S2 Case-based Ethical Discussions in the Science Classroom and Beyond - a REACH Initiative

Presenters

Jennifer Nyland, Biological Sciences
Michele Schlehofer, Psychology
Tim Stock, Philosophy

Abstract

REACH utilizes community listening sessions on ethics and ethical decision making in community organizations, and creates case studies for classroom drop-ins. In 2021 we focused on piloting implementations in the classroom. Case-based materials can add context for the ways in which physical and social scientists should include an ethics framework and consideration of the “real-world” macro-level examination of science as a social enterprise. The community-sourced component of the REACH cases layers an additional touchstone of the public benefit of ethical decision making into the STEM classroom.

In Spring 2021, we conducted a drop-in case discussion via Zoom in an Introduction to Biology class; we replicated this process with a second case in an in-person Psychology class in Fall 2021. The biology case focused on an ethical dilemma regarding vaccine mandates and travel amid the COVID pandemic. The psychology case focused on allocation of public infrastructure improvement projects. In post-case reflections, Biology students commented that the experience helped them to connect with course material and to recognize the importance of biology in the community. Similarly, students in both courses found the ethical discussions broadened their perspectives about humanities topics and were useful in providing an opportunity to apply course content to a real-world community context. We will continue to develop this integration of ethics drop-ins into science classrooms as part of a SoTL project.

We encourage the use of community-sourced case-based discussions to add ethics across the curriculum at SU. Classroom experiences can be drop-ins with a faculty member from Philosophy leading the discussion or resources provided to the course faculty to lead the discussion themselves. There is a broad potential for implementation at SU as we have done in the Henson Summer Research Program and PACE candidate training sessions.

Session Recording

Resources

Case Studies Available Through the REACH Initiative