OPCW and IUPAC Develop Code of Ethical Principles of Chemistry

From 21 to 22 September 2006, the Scientific Advisory Board of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is meeting in Bologna, Italy, to convene a joint seminar on the OPCW/IUPAC chemical education and outreach project. Both the OPCW and IUPAC have collaborated in the past to review the verification of chemical weapons destruction and non-proliferation. The present project seeks to establish general ethical principles and a code of conduct for the scientific community dealing with chemistry. The development of a Code of Ethics was discussed to ensure that university and post-graduate curricula in chemistry will include education in the ethical norms that govern the peaceful uses of chemistry.

In his opening remarks to the joint seminar, OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, commended the joint initiative to ensure that future generations will be fully aware of their responsibilities as scientists and engineers when dealing with materials that could present a danger to humankind. He encouraged the scientists to establish immutable norms that will stand the test of time and will anchor the chemical weapons ban in the consciousness of all those that deal with these materials.

During the meeting in Bologna, the Academy of Sciences of the Institute of Bologna conferred Diplomas as non-resident members of the Academy upon the following scientists, including some Members of the Scientific Advisory Board: Professor Peter Atkins, Professor Alastair Hay, Professor Jiri Matousek, Professor Leiv Sydnes, Dr Ralf Trapp and Dr Gianfranco Tracci.

The Scientific Advisory Board has been established by Director-General Pfirter, as mandated by the Conference of the States Parties and the Chemical Weapons Convention, to review scientific and technological developments that could affect the operation of the Convention. The Scientific Advisory Board enables the Director-General to render, in the performance of his functions, specialized advice in areas of science and technology relevant to this Convention, to the Conference of the States Parties, to the Executive Council or to States Parties. The Scientific Advisory Board is composed of independent experts appointed in accordance with the terms of reference adopted by the Conference.

PR60 / 2006

Categories: Disarmament, Non-proliferation of chemical weapons, Outreach