ISC:Declaration on Freedom and Responsibility in Science (2017)

International Science Council (ISC) Declaration on Freedom and Responsibility in Science (2017) – Comprehensive Analysis

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1. Background and Significance

• Issuing Body: International Science Council (ISC, formerly ICSU)
• Release Date: October 2017
• Core Objectives:
  • Balance scientific freedom with social responsibility
  • Address global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss
  • Promote ethical governance and public trust in science

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2. Key Principles (Summary)

Principle	Key Requirements	Application Examples
Scientific Freedom	Protect researchers’ right to explore, resist political/commercial interference	Opposing climate science censorship
Social Responsibility	Assess societal impacts (e.g., AI ethics, gene editing risks)	Scientists in policy-making (IPCC)
Research Integrity	Prevent data fraud/plagiarism, ensure transparency	Nature’s retraction system
Global Collaboration	Foster cross-border, interdisciplinary cooperation (e.g., pandemic data sharing)	COVID-19 open research databases
Public Engagement	Simplify science communication, avoid misinformation (e.g., GMO public education)	EU “Science Cafés” dialogue机制

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3. Detailed Content

Part 1: Scientific Freedom

• Article 4: Oppose restrictions on basic research under “national security” pretexts
• Article 6: Protect whistleblowers exposing research misconduct

Part 2: Social Responsibility

• Article 12: Require long-term risk assessments for emerging tech (e.g., nanomaterials, AI)
• Article 15: Scientists must engage with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Part 3: Implementation

• National bodies must develop ethics review procedures
• Establish an International Science Arbitration Panel for major disputes

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4. Official Sources

• Full Text (English):
  ISC Official PDF
• Multilingual Versions: Chinese, French, Spanish translations available
• Supplementary Guide:
  Practitioner’s Guide to Scientific Responsibility (ISC, 2019)

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5. Global Impact

• Policy Influence:
  • Informed UNESCO’s Recommendation on Open Science (2021)
  • Shaped EU “Horizon Europe” research ethics framework
• Scientific Community:
  • Endorsed by 50+ institutions (e.g., Chinese Academy of Sciences, Max Planck Society)
  • Adopted as ethics reference by major journals