- Norm: the behaviours and practices among disciplines of scientists (and their funders) that collectively contribute to cultures of responsibility, awareness and vigilance that maximise the beneficial intent of their contribution to the global community, as well as minimising those activities that are fundamentally intolerable.
This is a modification of a definition from the National Security Council (2009) National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats. Washington, DC: National Security Council. https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=31404
"Life scientists are best positioned to develop, document, and reinforce norms regarding the beneficial intent of their contribution to the global community as well as those activities that are fundamentally intolerable.
Reinforce norms of safe and responsible conduct: Activities that should be taken to reinforce a culture of responsibility, awareness, and vigilance among all who utilize and benefit from the life sciences to ensure that they are not diverted to harmful purposes.”
A consistent, but rather too succinct, definition is "a standard of appropriate behaviour for actors with a given identity." Martha Finnemore and Kathryn Sikkink, "International Norm Dynamics and Political Change," International Organization 52(4): 887-917, at 891.
However, whatever definition of norm the reader personally adopts we believe that the vast majority will not restrict their comprehension of the points being made in the article or this website.
It should be noted that scientific norms are not static, they do and should change in response to variety of influences. However, it should be possible by examining inclusive public discussions (including those in the scientific literature), to establish if there is any evidentiary basis for a change in a scientific evidence-based norm. If it is not possible to identify any new evidence (or at least a new clear explanations refuting earlier interpretations of an established evidence base ), then it may be that norm erosion is occurring, for example due to an increased tolerance of risk.