New Jersey Science Supervisors Association
New Choices, New Responsibilities: Ethical Issues In The Life Sciences
In collaboration with the New Jersey Science Supervisors Association (NJSSA) Roche has supported the implementation of New Choices, New Responsibilities: Ethical Issues in the Life Sciences, a curriculum supplement on bioethics for middle and high school science teachers. Developed in cooperation with The Hastings Center of Briarcliffe, New York, New Choices, New Responsibilities provides teachers with materials on bioethical issues for classroom discussion on the topics of AIDS, animals in science, genetics, transplantation and the environment. Using a case study method, it is designed to develop strategies of ethical analysis and to involve students in current world issues that affect their lives.
Roche sponsors regional training seminars through NJSSA for New Jersey teachers wishing to use New Choices, New Responsibilities in their own program of study. The model can be replicated elsewhere -and has-in Florence, South Carolina, and promotes science and health education while encouraging the development of critical thinking skills. Since the New Choices, New Responsibilities program began in 1990, more than 500 teachers throughout New Jersey have been trained and approximately 32,000 middle through high school students have had bioethics included as part of their science curriculum.
