Concern for the planet's biological future, particularly over the issues of sustainable use of resources, climate change, population growth and the loss of biodiversity, has generated a global debate considering the ethics and consequences of human resource exploitation. Science and scientists are central to this debate, and some, such as Rachel Carson, David Suzuki and Paul Ehrlich, have become its stars. Increasingly it seems that scientists must not only pursue their own field of research but also consider the ethical obligations of that research. This has distanced some of the more socially conscious scientists from their conservative peers, who often argue that a scientist's role is simply one of improving knowledge and that it is for someoneelse to consider the moral issues associated with their research.
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