (not judge) the societal impacts of technology. Technology impact studies should be incorporated into the research plans of major new initiatives, along with formal requirements to mitigate known negative societal impacts. Finally, scientists and engineers should undertake, on their own initiative, efforts to reduce the negative impacts of their work.

Reprinted with permission of Professional Ethics Report, Vol. XX, No. 4, Fall 2007, pp. 1-8.

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Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • Availability: Web-Only
  • Year: 2007
  • Pages: 8
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/pubs
  • Document Number: RP-1321

Reprinted from: Professional Ethics Report, Fall 2007, Vol. XX, No. 4, pp. 1-8.

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