title: Contentious problems in bioscience and biotechnology: a pilot study of an approach to ethics education.
abstract: This manuscript describes a pilot study in ethics education employing a problem-based learning approach to the study of novel, complex, ethically fraught, unavoidably public, and unavoidably divisive policy problems, called "fractious problems," in bioscience and biotechnology. Diverse graduate and professional students from four US institutions and disciplines spanning science, engineering, humanities, social science, law, and medicine analyzed fractious problems employing "navigational skills" tailored to the distinctive features of these problems. The students presented their results to policymakers, stakeholders, experts, and members of the public. This approach may provide a model for educating future bioscientists and bioengineers so that they can meaningfully contribute to the social understanding and resolution of challenging policy problems generated by their work.
authors.affiliation: Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Public Policy, 685 Cherry Street, Atlanta, GA 30332-0345, USA. robertaberry@gatech.edu
authors.forename: Roberta M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borenstein
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Butera
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics; D004500:Education, Graduate; D004995:Ethics, Professional / Q000193:education*; D032984:Ethics, Research / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011050:Policy Making; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000941:ethics*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D012586:Science / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics; D013334:Students; D014481:United States