World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST)

The World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology COMEST* is an advisory body and forum of reflection that was set up by UNESCO in 1998.

The Commission is composed of eighteen leading scholars from scientific, legal, philosophical, cultural and political disciplines from various regions of the world, appointed by the UNESCO Director-General in their individual capacity, along with eleven ex officio members representing UNESCO's international science programmes and global science communities.

The Commission is mandated to formulate ethical principles that could provide decision-makers with criteria that extend beyond purely economic considerations.
plant research
Budimir Jevtic / Shutterstock
Last update: 28 October 2022

COMEST works in several areas:

  • environmental ethics, with reference inter alia to climate change, biodiversity, water and disaster prevention;
  • the ethics of nanotechnologies along with related new and emerging issues in converging technologies;
  • ethical issues relating to the technologies of the information society;
  • science ethics; and
  • gender issues in ethics of science and technology.

Since its inception in 1998, the functioning of COMEST has been guided by its Statutes adopted by the UNESCO Executive Board at its 154th session. See also its Rules of Procedure.

* Acronym taken from the French name 'Commission mondiale d’éthique des connaissances scientifiques et des technologies'.

Statements on ethical issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Bioethics Committee (IBC) together with the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST), has spared no effort to provide the international community with reflections and recommendations on the ethical issues raised by the health crisis, through several statements, as follows:

UNESCO’s Ethics Commissions call for the temporary waiving of patents related to vaccines as an exceptional measure (September 2021)
This statement calls for equal access for all to vaccines and therapeutics developed to confront COVID-19.

UNESCO’s Ethics Commissions call to address ethical issues of COVID-19 certificates to leave no one behind (June 2021)
This statement calls for policy-makers to address ethical issues involved in COVID-19 certificates and vaccine passports.

UNESCO calls for COVID-19 vaccines to be considered a global public good (February 2021)
In this joint statement, the IBC and COMEST call for a change of course in current COVID-19 vaccination strategies, urging for global vaccines equity and solidarity.

Statement on COVID-19 : Ethical Considerations from a Global Perspective (April 2020)
In this joint statement, the IBC and COMEST guide policy-makers and inform the public about essential ethical considerations that need to be addressed during the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sessions

Work Programme for 2022-2023

Based on the discussions during the 12th (Ordinary) Session of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (online from Paris, December 2021), the Bureau of COMEST finalised in March 2022 the work programme of the Commission for 2022-2023 as follows:

  • The Commission will address the Ethics of Science in Society, in light of recent lessons learnt from the pandemic of COVID-19.
  • The Commission will also address the topic of the Ethics of Climate Engineering, including its importance for the sustainable development agenda.

The Commission will remain open to addressing other emerging challenges related to the ethics of science and technology during the 2022-2023 biennium.

Reports

Joint Publications of COMEST and the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) Series on Water and Ethics (2004)

What are COMEST's tasks?

  • To advise the Organization on its programme concerning the ethics of scientific knowledge and technology;
  • To be an intellectual forum for the exchange of ideas and experience;
  • To detect on that basis the early signs of risk situations;
  • To perform the role of adviser to decision-makers in this respect;
  • To promote dialogue between scientific communities, decision-makers and the public at large.

Bureau

During its 12th (Ordinary) Session, COMEST proceeded with the election of its Bureau: a Chairperson, two Vice-Chairpersons and a Rapporteur, who will remain in office until the end of the 13th (Ordinary) Session in 2023, provided that they remain members of the Commission.

The following members were elected to the Bureau:

Chairperson

  • Mr Peter-Paul Verbeek (Netherlands)

Rapporteur

  • Mrs Emma Ruttkamp-Bloem (South Africa)

Vice-chairpersons

  • Mrs Elizabeth Hodson de Jaramillo (Colombia)
  • Mr Sang Wook Yi (Republic of Korea)

How are COMEST members chosen?

The Director-General appoints the 18 COMEST members to serve for four-year terms in their personal capacities. The Commission members are chosen from among eminent personalities in the fields of science, professional engineering, law, philosophy, culture, religion or politics. Due account is taken of geographical distribution and coverage of the various disciplines and schools of thought. At each ordinary session, the Commission elects a President, two vice-Presidents and a Rapporteur, who form the Bureau of COMEST.

