A central feature of all of our faculty training sessions was intense and emotional debate (some might
call this argument). Some of this debate was in fun, some was soul searching, some was fiercely selfprotective,
and all was loud. Scientist to scientist, we actively debated the conventions of the field. The
value of this for the subsequent course was that it allowed us to gain a thorough appreciation of the
extent of the differences in conventions from one area of science to another. Scientist to ethicist, we had
our most intense, difficult, and possibly our most productive debates.
Talking about the ethics of any field is difficult. Ethics interferes with unbridled self-interest and
arrogated power. This is as true in the professions as it is in the kindergarten room, and possibly no less
uncomfortable for adults than it is for children. Discomfort is as evident among scientists as it is
anywhere else. As one member of the science faculty put it, “It is harder than I thought to deal with
issues of scientific integrity with scientists. They tend to get defensive, feisty, and see ethics teaching
as a peripheral activity.”