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Ethics

Ethical principles guide responsible decision-making in science, policy, and society. The National Academies explore frameworks that promote integrity, fairness, and accountability.

What's happening

An Enduring Guide to Responsible Research Gets an Update

Feature Story

To help researchers navigate evolving research contexts and emerging ethical issues, the National Academies are updating their widely used guide to ethics and the responsible conduct of research, On Being a Scientist. The guide will be released next year, in a digital format that will be easier to update going forward.

Sep 2, 2025

Students questioning professor in classroom

Urgent Action Needed from NIH, FDA, Congress, and HHS to Improve Inclusion of Pregnant and Lactating Women in Clinical Trials, Says New Report Apr 10, 2024 News Release

Featured work

Working Group 8: Strength of Evidence

Supporting Activity

Assessing and Navigating Biosecurity Concerns and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence Use in the Life Sciences

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Biotechnology Capabilities for National Security Needs--Leveraging Advances in Transdisciplinary Biotechnology

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Responsible Computing Research: Ethics and Governance of Computing Research and its Applications

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Investigating the Potential Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic Science, Engineering, and Medicine

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Consensus/Advisory Activity

On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research: Third Edition

Consensus/Advisory Activity

The Science of Effective Mentoring in STEMM

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Gene Drive Research in Non-Human Organisms: Recommendations for Responsible Conduct

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Workplace Barriers, Solutions, and Policies for STEM and STEM Education Professionals and Postsecondary Students with Disabilities

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Featured Publications

Examining Prosecution: Proceedings of a Workshop

Proceedings

2025

Effective Communication with the General Public About Scientific Research That Requires the Care and Use of Animals: Proceedings of a Workshop

Proceedings

2024

AI for Scientific Discovery: Proceedings of a Workshop

Proceedings

2024

The Emerging Field of Human Neural Organoids, Transplants, and Chimeras: Science, Ethics, and Governance

Consensus Study Report

2021

Heritable Human Genome Editing

Consensus Study Report

2020

Units

Center for Advancing Science and Technology (CAST)

Oversight Unit

Science and Technology Policy and Law Program Area

Oversight Unit

The US Supreme Court and Capitol Building - Washington DC

Life Sciences and Biotechnology Program Area

Oversight Unit

Magnified body's raw materials, stem cells

Health Care and Public Health Program Area

Oversight Unit

Extensive series of patients, doctors and nurses of various ages and ethnicities in a modern exam room.

Used for: A Long COVID Definition
A Chronic, Systemic Disease State with Profound Consequences

Biomedical and Health Sciences Program Area

Oversight Unit

Roundtable on Data Science Postsecondary Education

Roundtable/Forum

Committee on Human Rights

Standing Committee

The Strategic Council for Research Excellence, Integrity, and Trust

Roundtable/Forum

The Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine

Standing Committee

Board on Life Sciences

Standing Committee

Recently Completed

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