GEOETHICS IN THE GEOSCIENCES

Questionnaire
Geoethics in the Geosciences
Authors:

Silvia Peppoloni and Giuseppe Di Capua
Person responsible for data collection and storage:

Giuseppe Di Capua (giuseppe.dicapua@ingv.it)

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: http://www.geoethics.org
Objectives

The goal of this questionnaire is to understand how much the geoscience community is aware of the importance of the ethical and social aspects of geoscience research and practice.

The feedback received will help IAPG select priorities in its strategy of promoting geoethics.

Topics

The questionnaire covers the following topics:
- Research integrity and professionalism in conducting geoscience activities.
- Respect towards colleagues and appropriate behaviours in the working environment.
- Conflicts of interest.
- Awareness of geoscientists' responsibilities towards society in the dissemination of scientific results, in geoscience communication and geo-education activities.
- Roles and responsibilities of geoscientists in the decision-making process.
- Relationship between the geoscience community and stakeholders.
- Responsibilities of geoscientists towards the Earth system.
Comments

We address this questionnaire to all members of the geoscience community, and are promoting it through the web channels of the IAPG and partner organisations, to assure wide international participation.
You can fill in the questionnaire anonymously. We aimed it at people in the performance of their institutional/professional activities, without implying personal data or information related to their private life.
People filling in the questionnaire act on a voluntary basis. This questionnaire does not contain any reference to political, religious or racial topics. Before filling in the questionnaire, we ask the interviewee to provide her/his own acceptance of statements related to having read the above information, the freedom to withdraw from the survey at any time, and to remain anonymous.

Time needed for filling in the questionnaire

You should be able to complete the survey in 30 minutes.

Procedures for data management

IAPG's procedures for data collection, storage, protection, retention and destruction comply with the "EU GDPR" policy (European Union - General Data Protection Regulation): https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/data-protection-eu_en.

Acknowledgements

This questionnaire is an initiative of the IAPG – International Association for Promoting Geoethics, partially funded by the IUGS – International Union of Geological Sciences.

The questionnaire has been realized with the great contribution of Jan Boon (IAPG-Canada co-coordinator) and Ruth Allington (IAPG Board of Experts).

We are also grateful to Susan Kieffer and Shrikant Limaye (IAPG Vice-Presidents), Margaret Brocx, Nic Bilham, and Roberto Greco (IAPG Continental Coordinators), Martin Bohle (IAPG Board of Experts), for their help to improve further this questionnaire.

We also thank Peter Bobrowsky (IAPG Continental Coordinators), Christine McEntee, and Luis González de Vallejo (IAPG Board of Experts) for taking part in the test phase of the questionnaire.

More information

For more information, please, send an email to iapgeoethics@aol.com
Questionnaire

GEOETHICS IN THE GEOSCIENCES
Please try to complete all questions marked with an asterisk, unless you prefer to remain anonymous.

CONSENT FORM *

	I accept
I confirm that I have read and understood the information provided about the survey and have had the opportunity to ask questions.
I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I am free to withdraw at any time, without giving any reason and without my legal rights being affected.
I know that it is not mandatory to indicate my name, gender, nationality, and email, and that my answers to the questionnnaire can be completely anonymous.

Date

Day Month Year
Interviewee information
First name (optional)
Last name (optional)
Gender (optional)
Country in which you are currently based *
Nationality (optional)
Age *

< 20 20-40 41-60 >60
Email (optional)
example@example.com
Educational qualification *

Degree PhD Master
Affiliation *
Work activity *

Researcher/Technologist Senior researcher/technologist Researcher/Technologist director University professor Practitioner Freelance Technician School teacher Student/PhD student Retired
Fields of activity *
How many years of professional experience do you have? *
PART A – General inquiry
1) How would you define ethics? (multiple choice) *

Exploring issues around human choices Guidance towards right and wrong humans' choices Confronting ethical dilemmas Identifying values on which to base right and wrong humans' behaviours Defining codes of conduct/behaviour Establishing legal constraints to humans behaviours
2) Have you ever heard about ethics applied to the geosciences, namely geoethics? *

Yes No
2a) If yes, how did you hear about it? (multiple choice) *

Internet Newspapers Television Radio Scientific meetings Scientific publications Social networks Projects Colleagues

3) What is your opinion about the importance of geoethics for geoscience research and practice?

	1	2	3	4	5

1 is Irrelevant, 5 is Essential

4) In how much of your research/professional activity do you consciously need to consider geoethics?

	1	2	3	4	5

1 is Never, 5 is Always

5) How important is geoethics for the organisation in which you work?