COMEST Members

BAKUWA Dr (Mr) Japhet (Malawi) - 2020-2023
Doctor of Philosophy in Science and Technology Studies
Senior Lecturer, Department of Philosophy, University of Malawi
Member, University of Malawi Emergency Advisory Committee (2021-present)
Former Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Chancellor College, University of Malawi (2017-2018)
Former Head of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, University of Malawi (2010-2011)
Member, National Committee on Bioethics, Malawi
Member, Advisory Board, Social Ethics Society Journal of Applied Philosophy
Former Associate Editor, Journal of Humanities (2017-2018)

CAMILLONI Prof. (Ms) Inés (Argentina) - 2022-2025
Full Professor, Dept. of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, University of Buenos Aires
Researcher, Centre for Marine and Atmospheric Research (CIMA), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET/UBA), Buenos Aires
Member, Advisory Committee on Climate Change, Environmental Protection Agency, Buenos Aires City Government
Member, Scientific Advisory Committee of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI)

CHEN Prof. (Ms) Ying (China) - 2022-2025
Senior Research Fellow, Research Institute for Eco-civilization (RIEco), Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Professor, University of CASS
Deputy Director, Research Center for Sustainable Development (RCSD), CASS
Lead Author, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) WGIII, AR5 and AR6
Vice-Chairwoman, Chinese National Committee for Future Earth (CNC-FE)
Vice-Director, Environmental Economics Branch, Chinese Society Environmental Sciences
Vice Director, Climate Change and Low Carbon Development Committee, Chinese Meteorological Society

DIKENOU Prof. (Mr) Kwami Christophe (Togo) - 2020-2023
Professor of Philosophy and Ethics
Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Togo to Germany (2014-2016)
Former Head, Department of Philosophy, Université de Lomé
Former Vice-President, National Consultative Committee of Bioethics of Togo (CCNB-TOGO)
Member, Committee of Bioethics of Health Research of Togo (CBRS)
Former Member, UNESCO International Bioethics Committee (IBC) (2012-2016)

DOLENC Dr. (Mr) Sašo (Slovenia) - 2022-2025
Researcher in Philosophy, The institute of criminology, Faculty of Law of Ljubljana
Freelance science writer and science communicator
Member, Commission for equal opportunities in science, Slovenia
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the online science magazine kvarkadabra.net / sci-highs.com
Former researcher in Philosophy, Dept. of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, University Ljubljana
Former member, Science and Technology Council of the Republic of Slovenia

EL FALLAH SEGHROUCHNI Prof. (Ms) Amal (Morocco/France) - 2020-2023
Full Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Sorbonne University
Head of International AI center of Morocco, Ai Movement

HAMZÉ Prof. (Mr) Mouïn (Lebanon) - 2018-2025
Doctor Es-Science from France
Expert & Author of International reports on science policy, research, development,
and innovation
Secretary General, National Council for Scientific Research, CNRS-L (until June 2022)
Professor and former Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Lebanese University
Chairperson, Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute
Lead of several EU and international projects
Chairperson of several international and regional organizations
Co-author, “Empowering Knowledge and Innovation: Challenges for the Arab Countries”

HODSON DE JARAMILLO Prof. (Ms) Elizabeth (Colombia) - 2016-2023
Professor Emeritus and Former Director, Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science (1990/2010), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Full Member, Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences
Member of the Scientific Group for the UN Food Systems Summit 2021
IICA Chair in Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development
Member, Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Risk Assessment and Risk Management, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
COMEST Vice-Chairperson (2022-2023)

JERÓNIMO Prof. (Ms) Helena Mateus (Portugal) - 2020-2023
Assistant Professor, ISEG School of Economics & Management, University of Lisbon
Invited Assistant Professor, IMS Information Management School, New University
of Lisbon (2012-2020) ; Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique) ; Universidade Politécnica (Mozambique) ; and Universidade Mandume Ya Ndemufayo (Angola)
Researcher, Centre for Research in Social Sciences & Management, University of Lisbon
Head of Community Engagement, United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN PRME), Chapter Iberia
Former Member, Executive Board, Society for Philosophy and Technology (2013-2017)
Founder and Former Coordination Member, Thematic Group Knowledge, Science and Technology, Portuguese Association of Sociology (2010-2014)

JUÁREZ MOJICA (Mr) Javier (Mexico) - 2018-2025
Commissioner, Board of the Federal Telecommunications Institute
Former Head, Regulatory Policy Unit, Federal Telecommunications Institute
Former Director-General, Federal Commission on Telecommunications

MESSER-YARON Prof. (Ms) Hagit (Israel) - 2016-2023
Professor of Electrical Engineering & former Vice-President for R&D, Tel Aviv University
Former Vice-Chairperson, Council of Higher Education of Israel
Former President, Open University, Israel
Former Chief Scientist, Ministry of Science of Israel

RUTTKAMP-BLOEM Prof. (Ms) Emma (South Africa) - 2020-2023
Professor and Head, Department of Philosophy, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Research Lead, Ethics of AI, Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research, South Africa
Chair, Southern African Conference on AI Research
Corresponding Member, International Academy for the Philosophy of Science
Associate Editor, Journal for Science and Engineering Ethics
COMEST Rapporteur (2022-2023)

SANTOSUOSSO Prof. (Mr) Amedeo (Italy) - 2018-2025
Founder & Director, European Center for Law, Science & new Tech., University of Pavia
Professor Law, Science & Emerging Tech., University School for Advanced Studies, Pavia
Former President, First Chamber, Court of Appeal of Milan
Former President, European Association for Neuroscience and Law (EANL)

