How can we get all scientists and engineers to serve their “whistles-blowing” role when necessary to protect public health, saftey, or welfare or otherwise uphold and defend the values and codes of ethics of their professions? What are the reasons and factors at play when they fail to serve this role?

When scientists and engineers put personal or professional advantage before professional duty, their professions and the public welfare they exist to serve lose.

This is more the rule than the exception when they have to choose between “blowing whistles,” particularly on institutional wrongdoing, and “looking other way.”

Why is this and can it be changed? If society does not trust engineers and scientists to do their duty, ethically and competently, then the results of whatever research is conducted will not have the credibility required to cause significant societal change, if that is what the research indicates is necessary.

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