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Biotechnology and Society: We Scientists Have Responsibilities Too¹

Gerald E. Gaull^*,,2 and Robin W. Yeaton Woo^*

^* Center for Food and Nutrition Policy and The Ceres Forum Graduate Program in Public Policy, Georgetown University ^* Departments of Family Medicine Pediatrics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007

When a new technology is introduced, scientists can help improve public understanding and acceptance. In the case of biotechnology, scientists should communicate more effectively: to provide accurate scientific data to facilitate policy analysis; to clarify issues in active political debate; to explain science to the lay public to dispel general ignorance and enable rational choice; to assist the media in producing more thoughtful journalism; to share expertise to allow beneficial applications in developing countries; and to advance scientific discovery.

KEY WORDS: • biotechnology • scientific responsibility • consumer

¹ Presented as part of the Symposium: "Consumer Issues in Biotechnology: Genetically Engineered Foods" given at the Experimental Biology '95 meeting, Atlanta, GA, on April 10, 1995. This symposium was sponsored by the American Institute of Nutrition, American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Center for Food and Nutrition Policy, Georgetown University and the Office of Agricultural Biotechnology, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Guest editor for the symposium publication was John D. Fernstrom, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

² To whom correspondence should be addressed: Georgetown Center for Food and Nutrition Policy, 3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007.