Dangerous Science

Most people welcome new scientific and technological advances, yet some research can endanger people's safety or cross accepted ethical lines. When that happens, researchers and engineers often lack the preparation to handle the policy fights that follow. With little firm evidence available, those who expect the best and those who expect the worst from a technology tend to stay divided. The author argues that a wide risk-benefit assessment, used as a way to investigate possible risks, can help scientists and engineers pursue their goals while steering clear of physical and moral harm. The book examines where science policy meets risk analysis and considers how the damage that science and technology can do to society might be reduced.