Special Events and Projects

SPECIAL PROJECTS

UM Ethics Programs and faculty contribute to a variety of special initiatives. This page itemizes them and provides links to their deliverables. (See also "Special Projects Archive" at end.)

• The Association for Practical & Professional Ethics (APPE) hosted a special “National Dialogue on the State of Research Integrity Training” Nov. 8-9, 2023, at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC. The meeting led to this report: Improving Research Integrity: The Role of Accountability Across the Research Enterprise (2024). The event received subvention support from the Arsht Ethics Initiatives. Two UM graduate students served as rapporteurs. Learn more.

• COVID-19 Ethics Resources | In conjunction with the Florida Bioethics Network, the Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy has created a number of resources addressing the ethical challenges posed by the pandemic. Link to FBN COVID-19 resources. This includes a link to UM Pandemic Ethics Resources.
  
  
• The Moral Science Network | The Ethics Programs are a founding sponsor of an international effort to study and learn about the scientific bases of morality. Link to The Moral Science Network website. (See also the Moral Science Symposium special event, below.)
  
  
• BlueHealth | UM faculty provided ethics support to this European Union-sponsored initiative to study the links among urban blue spaces, climate and health. The project concluded in 2020. Link to BlueHealth website.

SPECIAL EVENTS  

The University of Miami Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy contributes to, supports and collaboratse on a variety of special events across the institution and in the community. This page provides an archive with links to event fliers and other materials.

• Ethics, Computer Science and Writing: The Challenge and Opportunity of Text Generation. UM's Ethics Programs have long studied ethics and information technology. This special event links the Ethics Programs, the Institute for Data Science and Computing and the University's new Department of Writing Studies on a panel to address challenges related to the explosive interest in — and use of — Artificial Intelligence programs that generate text and computer code. A multidisciplinary expert panel will review (i) concerns about using computers to write assignments, (ii) credible and interesting uses of text-generation programs and (iii) options for institutional responses and policies to address these issues. January 23, 2022.

• Abortion in Florida: A UM Town Hall. University of Miami faculty lead town hall in updates on current law, pending rulings and their effects on health care, education and reproductive rights. June 1, 2022.

• Special Film Event: Ethics, Safety & Sport. Dr. Stephen Olvey is a pioneer in motorsport safety. His book, Rapid Response, has been made into a film. It was shown via Zoom and followed by a Q&A with Dr. Olvey, who talked about links between ethics and safety. December 7, 2021.
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• Moral Science Symposium.  A meeting convened by Prof. Blaine Fowers to explore aspects of the scientific basis of morality; co-sponsored by UM Ethics Programs, Office of Research and the School of Education and Human Development's Department of Educational and Psychological Studies. April 16, 2019. 
  • Steering Committee and Symposium schedules
  • Videos of presentations
  • Is There Morality in Science? [news item]
  • Photo

• Zika Policy in the Americas: Lessons learned for future vector-borne diseases. The Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health Sciences, partnered on a special community forum on April 6, 2018, and the publication of a major report on October 1, 2018, on challenges posed by Zika in the hemisphere.

• Language Studies and Responsible STEM Research. Anne Ruggles Gere, PhD., University of Michigan and Modern Language Association, Global attention to research intergrity has traditionally emphasized the empirical sciences. This emphasis overlooks both the role of writing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and --equally important -- research integrity in the humanities. This session addressed these roles. April 30, 2018.

• Medical Humanities Summer Institute. Bioethics Institute faculty and Humanities Pathway alumni participated in a public forum focused on the importance of the humanities for medical education and practice, May 19-20, 2017. Photos.

• Reproducibility in Science: Writing, Data and the Growth of Knowledge. Keynote speaker Elizabeth Iorns, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Science Exchange, and panel discussion. Presented by SEEDS You Choose Awards and the Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy, April 24, 2017. 

• Ethics for Lunch: Genetics, Computing, Mentoring, Careers. Carlos Bustamante, Ph.D., Distinguished Presidential Scholar at UM, discusses and debates challenging issues in an open, lunchtime forum for science and medical students. April 19, 2017.

• Zika 2017: Where Do We Go Next? A public forum featuring presentations and interactive sessions focused on the role of ethics and deliberation to improve decision making in the response to Zika. Co-sponsored by the Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy and the Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute, April 6, 2017.
  • Still using mosquito repellent? Threat of Zika can fall on deaf ears  
  •  Agenda | Poster

• We Robot 2016.  Ethics Programs Co-Sponsor "We Robot 2016", April 1-2, 2016.

