ESEP Theme Sections are integrated multiauthor analyses and syntheses examining ethical concerns in current areas of science and environmental politics.

 

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Current Theme Section

 

The ethics of science journalism

 

Idea and Coordination: Stephanie Suhr-Sliester

Editors: Stephanie Suhr-Sliester, Victoria Burkett

(Vol. 9, No. 1 - built online)

 

Science journalism is facing tough challenges today. The general public, the lay readers, have a desire—and a right—to learn what new discoveries are being made, and how they may affect their everyday lives... and they rely on science journalism to bring them this information. However, the topics are often very complex and difficult to relay in terms that are understandable for the non-expert, and they can be politicized or pushed by different lobbies. Topics such as climate change or stem cell research affect humanity on an existential level, and the ethics involved in portraying these topics—how, or indeed whether to portray them—are complex.

 

This unique theme section brings together the views of all parties involved in science journalism and bringing science to the public today: writers (freelance and staff), editors, publishers, and scientists themselves.

 

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Forthcoming Theme Section

 

Ethical implications of bioprospecting in polar regions

 

Guest Editors: David K. Leary, David W. H. Walton

 

Interest in the potential of both the Arctic and Antarctica to yield materials for new developments in biotechnology is growing. Bioprospecting in the polar regions—the search for new compounds in organisms that may have industrial or pharmaceutical applications—is emerging as a new issue of particular relevance to scientists, commercial enterprises and policy makers alike. Bioprospecting raises a range of ethical questions globally as well as specifically in the Antarctic and Arctic.

 

This theme section of Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics (ESEP) considers the complex ethical issues posed by bioprospecting in the polar regions from a range of perspectives, including those of scientists and commercial interests active in the area, indigenous people, and policy makers and legislators.

 

CONTRIBUTIONS INVITED.

Submission deadline: 18 November 2009.

 

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Published Theme Sections

 

The use and misuse of bibliometric indices in evaluating scholarly performance

 

Idea and Coordination: Howard Browman, Konstantinos Stergiou

(Published June 3, 2008, as Vol. 8, No. 1)

 

Quantifying the relative performance of individual scholars, groups of scholars, departments, institutions, provinces/states/regions and countries has become an integral part of decision-making over research policy, funding allocations, awarding of grants, faculty hirings, and claims for promotion and tenure. Bibliometric indices (based mainly upon citation counts), such as the h-index and the journal impact factor, are heavily relied upon in such assessments. There is a growing consensus, and a deep concern, that these indices—more-and-more often used as a replacement for the informed judgement of peers—are misunderstood and are, therefore, often misinterpreted and misused. The articles in this ESEP Theme Section present a range of perspectives on these issues. Alternative approaches, tools and metrics that will hopefully lead to a more balanced role for these instruments are presented.

 

 

Environmental decision making in a technological age

 

Editors: Sam Berry, Barry Thompson

(Published in 2002 as part of Vol. 2)