Accepting applications until February 10, 2023
Framing Mathematics as a Foundation for Ethical STEM is a new project jointly funded by the National Science Foundation’s Improving Undergraduate STEM Education and Ethical and Responsible Research programs. We are seeking instructors of math courses (e.g., Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra) in higher education contexts who are diverse in terms of underrepresented demographic groups, institutional contexts, and career stage to participate in a three-year project to explore new ethical guidelines for mathematical practice and how best to integrate these into existing courses. Funding allows support for 16 participants over the three-year period, which begins with a virtual kickoff meeting in April followed by an in-person workshop in June.
Mathematicians, with some exceptions, have not described what it means to practice and use mathematics ethically. This has contributed to a culture permissive of data-related scandals, questionable professional practices, and decreased public trust in science. By integrating ethical reasoning (ER) into undergraduate mathematics classes, we can begin to alter the perception that, if mathematics features abstract and theoretical constructs, then the mathematics practitioner has no ethical responsibility.
