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 (e.g., https://www.baylor.edu/risk/doc.php/339233.pdf and https://www.baylor.edu/student_policies/index.php?id=22176).
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
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/5-universality-of-science/
and https://council.science/what-we-do/freedoms-and-responsibilities-of-scientists/ - 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: https://www.baylor.edu/titleIX/?_buref=1155-90749
- Sex Discrimination, Sexual Violence, and Sexual Harassment Policy: https://www.baylor.edu/titleIX/index.php?id=934581
- 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: https://www.baylor.edu/risk/index.php?id=962729
- Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Interpersonal Violence Policy (BU-PP 022): https://www.baylor.edu/titleIX/policy
- Standards of Personal Conduct (BU-PP 023): https://www.baylor.edu/risk/doc.php/339228.pdf
- Code of Ethics (BU-PP 024): https://www.baylor.edu/risk/doc.php/339229.pdf
- Baylor Civil Rights Policy and Procedures for Employees (BU-PP 028a): https://www.baylor.edu/risk/doc.php/339233.pdf
- Sexual Conduct Policy (BU-PP 031): https://www.baylor.edu/risk/doc.php/339238.pdf
- Policy on Romantic and/or Sexual Conduct with Students and Supervisees (BU-PP 036): https://www.baylor.edu/risk/doc.php/339243.pdf
- Whistleblower Policy (BU-PP 037): https://www.baylor.edu/risk/doc.php/339244.pdf
- Conflict of Interest Policy (BU-PP 800): https://www.baylor.edu/risk/doc.php/339372.pdf