Impact of an Ethics Programme in a Life Sciences Curriculum

Abstract

Choices in science—allocation of research funds, selection of research topics,
\ninteraction with research subjects (animals, environment, other humans), etc.— often, if not
\nalways, include some ethical considerations. Future scientists need skills to deal with and discuss
\nethical problems, and for that reason we have developed and evaluated one approach to
\nincluding ethics in a life science curriculum. Our aim has been to support the development of
\nstudents’ ethical sensitivity. The key element in our teaching choices has been the importance
\nof nurturing students’ personal moral agency, i.e. their individual skills and responsibilities in
\nmoral decision-making, with an interactive teaching approach. The ethics programme was
\nevaluated by extensive course evaluation and using three moral development measures: TESS,
\nDIT and Perry questionnaire. The short ethics programme of three discussions was found to
\nsupport the development of students’ ethical sensitivity.