An Introduction to Research Ethics

Research in any field of investigation is carried out by a community of researchers. Like all societies, the research community has its own ethical rules and mores. In the past, young scientists learnt the ethics of research largely through informal means—by working with senior scientists and watching how they dealt with ethical questions. That tradition is still crucially important and I hope that you will learn from your mentors. However, modern science and its context are so complex that several research universities now present courses giving a more formal introduction to research ethics to supplement the informal lessons provided by research supervisors and mentors.