USDA Forest Service Research and Development: Code of Scientific Ethics

摘要

This code has been developed by a committee of scientists in USDA Forest Service Research & Development (FS R&D) after feedback from colleagues and extensive research on science ethics. The code is based on the Code of Scientific Ethics of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, but has been modified for application to the FS R&D organization by a team of Forest Service employees. The Code is a tool for self-regulation. In late 1998, responding to a request from the Forest Products Laboratory Partnership Council, senior executives of FS R&D asked a team of agency employees to gather existing official statements and documents concerning the ethical conduct of scientific research and development within the Forest Service. The objective was to raise the level of awareness within FS R&D about scientific ethics and to help diminish the likelihood that future breaches of scientific ethics would occur. A corollary was to help educate collaborators and clients about ethics expectations, so they too could avoid potential problems. The purpose of this Code is to describe ethical conduct in scientific research and development activities. The Code applies specifically to the conduct of scientific investigation and reporting. It does not replace any law or regulation pertaining to employee ethics and conduct issues that are not unique to the conduct of scientific research and development. Administrative rules and laws pertaining to such things as falsification of government documents, sexual harassment, civil rights, gifts, nepotism, disclosure of financial interest, conflict of interest, or outside employment are neither altered nor diminished in importance by the existence of this Code. The Code should help encourage ethical conduct in science as a fundamental theme in FS R&D activities. The intent of the Code is to foster a genuine commitment to fairness, accuracy, and integrity in the conduct of scientific research and development by establishing a clear understanding of expectations regarding scientific ethics. All individuals should feel that they are adequately protected from potential exploitation via unethical practices.