Ethics are integral to all forms of communication. Indeed, as the authors of this book on science communication ethics state, '[c]ommunication is often presented as the moral act' (p. 33). The authors highlight the ethical significance of communication by showing that professional codes typically define appropriate conduct in a given field by reference to proper ways of communicating: honesty, openness, accuracy and accountability. These are fundamental principles of research ethics, but also journalism and PR ethics. The authors note that science communicators draw on existing codes of conduct from these fields. They also acknowledge the dilemmas inherent to good science communication where such codes are not always enough. Science communicators convey robust scientific information in a manner that addresses the demands and concerns of their intended audience, while also seeking to mobilize critical debate about science and public participation in science.
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