• Ethics in Education: A to Z.  A two-day conference for teachers, students, parents, educational administrators and concerned citizens covering major ethical issues at all levels of American education, presented jointly by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, the University of Miami and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, May 1-2, 2015.

• Beyond Ebola: Ethics, Culture, & Health Diplomacy.  Panel Discussion co-sponsored by the School of Arts & Sciences: Departments of International Studies & Anthropology, and two student organizations: HealthCanes & United Against Inequities in Disease (UAID),  March 30, 2015.

• Twitch: A Documentary Screening with Kristen Powers.  Keynote speaker Kristen Powers, Creator of Twitch. Organized by the Center for Genomic Education and Outreach at the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, and the University of Miami Office of Civic and Community Engagement,  March 20, 2015.

• American Eugenics: From Long Island to Auschwitz.  Edwin Black, author, in conjunction with the College or Arts and Sciences' George Feldenkreis Program in Judaic Studies and the Dr. M. Lee Pearce Chair in Middle East Peace Studies, February 23, 2015.

• "Medicine's Michelangelo" The Life & Art of Frank H. Netter, MD. Presented by his daughter, Francine Mary Netter, January 20, 2015.

• Ethics and Decision Making. Presentations by Ethics Programs Co-Director Anita Cava and Robert Meyers, Executive Director of the St. Thomas University Center for Ethics, for the Leonard Turkel Nonprofit Network. Co-sponsored by the UM School of Business Administration, School of Education and Human Development and Catalyst Miami, May 6, 2014.

• We Robot 2014. Ethics Programs Co-Sponsor "We Robot 2014", April 4-5, 2014.

• 2014 Miami Kant Workshop. Papers presented at the Department of Philosophy conference will be published as a collection of essays, On the Sensible and Intelligible Worlds: New Essays on Kant’s Metaphysics and Epistemology, by Oxford University Press. Student Activities Center and University Center, April 4-5, 2014.

• Margaret P. Battin, Ph.D., and Kirtly Parker Jones, M.D., University of Utah. Ethics Policy and Society: New Thinking about the Ethics and Science of Male Contraception. Student Activities Center Main Ballroom, Coral Gables, March 17, 2014.

• Ethics & Society: A Speaker Series. Presentations by Ethics Programs, CITI, and Philosophy Department faculty starting. Organized by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, March 10, 2014.

• John A. Powell, Director, Haas Diversity Research Center (HDRC), University of California, Berkeley. Racing to Justice: Ethical and Practical Considerations to Build an Inclusive Society. In Conjunction with MCCJ, Catalyst Miami, School of Education and Human Development, Office of Civic and Community Engagement, Department of Anthropology, and the School of Law, February 24, 2014.

• Jack Sim, Social Entrepreneur. Sustaining Social Enterprises, November 20, 2013.
  

• Jon Mukand, M.D., Ph.D., Brown University, Tufts University and the Southern New England Rehabilitation Center. Renovating the Brain: Reflections on Disability, Culture and Bioethics, March 14, 2013.

• Edwin Black, author, IBM’s Hidden Role in the Holocaust, in conjuncion with The Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies, February 8, 2013.

• Soroush Dabbagh, Ph.D., Visiting Fellow, Department of Historical Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga, on Islam and Euthanasia, February 7, 2013.

• Alfie Kohn, educator: “The Deadly Effects of Corporate-Style ‘School Reform’: Challenging High-Stakes Testing and Other Impediments to Learning.” In conjunction with the UM School of Education, the Children’s Trust and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, March 30, 2012.

• Ethics Film Series: sponsored by Adrienne Arsht, UM Ethics Programs, The School of Communication, and the University of Miami Alumni Association. 
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2009

• Marion Danis, M.D., Head of the NIH Section on Ethics and Health Policy: ““Engaging the Public in Addressing the Socio-economic Determinants of Health to Reduce Health Disparities.” In conjunction with the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, March 21, 2012. Food Day – A university-wide effort to promote health foods, support sustainable farming, etc. Presented by the UM Office of Civic and Community Engagement, October 24, 2011.

• “Carbon Farming” – Special workshop on sustainable ecosystems as part of the Greater Everglades Community Food Summit, led by Eric Toensmeier, September 30, 2011.