	1	2	3	4	5

1 is Irrelevant, 5 is Essential

6) Why should a geoscientist behave ethically (choose up to 3 which you consider to be most important)? *

It is the right thing to do It is in accordance with personal ethics A scientist always acts in an ethical way It is an advantage for the scientist/practitioner To be compliant with laws To be compliant with professional codes of conduct or laws and regulations To avoid negative repercussions on career and reputation To get the trust of clients and communities To earn professional and scientific credibility To best serve society To protect the environment
7) When researching/practicing geosciences, which of the following are the most important reference values for you? (choose up to 3) *

Honesty in all aspects of my activity Accountability in conducting my work Professional courtesy and fairness in working with others Being compliant with laws and regulations Assuring societal benefits Providing environmental protection Doing a good job
8) In your work, which elements among the following are of most importance? (choose up to 3) *

Reliability Sharing Credibillity Prestige Integrity Satisfaction Relationships Career

9) How important is awareness of your individual responsibility in your work activities?

	1	2	3	4	5

1 is Irrelevant, 5 is Essential

10) In your experience, did you ever observe any of the following behaviours within your working environment? (multiple choice) *

Theft or other criminal behaviours Plagiarism Disrespect of authorship Harassment Conflict of interests Uncooperative attitudes Negligence in professional practice or applying scientific methods Gender or racial discrimination Falsification of data None of these

11) How important is responsibility towards colleagues in your work activities? *

	1	2	3	4	5

1 is Irrelevant, 5 is Essential

12) How well do you feel supported by your organisation and colleagues in ethical/behavioural matters? *

	1	2	3	4	5

1 is Not supported, 5 is Well supported

13) Have you ever been a whistleblower in your organisation? *

Yes No
13a) Would you consider that it was safe to be a whistleblower in your organisation? *

Yes No
14) Among the following fields of activities, where do you see clear ethical or social implications? (multiple choice) *

Risk reduction Climate change studies Environmental monitoring Data acquisition, storage, elaboration and management (data life cycle) Geoscience education Natural resources exploitation and management Relationships between geoscientists, media, and decision makers Geoscience communication Geoheritage and geodiversity enhancement Land use management Water and groundwater management Fossil conservation Working environment Hazard studies
15) Do you think that your activities have an impact on society? *

Yes No
15a) If yes, on which social actors in particular? (choose up to 3) *

Citizens Decision-makers Lawmakers Universities Authorities Industry Professional geoscience associations Students NGOs All
15b) What these impacts are? (optional)

16) How important is responsibility towards society in your work activities? *

	1	2	3	4	5

1 is Irrelevant, 5 is Essential

17) Do you think that your activities have an impact on the natural environment? *

Yes No
17a) What these impacts are? (optional)

18) How important is responsibility towards the natural environment in your work activity? *

	1	2	3	4	5

1 is Irrelevant, 5 is Essential

PART B – Inquiry on specific aspects related to the organization to which you belong or you are affiliated (e.g. if you are a freelance worker)
19) Is there an ethics board or office in your organisation? *

Yes No I don't know
20) Does your organisation have a code of conduct or a code of ethics? *

Yes No I don't know
21) Has your organisation a communication strategy? *

Yes No I don't know
21a) If yes, who is the target audience for communication? (choose one or more) *

Citizens Decision makers Media Universities Schools Authorities Industry Professional community NGOs I don't know
22) What type of channels does your organisation use for communication? (choose one or more) *

Website Newspapers Television Radio Newsletter Social networks I don't know Email
23) In your opinion, what are the most important subjects to be communicated to the target audience? (choose one or more) *

Raw data Elaborated data Scientific and technological results Information on georisks Scientific methods Technologies available Scientific uncertainties and probabilities of occurence Best practices Correct behaviours for citizens Geoscience knowledge Information for decision-makers Environmental thresholds
24) Does your organisation carry out geoeducation activities? *

Yes No I don't know
24a) If yes, who is the target audience for geoeducation? (choose one or more) *

Students General public Teachers Researchers Chartered geoscientists Journalists Technicians Public officers I don't know
24b) If yes, which tools does your organisation use for geoeducation? (choose one or more) *

Seminars Didactic laboratories Museums Conferences Videos Webinars E-learning modules Exhibitions I don't know
25) In your opinion, which are the most important aspects that geoeducation should develop? (choose one or more) *

Geoscientific knowledge Capability for risk mitigation Awareness about hazards Value of environmental heritage and geoheritage Responsible use of geo-resources Respect for natural dynamics Capacity in sustainable approaches Importance of geosciences for daily life
26) Does your organisation have a policy for the data life cycle? *

