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Introduction to the Lahore Conference

The conduct of responsible science lies in the first instance with the scientists themselves. However, they not only have a duty to themselves but also to society as a whole - that is to say to governments, academia, private companies, and to the public at large.

At the most basic level science should be conducted to bring benefits to humanity requiring a conscious calculation of the risks involved in any endeavour. The boundaries between scientific disciplines have become increasingly blurred, for positive reasons, making it harder for societies and other organisations to bring rigour to codes of conduct and other methods that help assure the safe, secure and ethical conduct of their respective disciplines. It is an urgent matter that a multi-disciplinary consultation takes place to help chart better ways to assure the responsible conduct of science without hindering its advance and dissemination. In this process scientists need to find better ways to connect with policy makers and the public at large to build confidence that scientists well understand their responsibilities. This is a vital element in assuring that science is properly funded and social, cultural and religious obstacles do not block progress towards society reaping the true benefits of science in health, social and economic terms.

One way to meet this objective is to build and sustain a multi-disciplinary network of scientists that meets, discusses and publishes on issues related to the conduct of responsible science. Such a network needs to be sensitive and responsive to the cultural, religious and other national characteristics of Pakistan – while still acknowledging the international character of advances in science.

Outcomes from the Islamabad Conference

The outcomes of the Islamabad conference, which should guide the activities of the network, were reconfirmed as:

  • The development of training and education programmes to help assure compliance with national and international laws and regulations related to scientific activities
  • To help in countering the myth generally held by researchers who are not accustomed to security procedures – that security measures related to the conduct of science are intrusive, counterproductive and, restrictive.
  • The development of codes-of-conduct for scientists and researchers should be encouraged.
  • Better availability of expertise and literature to support responsible and safe science education should be developed.
  • Development of a qualitative understanding of attitudes towards safe and secure science is essential.
  • An appreciation of the importance of engaging the public through publications in the popular press and possibly open houses at scientific institutions.
  • The requirement for assistance to the policy community to help in formulating policies in relation to the safe secure and ethical conduct of science was recognised.

It was agreed that, initially, Dr Anwar Nasim should be the network focal point. They also agreed that the website at www.respscience.org should be the repository of papers, publications and network participant's contact details. City coordinators have been appointed and notified via the website. The city-based network is structured as follows:

  • Islamabad (also Peshawar) – Point of Contact: Professor Zabta Khan Shinwari;
  • Karachi – Point of Contact: Professor Abid Azhar;
  • Lahore (also Faisalabad) – Point of Contact: Professor Kauser Abdullah Malik.

The Lahore meeting was mandated by the Islamabad conference. In Lahore all agreed on the need for explicit action to encourage the responsible conduct of science engender more public support and create the right conditions that will foster high quality international collaboration. It was recognized that successful science is very much an international enterprise. Shared understandings of best practices that encourage the responsible conduct of science are an integral component of sustained and rewarding international engagement.

Conference Outcome

Arising from the discussions the following actions were recommended:

  • The drafting of a code of conduct with, at its core, a personal oath on the lines of the Hippocratic Oath in the field of medicine should be attempted. A drafting group of representatives from different disciplines should be created for this purpose. The group should draw on other national and international efforts such as the Singapore Statement of 22 September 2010, the US National Academies publication "On Being a Scientist" and the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs document "National Guidelines for a Code of Conduct for Life Scientists" (2010).
  • Presentations and abstracts from The Conferences should be posted on the project website (www.respscience.org). A discussion page should be set up on the website for comment and discussion of these items.
  • A follow-on conference should take place within six months, funding permitting, in Karachi. Volunteers are required for a host institution;
  • The agenda for the next conference should be constructed to build upon the preceding conferences. To this end recommendations for issues and speakers for the next meeting are sought. Suggestions should be sent to Professor Abid Azhar, University of Karachi, for publication on the website. Articles are welcomed, for publication on the website, that would illuminate and give a background to possible agenda items. The length should be no more than 1,500 words.
  • Input from the younger generation of scientists for deeper consideration of the key issues will be sought by an invitation to graduate students under the age of 30 to submit articles for presentation at the next meeting. A selection committee should be appointed and the method of submission will be notified on the website.
  • Extending the project on a regional basis in South Asia should be explored. A small feasibility study group should be set up to recommend how this idea should be pursued.
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