Biosecurity education and awareness in neuroscience

Abstract

This first content chapter of the section starts with a short historical overview of the military interest in neuroscience research. Based on this account, it asks the question of how neuroscience has responded to the ethical issues that have emerged as part of these research activities. An analysis of current ethical training shows that such a debate has been underdeveloped and that the question of dual-use within ethics education of neuroscientists is very limited. Based on these findings the chapter explores the relationship between the security community, specifically, the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, and how neuroethicists could help the Convention in addressing the lack of awareness within the neuroscience community of the militarization and dual-use of their research and technologies.