In addition to the general ethical principles for all types of research and innovation, there are additional field-specific principles for research and innovation as listed below. It must be noted that because ethical issues are frequently triggered by special conditions that often arise across multiple fields, it becomes important to identify applicable ethical principles on a case-by-case basis for each research and innovation project, while taking account of special provisions, conventions and regulation that may apply to specific fields.
- The Natural Sciences
- Take special precautions to ensure that researchers and staff involved in conducting the research are not exposed to serious physical harm or strain as a result of working with harmful biological, chemical, radiological, nuclear, or explosive materials;
- Take special precautions to minimise any potential harm to the environment, animals, or plants caused by the use of harmful biological, chemical, radiological, nuclear, or explosive materials during the research;
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Consider whether the results of the research might have military applications, and whether the results of the research might contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
Take special precautions to prevent or counter the effects of potential misuse of security-sensitive chemical, radiological, or nuclear materials and knowledge (e.g., the appointment of a security advisor, limiting dissemination of the research results, and training for staff).
- The Engineering Sciences & Technological Innovations
- Ensure that the technology to be developed does not pose risks of harm to public health and safety in terms of both its production and societal use;
- Ensure that the technology does not harm, or pose inherent risks to, individual freedom, autonomy, and privacy, human dignity or bodily integrity, as well as the well-being and interests of individuals and groups;
- Anticipate potential risks and harms to the environment resulting from the uses of the technology, and ensure the prevention of environmental harms caused by the use of bio-chemical, radiological and explosive materials;
- Ensure that the technology does not pose any unnecessary risks of harm to animals;
- Ensure that researchers and staff involved in research and development are not exposed to physical harm resulting from harmful biological, chemical, radiological, nuclear, or explosive materials;
- Anticipate and avoid the dual-use (e.g. for military purposes) or misuse of the technology.
- The Medical Sciences
- Take special precautions to ensure respect has a full understanding of all the risks associated with participating in the research;
- Take special precautions to ensure respect for the for the participant’s dignity, bodily integrity and long-term quality of life;
- Adhere to rules and regulations concerning public health and safety, and those concerning the use of stem cells and tissues in medical research;
- Have consideration for concerns about the commodification of life in relation to (aspects of) human genetics research and human reproductive technologies;
- Ensure that medical research and innovation do not pose inherent risks to human dignity, individual freedom, autonomy, authenticity, identity (and sense of self) or individual privacy;
- Ensure that researchers and staff involved in medical research are not exposed to serious physical harm resulting from harmful biological, chemical, or radiological materials;
- Anticipate and avoid the dual-use (e.g. for military purposes) and/or misuse of medical research.
- The Life Sciences
- Ensure that the research, regardless of its potential applications, does not pose any direct or long-term risks of harm to public health and safety (e.g., by taking adequate precautionary measures against accidental release of hazardous biological agents);
- Consider how the research might lead to innovations that could harm human and civil rights, interests or the well-being of individuals and groups in society, or the common good, and how the research and innovation activity might be directed to enhance rights, well-being and the common good;
- Anticipate, assess and communicate how the research and innovations based on this research might pose risks to or harm biodiversity, the integrity of natural ecosystems, and the welfare of animals;
- Consider concerns about naturalness (authentic generation by nature without human interference) in relation to research into animal and plant breeding, cloning, and the (genetic) modification of biological organisms;
- Ensure that researchers and staff involved in conducting the research are not exposed to serious physical harm resulting from working with harmful biological, chemical, or radiological materials;
- Consider whether the research results might have military applications;
- Prevent or counter the effects of the potential misuse of security-sensitive biological, chemical, or radiological materials or knowledge (e.g., through the appointment of a security advisor, limitation of dissemination of the research results, training for staff).
- The Computer & Information Sciences
- Ensure that new research and innovations offer reasonable protection against any potential unauthorised disclosure, manipulation or deletion of information and against potential breaches of data security (e.g., protection against hacking, denial of service attacks, cracking, cyber vandalism, software piracy, computer fraud, ransom attacks, disruption of service);
- Ensure that new research concepts and innovations do not pose any unjustified inherent risks to the right of individuals to control the disclosure of their personal data;
- Ensure respect for freedom of expression, intellectual property rights, and other individual rights and liberties;
- Consider how new research concepts and innovations might harbour or counter unjust bias in terms of age, gender, sexual orientation, social class, race, ethnicity, religion or disability;
- Consider how the research or innovation activity might harm or promote the general well-being of individuals and groups in society (e.g., effects on the quality of work or quality of life), the common good, and environmental sustainability;
- Consider whether the research in computer and information sciences, and innovations in ICTs might have military applications.
- The Social Sciences and the Humanities
- Take into account cultural differences when approaching potential participants for informed consent, and seek alternatives to written and signed consent when such consent is culturally foreign to participants;
- Avoid conducting covert research unless it is the only method by which information can be gathered to fulfil a research aim of high societal importance;
- In conducting research, ensure respect for individual rights and liberties, as well as local traditions and cultural differences of research participants;
- Ensure that the research is conducted with respect for all groups and communities in society, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, social class, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, and disability.