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Ethics

Ethics. National Judging Advisory Committee. YSF Ethics:. Developing Awareness, Understanding and Compliance. Judith Soon & Patrick Whippey. “We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live”. Socrates.

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Ethics

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  1. Ethics National Judging Advisory Committee

  2. YSF Ethics: Developing Awareness, Understanding and Compliance Judith Soon & Patrick Whippey

  3. “We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live”. Socrates “Knowledge without conscience spells but the destruction of the soul”. Francois Rabelais “Business in Canada must have a conscience and ethics”. Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire

  4. Goals • To present the information that Regional Science Fair Committees needto understand the ethical issues • To define clearly the rules that participants must follow • To make it easy for participants to follow the rules

  5. Background • Regional Science Fairs (RSF) need to ensure that projects comply with YSF rules and regulations • Need to get out of the mode of “Backwards Compliance” and surprises at the CWSFs • Help us encourage Canada’s young scientists to conduct ethical and sound research

  6. National Judging Advisory Committee The National Judging Advisory Committee (NJAC) monitors YSF Canada policies and procedures relating to all aspects of judging

  7. YSF Canada Ethics Committee • Responsible for the oversight of human and animal research at RSF and CWSF • Reviews challenging projects submitted by RSF Ethics Committees

  8. Ethics: What Types of Research? Human Research • Ingestion and absorption • Psychological risk • Physical activities Animal Research • Inhumane treatment

  9. We propose to change this to required Regional Science Fair Ethics Committee Each region is expected to set up an Ethics Committee which will become knowledgeable about the rules and ethical issues related to student research

  10. Ethics Review Committee • A group of adults knowledgeable about regulations concerning experimentation in restricted areas • Role is to educate and support • Members (1-3 people): • Ethics Consultant • Veterinarian • Health care professional • RSF Chief Judge

  11. Ethics Review Process * All animal research * All human research Research proposals must be reviewed by the RSF Ethics Committee An Adult and Scientific Supervisor are required

  12. Adult Supervisor • Required for projects involving human and animal research • Parent, teacher or scientist • Ensures student understands ethical issues at an appropriate level • Ensures YSF rules are followed

  13. Scientific Supervisor • Involved if there is more than trivial risk • Often located in University or industrial laboratory setting • Usually has professional qualifications • May be the Adult Supervisor

  14. Ethics Review Process • Can use primarily email and phone discussions • Communicate Ethics Rules and expectations to teachers, students and parents • Be prepared to enforce the rules

  15. Challenging Issues RSF Chief Judge refers to YSF Ethics Committee • Chair, Dr. Patrick Whippey • After seeking appropriate professional advice, the Committee will assist students where possible so that the methodology can meet the ethical rules for animal or human research

  16. Human Participation Low Risk Projects • Surveys of attitudes and beliefs • Skill tests • Observations of behaviour • 4.1A Approval of Low Risk Projects

  17. One Minute Moment Examples of a low risk survey?

  18. Human Participation High Risk Projects Everything Else

  19. High Risk Projects • Approval required before experiments begin • Projects often done in a research laboratory • Reviewed by RSF Ethics Committee • 4.1B Application For Review of Research with Human Participants Involving Significant Risk • 4.1C Human & Animal Research Approval

  20. One Minute Moment Examples of surveys with significant risk?

  21. Informed Consent • Is a process • Ethics committee in place • Points student & supporting adults to ethics web site • Reviews the Informed Consent Form • Ensures the required elements are present. • Monitors compliance by the student & participants

  22. Informed Consent Form Low & High Risk projects • The right to be informed of risks • The right to remain anonymous • The right to withdraw: • at any time • for any reason • The right to be informed of the results • Informed Consent Form

  23. What is a Drug? Health Canada definition: “Drug" includes any substance or mixture of substances manufactured, sold, or represented for use in:(a) the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of a disease, disorder, abnormal physical state, or its symptoms, in humans or animals;(b) Restoring, correcting, or modifying organic functions in human beings or animals; (c) Disinfection in premises food is manufactured, prepared or kept.

  24. Questions to ask of Projects with Human Participation • Is the project high or low risk? • Is there supervision by an appropriate scientific advisor? • Is the student familiar with the ethics web site(s). • Does the informed consent form have all the required elements? • Is the student familiar with the definition of a drug? • Is a drug involved?

  25. Non-Vertebrate AnimalsExcept Cephalopods Allowed

  26. Vertebrate Animals, (fishes, amphibians, birds, reptiles, mammals) Cephalopods(Octopus, Squid, Cuttle Fish) Allowed only under four conditions • Observation only • Behavioural experiments • Projects conducted in a registered laboratory • Studies of embryos • 4.1C Human & Animal Research Approval

  27. Questions to ask if Animals are involved • Is the animal governed by the rules for vertebrates or invertebrates? • Is there supervision by an appropriate scientific advisor? • Is the student familiar with the ethics web site(s)? • Invertebrates – any scientifically legitimate project is allowed. • Vertebrates – is it one of the four types of projects allowed?

  28. Off-Side Projects Please do not send projects that are in violation of the Ethics Rules to the CWSF, no matter how meritorious We get two or three a year that are in clear violation We are raising the bar

  29. Resources YSF Web Site Devoted to Ethics - New: • http://www.ldstf.ca/ethics/ YSF Policy Manual – the Official Rules: • http://www.ysf.ca/Members/policydirectory.aspx

  30. Summary • Adopt the YSF Ethics Rules for your Regional Science Fair • Form a Regional Science Fair Ethics Committee • Developing awareness and understanding of the ethical issues involved with Science Fairs will empower Canada’s young scientists to conduct ethical and sound research

  31. Questions?

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