Yes No I don't know
27) Do you think that data produced by your organisation may be subject to misuse? *

Yes No I don't know
27a) If yes, for which purposes? (choose one or more) *

Terrorism Industrial espionage Financial speculations Crime Media scoop Ideological matters Scientific controversies
28) Does your organization have a policy related to publications? *

Yes No I don't know
28a) If yes, which aspects have been considered? (choose one or more) *

Copyright Patent policy Dispute resolutions Conflict of interests Authorship Plagiarism I don't know
29) Does your organisation have an anti-corruption office, leader, policy or other mechanism to deal with corruption? *

Yes No I don't know
30) Does your organisation have a policy for inclusion and access for personnel with disabilities? *

Yes No I don't know
31) Does your organisation have a gender balance policy? *

Yes No I don't know
32) Which of your stakeholders are interested in your geoscience activity? (choose one or more) *

Universities Government agencies Public companies Technicians Lawmakers Decision-makers Professional environment Private companies School teachers Citizens/Community members I don't know NGOs
33) If you don't work in a company, does your organisation have relationships with commercial organisations ("industry")? *

Yes No I don't know Not applicable
33a) If yes, does it receive funding from commercial organisations ("industry")? *

Yes No I don't know
34) Does your organisation at times find itself in situations of real or perceived conflict of interest? *

Yes No I don't know Not applicable
34a) If yes, how much does this conflict affect the activities of your organisation? *

Very much Moderate Not much Not in the least I don't know
35) Do you at times find yourself in situations of real or perceived conflict of interest? *

Yes No I don't know
35a) If yes, do these situations arise within your organisation, with external stakeholders or both? *

Yes, within my organisation Yes, with external stakeholders Yes, within my organisation and with external stakeholders No
36) Is there a policy to limit the environmental impact of the activities of your organisation? *

Yes No I don't know
37) Are there activities or initiatives in your organisation that enhance sustainability? *

Yes No I don't know
37a) If yes, can you describe these activities or initiatives in short? (optional)

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CONCLUSION
38) Geoethics consists of….. (please, choose 10 elements that best describe geoethics): *

Awareness Good sense Change Bureaucracy Responsibility Usefulness Development Control Respect Necessity Theory Obstacle Collaboration Enhancement Practice Ideology Knowledge Education Science Monopoly Progress Communication Opinion Censorship Transparency Cooperation Culture Protection Inclusivity Pragmatism Manipulation Reliability Honesty Observation Vagueness Sustainability Integrity Information Abstraction Deontology Right Management Doubtfulness Care Duty Exploitation Regression Trust Balance Utopia Damage Safety Conservation Diversity

39) Do you want to suggest other elements?

	Click to edit
1)
2)
3)

40) In your opinion, how important is it that each of the following geoscience themes is practised or studied with a geoethical perspective? Please, give a score, from 1 (lowest) to 4 (highest). *

	Click to edit
Geoscience communication
Geodiversity and biodiversity conservation
Geoeducation
Geoheritage enhancement
Natural resources
Inclusivity policy
Natural risks
Environmental monitoring
Data management
Professionalism
Gender balance
Global warming
Climate change
Deontological codes
Research integrity
Relationships scientists-media-decision makers
Conflict of interest
Relationships science-industry
Relationships science-citizens
Adaptation
Resilience
Prevention
Sustainability

41) Do you want to suggest other themes?

	Click to edit
1)
2)
3)

42) To which of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals can geoscientists most contribute? (multiple choice) *

1. No poverty 2. Zero hunger 3. Good health and well-being 4. Quality education 5. Gender equality 6. Clean water and sanitation 7. Affordable and clean energy 8. Decent work and economic growth 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure 10. Reduced inequalities 11. Sustainable cities and communities 12. Responsible production and consumption 13. Climate action 14. Life below water 15. Life on land 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions 17. Partnerships for the goals
43) Do you know the definition of "Geoethics" provided by the IAPG? *

Yes No
44) Do you know the "Cape Town Statement on Geoethics" by the IAPG? *

Yes No
45) Do you know the "Geoethical Promise", included in the Cape Town Statement on Geoethics? *

Yes No
46) Do you know the "White Paper on Responsible Mining" by the IAPG Task Group on Responsible Mining? *

Yes No
If in one or more of the answers to the questions 43), 44), 45), and 46) you chose "NO", visit the IAPG website to get more information: http://www.geoethics.org
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Geoethics in the Geosciences

Questionnaire