This essay competition is held in conjunction with the Global Forum on Bioethics in Research 2024 (GFBR 2024) which will take place in Kuala Lumpur in November this year. Universiti Malaya is collaborating with the GFBR to organise the event.
The GFBR 2024 topic focuses specifically on the ethics of research into health and climate change with a particular emphasis on low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Research in this area usually involves the use of scientific methods to generate data with the aim of better understanding the impacts of climate change on health. This might include the impact on the health of humans as well as non-human aspects (such as animals, plants and the environment) of the planet. Researchers might also be interested in identifying better ways to protect and promote human and non-human health in the face of climate change.
The interdependency of human and non-human health means that research into health and climate change is not restricted to what we would understand as traditional medical, health or life sciences research. Research findings from areas not traditionally associated with health care, such as environmental science, entomology, the veterinary sciences and climatology may be relevant.
Therefore, in relation to this topic, GFBR takes a very broad approach to concepts of health. This essay competition adopts the same broad approach. Although the literature on research ethics is well-developed, particularly in relation to health research involving human participants, the
literature specifically on the ethics of research into health and climate change is far less so. Significantly, given the importance of Indigenous perspectives and voices in climate change, the perspectives and forms of knowledge that stand outside western scientific traditions are also
considered valuable.
The purpose of this essay competition is to encourage students to think critically about ethical issues associated with research into health and climate change. More specifically, the competition aims to provide a platform for students to pen down their thoughts on the role of ethics in guiding Malaysian policy makers and researchers in this area.
For more details, please visit: seabioethics.com/events-activ...