The Chemical Profession: From Scientific Integrity to Social Responsibility

While previous year's lecturer Prof. Jeffrey Kovac focused on aspects of Good Scientific Practice as important element of profession ethics for chemists, this year's lecture aims at pointing out the connections between chemical activity (in academia, industry and beyond) and the social spheres that are impacted by it. In view of this systemic approach, the lecturers will draw the bow from scientific integrity and proper conduct of a chemical profession via social, economic and environmental impact of chemistry to chemists' role in contemporary sustainability and risk discourses. Starting from the chemists' daily professional routines, it will be illustrated in which way decisions and actions have a conspicuous ethical dimension by being firmly linked to economic processes, political decision-making (science governance and regulation), social progress and environmental integrity. Prominent real-life examples will be presented to support this thesis. The goal of this lecture is to sharpen the participants' awareness for the normative content of their activities and to increase their motivation to see "the larger picture" of chemistry in society and its sub-spheres.