The subject of ethics, in particular in science and engineering, has witnessed a series of ebbs and flows in popularity over several decades. The most likely triggers of a revival in discussion of this subject are two-fold: the advent of new enabling science and technologies which appear to present some concerns, for example, currently nanotechnology or stem cell research; and, in the totally negative vein, where reports of blatant plagiarism, misconduct and fraud are laid against wayward individuals. As I initially thought about 'ethics' for this editorial, a veritable thesaurus of words sprung to mind, many of which are summarised in the following box.
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