The Ethical Context of Decision-Making

Ecological research and decision-making raises complicated ethical questions, among them ecologists' responsibilities to the scientific community, public welfare, research animals, wild and captive species, and ecosystems. Answering these questions is challenging, says James Collins, NSF assistant director for biological sciences (on leave from Arizona State University), because ecologists don't have the equivalent of bioethics, an established field in biomedicine.

Collins and Ben Minteer of Arizona State will chair a session on "Ecological ethics: examining the neglected ethical context of ecological decision-making." An interdisciplinary group of environmental ethicists and ecologists will discuss new approaches to science ethics that involve ecology.

Weds, Aug. 9, 8-10 p.m., Ballroom D, Ballroom Level.

NEON at the Starting Line

NEON, the National Ecological Observatory Network, is a continental-scale research project supported by NSF that will consist of instruments networked across the nation via state-of-the-art communications tools. NEON will support research and education on major environmental challenges from regional to continental scales. NEON scientists will provide an update on the project's development as it transitions from design to deployment and operations. Presentations on the current status of NEON's components will be followed by a question-and-answer period.

Weds, Aug. 9, 8-10 p.m., Ballroom E, Ballroom Level.

Scientists will also discuss how ecologists from undergraduate institutions can become more involved in NEON's plans for training and participation of teachers, students, policy-makers, and citizens, as well as researchers.

Mon., Aug. 7, 8-10 p.m., Ballroom C, Ballroom Level.

Biodiversity, Ecosystem Processes, and Human Health: What we
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Contact: Cheryl Dybas
cdybas@nsf.gov
703-292-7734
National Science Foundation
9-Aug-2006