“Modern-Age Centaurs”: A Proposal for Case Study Based Integrative Ethics Education in Chemistry

Abstract

This work is a course proposal for a stronger ethics education component for chemistry undergraduates. We propose that this course should integrate different approaches in ethics with the value-laden and scientifically complex issues that arise in chemistry. Although some programs require that students take some ethics as a core requirement, for many it is just an option among many humanities courses. Alternatively, ethics may arise passively during courses devoted primarily to chemistry. For our proposed course to be maximally effective, we believe it should integrate both ethics and chemistry, inviting students to think about complex real-world problems. This allows students to identify ethical considerations in the context of cases they might encounter as part of their careers in chemistry. It would also provide them with resources to identify the best course of action.