Researchers of the Northeast Ethics Education Partnership (NEEP)
at Brown University sought to improve an understanding of the ethical challenges
of field researchers with place-based communities in environmental studies/sci-
ences and environmental health by disseminating a questionnaire which requested
information about their ethical approaches to these researched communities. NEEP
faculty sought to gain actual field guidance to improve research ethics and cultural
competence training for graduate students and faculty in environmental sciences/
studies. Some aspects of the ethical challenges in field studies are not well-covered
in the literature. More training and information resources are needed on the bioethi-
cal challenges in environmental field research relating to maximizing benefits/reduc-
ing risks to local inhabitants and ecosystems from research; appropriate and effec-
tive group consent and individual consent processes for many diverse communities
in the United States and abroad; and justice considerations of ensuring fair benefits
and protections against exploitation through community-based approaches, and cul-
tural appropriateness and competence in researcher relationships.

EB00000003865K

Available

• Survey on Using Ethical Principles in Environmental Field Research with Place‐Based Communities