Accountability and the Governance of Expertise : Anticipating Genetic Bioweapons, 2002-2003

<P>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</P><br>This collection is made up of 25 semi-structured and open-ended interviews with either commercial and academic research scientists or science policy officials in the UK and US. The interviews discussed a 'case study' into the possible malign applications of research into acetylcholine and muscarinic receptors. Details of this 'case study' are outlined more fully in the user guide. The interviews also took in other research into biological systems and responses to threats associated with biological weapons. Eleven interviews were transcribed, with the remaining 14 summarised in single-page interview notes.<br><br><B>Main Topics</B>:<BR><br>This project sought to contribute to both social and biological sciences understanding of the relation between science and wider society by examining how scientists, professional associations, funding bodies, and commercial organisations attempt to control and communicate the implications of their research. It considers the potential for current genetics research to facilitate the development of new forms of biological weaponry. The project also sought to understand how notions of expertise, responsibility, and accountability entered into the research agendas of scientists in public, private and policy domains. A key concern was not only how researchers and organisations respond to existing threats about the implications of their work, but how such actors operated in relation to anticipated future risks. Current attempts to establish standards of conduct were scrutinised in terms of their implications for notions of professionalism and the communication practices of researchers. <br>
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本数据集摘要版权归英国数据服务中心（UK Data Service）及数据集采集版权所有者所有。<br>本数据集包含25次半结构化开放式访谈，访谈对象为英美两国的商业与学术科研人员，以及科学政策官员。访谈围绕一项关于乙酰胆碱（acetylcholine）与毒蕈碱受体（muscarinic receptors）研究潜在恶意应用的“案例研究”展开，该“案例研究”的详细说明可参阅用户指南。此外，访谈内容还涉及其他生物系统研究，以及针对生物武器相关威胁的应对措施。其中11篇访谈已完成转录，剩余14篇则以单页访谈笔记的形式进行了总结。<br><br><b>核心研究主题</b>：<br>本项目旨在通过考察科研人员、专业协会、资助机构与商业组织如何管控并传播其研究成果的影响，推动社会科学与生物科学领域对科学与更广泛社会之间关系的理解。研究探讨了当前遗传学研究有可能助力新型生物武器研发的潜在风险。此外，项目还旨在厘清专业知识、责任与问责等概念如何融入公共、私营及政策领域内科研人员的研究议程。本项目的核心关切不仅包括科研人员与相关组织如何应对其研究成果所带来的现存威胁，还涵盖了这些主体如何应对预期的未来风险。研究还从专业精神理念与科研人员传播实践的维度，对当前旨在建立行为规范的各项尝试进行了审视。<br><br>