A survey of attitudes and actions on dual use research in the life sciences : a collaborative effort of the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science / Committee on Assessing Fundamental Attitudes of Life Scientists as a Basis for Biosecurity Education, Development, Security and Cooperation Policy and Global Affairs, Board on Life Sciences Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies, in collaboration with AAAS.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.) Committee on Assessing Fundamental Attitudes of Life Scientists as a Basis for Biosecurity Education., Corporate Author.

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Assessing Fundamental Attitudes of Life Scientists as a Basis for Biosecurity Education.

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Development, Security and Cooperation Policy and Global Affairs.

National Research Council (U.S.). Board on Life Sciences.

National Research Council (U.S.). Division on Earth and Life Studies.

American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Life sciences--Research--United States--Public opinion.

Life sciences.

Biology--Research--United States--Public opinion.

Biology.

Bioterrorism--Research--United States--Public opinion.

Bioterrorism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (189 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press, 2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The same technologies that fuel scientific advances also pose potential risks--that the knowledge, tools, and techniques gained through legitimate biotechnology research could be misused to create biological weapons or for bioterrorism. This is often called the dual use dilemma of the life sciences. Yet even research with the greatest potential for misuse may offer significant benefits. Determining how to constrain the danger without harming essential scientific research is critical for national security as well as prosperity and well-being. This book discusses a 2007 survey of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) members in the life sciences about their knowledge of dual use issues and attitudes about their responsibilities to help mitigate the risks of misuse of their research. Overall, the results suggest that there may be considerable support for approaches to oversight that rely on measures that are developed and implemented by the scientific community itself. The responses also suggest that there is a need to clarify the scope of research activities of concern and to provide guidance about what actions scientists can take to reduce the risk that their research will be misused by those with malicious intent.

Contents:

""Preface and Acknowledgments""; ""Contents""; ""List of Tables, Figures, and Boxes""; ""Summary""; ""1 Overview""; ""2 Approach""; ""3 Results of the Survey""; ""4 Conclusions and Recommendations""; ""Bibliography""; ""Appendixes""; ""Appendix A: Committee Member Biographies""; ""Appendix B: Focus Group Results""; ""Appendix C: Final Questionnaire""; ""Appendix D: Additional Data and Analysis""

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-132).

ISBN:

9786612272417

9780309141802

030914180X

9781282272415

1282272411

9780309125116

0309125111

OCLC:

923280531