Abstract
This paper describes issues associated with integrating the study of Ethical,
Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) into ongoing scientific and technical research and describes
an approach adopted by the authors for their own work with the center for nanophase
materials sciences (CNMS) at the Oak Ridge national laboratory (ORNL). Four key
questions are considered: (a) What is ELSI and how should it identify and address topics of
interest for the CNMS? (b) What advantages accrue to incorporating ELSI into the
CNMS? (c) How should the integration of ELSI into the CNMS take place? (d) How
should one judge the effectiveness of the activity?Weconclude that ELSI research is not a
monolithic body of knowledge, but should be adapted to the question at hand. Our
approach focuses on junctures in theR&Dcontinuum at which key decisions occur, avoids
topics of a purely ethical nature or advocacy, and seeks to gather data in ways that permit
testing the validity of generalization. Integrating ELSI into the CNMS allows dealing with
topics firmly grounded in science, offers concrete examples of potential downstream
applications and provides access to the scientists using the CNMS and their insights and
observations. As well, integration provides the opportunity for R&D managers to benefit
from ELSI insights and the potential to modify R&D agendas. Successful integration is
dependent on the particular ELSI question set that drives the project. In this case questions
sought to identify key choices, information of value to scientists, institutional attributes,
key attributes of the CNMS culture, and alternatives for communicating results. The
opportunity to consult with scientists on ELSI implications is offered, but not promoted.
Finally, ELSI effectiveness is judged by observing the use to which research products are
put within the CNMS, ORNL, and the community of external scholars.