The new director of the Royal Institution, Sarah Harper, asks young scientists “to consider the whole social, ethical, moral and political framing of debates … It’s important that the scientist is no longer someone who just sits in a lab. All young scientists should think about public engagement” (Report, 2 May). A good start might be to implement the Nobel laureate Joseph Rotblat’s Hippocratic oath for graduating scientists: “I promise to work for a better world, where science and technology are used in socially responsible ways. I will not use my education for any purpose intended to harm human beings or the environment. Throughout my career I will consider the ethical implications of my work before I take action. While the demands placed upon me may be great, I sign this declaration because I recognise that individual responsibility is the first step on the path to peace.”
Patrick Butterly
Buckfastleigh, Devon
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