• Prof. Nel Noddings: “U.S. Educational Policy: Are we on the Right Track?” In conjunction with the Department of Philosophy, March 7, 2011.

• Shannon Bowen, Ph.D., Syracuse University: “Advising the CEO on Conscience: Creating the Consistently Authentic Organization”. In conjunction with the School of Communication, October 25, 2010, part of the Ethics Policy and Society series.

• UM Graduate Workshop in Ethics and Mind. In conjunction with the Department of Philosophy, September 19-20, 2008.

• Ellen Chesler, Ph.D., director of the Eleanor Roosevelt Initiative on Women and Public Policy at Roosevelt House, Hunter College, The City University of New York, on Morning After in America: The Story Behind.

• Emergency Contraception in the U.S., February 19, 2007; in conjunction with the Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity.

• Ronald Goldfarb, J.D., attorney, author and literary agent, gave a series of seminars on the Gables and Medical campuses in 2006 on “Confidentiality and the Professions” and did research for his book, In Confidence: When to Protect Secrecy and When to Require Disclosure (Yale University Press).

• Health Research Ethics in the Americas. Supported in part by the National Institute of Health and Fogarty International Training Grant in AIDS and TB, May 4-5, 2006. Syllabus

• Ethics, Law & Medical Liability was a special series in 2004 and 2005 in conjunction with the University of Miami School of Law.

• Business Ethics Seminars was a special series in 2004 sponsored by Yellow Roadway Corporation and the Miami Herald.

• Mayoral Candidate Ethics Forum was a collaboration between the Miami-Date County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust with Ethics Coalition partners and the League of Women Voters of Miami-Dade County..

• Health Research Ethics in the Americas. Supported in part by the National Institute of Health and Fogarty International Training Grant in AIDS and TB, September 12-13, 2003. Syllabus

• In collaboration with the UM School of Law’s Institute on Law, Psychiatry and Psychology and its journal Psychology, Public Policy & Law, March 28, 2003 , March 11, 2005, February 24, 2006.

• “Extreme Ethics” The University of Miami Ethics Programs received an NIH grant to support three annual conferences to explore exceptionally difficult or under-addressed issues and problems in research ethics. The grant (T15 AI07591) was titled “Difficult Challenges in Human Subjects Research,” and the conference series added “Extreme Ethics” as the primary title. Program brochures for 2000, 2001 and 2000.

• Seminars in the Medical Humanities is an occasional series sponsored by the University of Miami and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center through the UM forum for Bioethics and Philosophy. January 6, 1997, January 24, 1997, December 19, 1997, February 10, 1998.

• Cultural Difference, Ethics and Health. A Program by the University of Miami Bioethics Society. October 25, 1996.

• Masters of Pediatrics Bioethics Workshop. A special program component of the UM Department of Pediatrics’ former “Masters of Pediatrics” conference series. Jan. 28, 1996.

• Pediatric Ethics. A UM-Jackson seminar series. December 1995 - March 1996.

• Michael J. Franzblau, M.D., University of California, San Francisco, gave a series of talks on “Ethical Values in Healthcare: Lessons from the Nazi Era,” at UM and the Miami VA, Jan. 23-26, 1995.

• Philosophy, Psychiatry and Law was a special Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds series in 1994.

SPECIAL PROJECTS ARCHIVE

UM Ethics Programs and faculty contribute to a variety of special initiatives. This page itemizes past initiatives and provides links to their deliverables.

• Florida Department of Children and Families | In response to a DCF request,  the University of Miami Ethics Programs prepared background material for, hosted and facilitated a meeting to explore the feasibility of creating a genetic biorepository to track children in DCF custody. The report was issued in September 2002. Click here to access the report.

• Independent Panel of the Guidant Corporation | This panel was created in 2005 to address issues related to reports of defects in implantable devices manufactured by the Guidant Corporation (now Boston Scientific). The panel, comprising cardiologists, engineers, biostatisticians and the director of the UM Bioethics Program, issued its final report in March 2006. Click here to access the report.

• Florida Developmental Disabilities Council | The UM Ethics Programs developed a Conflicts of Interest Policy and Policy Guide for the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council. The document was delivered in March 2009. Click here to access the Policy and Policy Guide.

• Florida Department of Health | The DOH in 2010 convened a workgroup, led by the Florida Bioethics Network and including several UM ethics faculty, to study ethical and policy issues related to emergency preparedness and response. The report was completed but never formally adopted by the State of Florida.  Click here for the report.