This course, Ethics in science? discusses how scientists have a moral and ethical responsibility to consider whether they should carry out an experiment. In this short course you will learn of the first clinical trials undertaken for scurvy and small pox and gain an understanding of how much more rigorous today’s clinical trials are. You will conduct your own online research into an unethical scientist and finally look at some current moral dilemmas in science.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

- understand how clinical trials are used today in medicine

- understand the importance of acting ethically in scientific research

- understand why it is important to continue to ask moral questions about scientific research.