Standards of Geoscience Ethics

Members of the Baylor Department of Geosciences, as part of the international geoscience community, are expected to abide by the American Geophysical Union Scientific Integrity and Professional Ethics Policy to the extent that it does not conflict with Baylor University's nondiscrimination policies and statements.

The American Geophysical Union is the largest organization of Earth and space scientists in the world, with more than 65,000 members. AGU has articulated a minimal set of standards that geoscientists are required to meet in order to be members of AGU or participants in AGU activities. The AGU ethics portal is a rich source of information about geoscience ethics.

GeoEthics Resources

Organizations with a special focus on geoscience ethics

• International Association for Promoting Geoethics
• American Institute of Professional Geologists

Geoscience ethics codes

• American Geosciences Institute: Guidelines for Ethical Professional Conduct
• Geological Society of America: Code of Conduct
• American Association for Petroleum Geologists: Code of Ethics
• Links to ethics codes of other major geoscience organizations: www.geoethics.org/codes

Other important applied-ethics documents

• US Department of Interior Scientific and Scholarly Integrity Policy: www.doi.gov/scientificintegrity/
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Report: Fostering Integrity in Research (2017) www.nap.edu/catalog/21896/fostering-integrity-in-research
• Cape Town Statement on Geoethics (2016): www.geoethics.org/ctsg
• International Council for Science Statute 5 - Principle of Universality (2011): https://council.science/publications/annual-report-2017/universality-of-science/
• Singapore Statement of the World Integrity Conference (2010): www.singaporestatement.org/statement.html
• The Belmont Report on Biomedical Research (1979): www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/belmont.html

Other GeoEthics resources

• The AGU ethics portal (ethics.agu.org) is a rich source of information about geoscience ethics.
• Relevant documents from the Jackson School of Geoscience at the University of Texas at Austin
  • Guidelines for Faculty, Research Scientists, Students, and Staff of the Jackson School of Geosciences, UT Austin: http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/people/jsg-community/guidelines/
  • Jackson School of Geosciences Workplace Issues: http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/people/jsg-community/workplace-issues/
• Vince Cronin's GeoEthics page: http://croninprojects.org/Vince/GeoEthics/index.htm

Baylor University documents related to ethics and integrity

• Ethics Point: https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/en/report_custom.asp?clientid=6771
• Academic Integrity and Honor Code: https://www.baylor.edu/honorcode
• Academic Integrity Web Site: http://www.baylor.edu/honorcode/
• Title IX Office
• Sexual and Interpersonal Misconduct Policy
• Office of Research Compliance: https://www.baylor.edu/research/resources/index.php?id=963855
  • Research Integrity: https://www.baylor.edu/research/resources/index.php?id=963856
  • Conflict of Interest: https://www.baylor.edu/research/resources/index.php?id=963857
  • Policy on Misconduct in Research: https://www.baylor.edu/facultyhandbook/index.php?id=73417
• Baylor University Policies and Procedures
  • Code of Ethics and Personal Conduct (BU-PP 024)
  • Baylor Civil Rights Policy (BU-PP 028)
  • Policy on Romantic and/or Sexual Conduct with Students and Supervisees (BU-PP 036)
  • Whistleblower Policy (BU-PP 037)
  • Outside Activities and Interests Policy (BU-PP 800)