SHINWARI Prof. (Mr) Zabta K. (Pakistan) - 2016-2023
Professor Emeritus and Former Chair and Dean, Biotechnology Department (2009-18), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad-Pakistan
Founder and Vice-Chancellor, Qarshi University, Lahore (2006-09; 2018-19)
CEO of Qarshi Research International and President, National Council for Tibb (2016-21)
Fellow, Islamic World Academy of Sciences and Former Secretary-General & Fellow, Pakistan Academy of Sciences
Former Vice-Chancellor, Kohat University Science and Technology (KUST)
Founder and Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Science and Technology, Bannu
Treasurer, Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA) (2015-21)
Laureate of the UNESCO Avicenna Prize for Ethics in Science (2015)
Recipient of Pakistan Civil Awards Sitara-e-Imtiaz (2018) and Tamghae-Imtiaz (2012)
International Advisor of Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO-CAS, China), Distinguished Scientist Chinese Academy of Sciences (2019-20)
Co-Chair (Ethics) International Society of Ethnobiology (2022-24)
Vice-Chairperson of COMEST (2018-21)

SCHUBERT Dr. (Ms) Julia (Germany) - 2022-2025
Postdoc. Researcher, Department of Science Studies & Management, Speyer University
Fullbright Scholar, Center for Science & Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado, Boulder
Junior Fellow, Bielefeld University’s Institute for Advanced Study (ZiF)
Fellow, Climate Social Science Network (CSSN), Brown University

STOCKELOVA Prof. (Ms) Tereza (Czech Republic) - 2020-2023
Researcher, Institute of Sociology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Associate Professor of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Czech Rep.
Editor-in-Chief, Czech Sociological Review (2013-2019)
Member, GSF/OECD Expert Group, Mobilising science in times of crisis: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic (since 2020)

VERBEEK Prof. (Mr) Peter-Paul (The Netherlands) - 2016-2023
Rector Magnificus and member of the Executive Board of the University of Amsterdam and Professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Science and Technology in a Changing World, University of Amsterdam (as from October 2022)
Member, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
Chairperson of COMEST (2020-2023)

YI Prof. (Mr) Sang Wook (Republic of Korea) - 2018-2025
Professor of Philosophy, Hanyang University
President, Korean Society for the Philosophy of Science
Chairperson, Committee for the Science and Technology Assessment of Synthetic Biology, Korean Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning, Ministry of Science and Technology
Director, HY Center for Ethics, Law & Policy of Science & Technology, Hanyang University
COMEST Vice-Chairperson (2022-2023)

 

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Ex-officio Members of the Commission

Mr John Finney
Coordinator of the Working Group on Scientific Ethics - Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs(link is external)

Mr Leiv K. Sydnes
Chairperson - Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in the Conduct of Science, International Council for Science (ICSU)

Mr Adepoju Adeshola
Chairperson - Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB)

Ms Ames Dhai
Chairperson - International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO (IBC)

Ms Immolatrix Geingos
Chairperson - Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC)

Ms Mary Khimulu
Chairperson - Intergovernmental Council of the Management of Social Transformations Programme (MOST)

Mr Ariel Hernán Troisi
Chairperson - Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC)

Mr Zhongbo Yu
Chairperson - Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP)

Mr Luiz Oosterbeek
Chairperson - International Council for Philosophy and Humanistic Studies (ICPHS)(link is external)

Mr Sobhi Nasir
Chairperson - International Geoscience Programme (IGCP)

Who can participate in or attend COMEST sessions?

  • Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO may participate as observers in the meetings of the Commission;
  • States which are not members of UNESCO, but members of the United Nations system organizations, may participate as observers in the Commission’s meetings at the invitation of the Director-General;
  • The United Nations and the other organizations of the United Nations system with which UNESCO has concluded mutual representation agreements may participate as observers in the Commission’s meetings;
  • The Commission defines, in agreement with the Director-General, the conditions under which other intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations with similar purposes to those of the Commission may be invited to attend its debates.

Orientation

UNESCO’s activities in the ethics of science and technology are especially centred on the implementation of the orientation given to COMEST since the 32nd General Conference. The orientation has three dimensions.

  • First it aims at bringing the global debate to the regional level, creating better connections with the scientific community and focussing on the issues that are pertinent to specific regions. The 3rd session of COMEST in Rio de Janeiro in December 2003 inaugurated this approach.
  • It aims at delivering particular and timely products to the Member States, especially through standard-setting activities. In the decisions taken at its 169th session, the Executive Board requested the Director-General, with the advice of COMEST, to undertake studies on the advisability of drafting an international instrument on the ethics of outer space and on an international declaration on science ethics that could serve as a basis for an ethical code of conducts for scientists, as well as on possible international action in the field of environmental ethics.
  • Finally, it aims at applying such standards into the scientific and policy communities, creating awareness of the ethical issues and building capacities to deal with them appropriately. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of teaching of ethics in scientific education.

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