In a lot of my work, I argue that anyone making plans for human activities in space (whether that’s for research, exploration, industry, or settlement) should spend time and deliberate effort on consulting with all affected communities about how these space activities should be conducted ethically. But how, exactly, can we do that? There are over eight billion humans on this planet; how do we even begin to ask all those people what they think about what we should or shouldn’t do in space, let alone incorporate eight billion perspectives into a coherent set of guidelines?
Space exploration is not the only field of science that’s had to grapple with these kinds of questions, which means we can learn from the experience of other fields. Several initiatives to incorporate ethical studies and public input into scientific research programs were discussed at the recent Artemis & Ethics workshop at NASA Headquarters.
For example, the Human Genome Project was an international collaborative effort to map the human genome. Initiated in 1988 by the U.S.’s National Institutes of Health and Department of Energy, the project successfully reached its goal in 2003. In recognition of the numerous known and unknown ethical risks of advancements in human genomics, 5% of the multi-billion-dollar research budget was allocated for the study of Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of the project.
The initial goals of the ELSI program (which was formally created in 1990) were to clarify the potential consequences of human genome sequencing, develop policy options “to ensure that genetic information is used to maximize the benefits to individuals and society”, provide public education, and simulate public discussion. The program studied ethical issues involved with genomic research itself, such as privacy and informed consent for participants, as well as the potential implications of advances in genomic technologies, such as genetic discrimination. A variety of methods were used for ELSI research, ranging from “experimental and quasi-experimental trials, surveys, structured and semistructured interviews, and focus groups to ethnographic, legal, philosophical, archival, and oral history research”. STS professor Shannon Conley, who spoke about the ELSI program at the Artemis & Ethics workshop, noted that one element of ELSI’s success was its engagement with diverse scholars and stakeholders.
The Humane Genome Project’s ELSI program has affected policy both directly and indirectly, including HIPAA’s prohibition against genetic discrimination for health insurance, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and, internationally, the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights. And even though the sequencing of the human genome was completed in 2003, the ELSI Research Program continues at the NIH’s National Human Genome Research Institute.
ELSI is one of many examples of programs that study the ethical implications of scientific and technological advancement in ways that anticipate these issues rather than simply responding to them after the fact. Other examples discussed during the workshop include the European Union’s Framework Programmes’ Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) process and, in the U.S., the Expert and Citizen Assessment of Science and Technology (ECAST) network.
While interest in the field of space ethics is growing as more and more researchers, policymakers, and members of the public become concerned about the potentially harmful effects of our activities in space, there’s also a growing concern that the space industry is moving faster than regulators and activists can keep up. The ELSI program provides an intriguing model for how plans for increased human activity, development, and habitation in space should include (funded!) research into the ethical, legal, and social implications of this activity right from the start— or at least, starting now in these relatively early days of space exploration and industry. In particular, like ELSI, we should prioritize research that considers the ethics of the manner in which we conduct space exploration as well as the potential implications of future space technology.
Other News
I had the opportunity to give a Google Talk about the ethics of space settlement last week— you can watch the recorded livestream on YouTube.
I’ll be attending the last two days of the National Space Society’s International Space Development Conference on May 27-28 in Frisco, TX. I’m giving a talk on the afternoon of May 28 as part of the Living in Space track— come say hi!
I’ll also be moderating a panel on crew selection for the Interstellar Research Group’s 8th Interstellar Symposium in Montreal on July 10-13.