Life's various domains seem to be increasingly intertwined with ethical considerations in biology.
The Hastings Center's 2025 Summer Bioethics Program: Exploring Bioethics in the Digital and Animal Research Realms
The fourth annual Summer Bioethics Program, hosted by The Hastings Center in June, delved into a variety of bioethics topics, including ethical issues in AI caregiving and the use of animals as research subjects, such as xenotransplantation.
The weeklong online program, designed primarily for undergraduate students with limited prior bioethics training, engaged participants in discussions, debates, and evaluations aimed at deepening understanding and reflection on these topics. Key elements included ethical considerations around AI and robotics in caregiving, the ethics of animal research, especially involving organ transplants into humans, and community building sessions featuring doctoral student Sadler Scholars engaged in bioethics research.
The program was co-chaired by The Hastings Center Fellows Faith Fletcher and former research associate Danielle Pacia. Twenty-one students from American colleges and universities were selected to participate through a competitive application process.
One of the sessions, Community Building with Sadler Scholars, featured four of The Hastings Center's Sadler Scholars. The lectures about race in genetic research were particularly intriguing and expanded students' understanding of science in genealogy and sociogenetics.
The Summer Bioethics Program also encouraged participants to consider an MD/PhD program and to actively seek research opportunities and internships with bioethics programs. It provided a better understanding of various careers and pathways available for someone interested in bioethics.
The program is one of The Hastings Center's pathway programs that build community for next-generation scholars interested in bioethics issues and careers. The Harriet Rabb Fund for a More Inclusive Bioethics and the Emily Murray Fund provide student stipends and faculty honoraria for the Summer Bioethics Program.
The Center for ELSI Research and Analysis (CERA) through The Hastings Center-CERA partnership and individual donors to The Hastings Center supported the program. CERA funding specifically supported program content on the ethical, legal, and social implications of human genomics.
Several students offered detailed reflections on their experiences, with one stating that the program greatly helped them in gaining a better understanding of their future career goals. The program encourages students to reflect on what they've learned and what they're curious about through anonymous evaluations at the end of each day and at the end of the week.
As the bioethics landscape continues to evolve, programs like The Hastings Center's Summer Bioethics Program play a crucial role in equipping the next generation of scholars with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate these complex issues.
[1] The Hastings Center, Summer Bioethics Program, 2025, https://www.thehastingscenter.org/programs/summer-bioethics-program/
[2] Genetic Literacy Project, Other Bioethics Summer Programs, 2025, https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2025/07/01/other-bioethics-summer-programs-2025/
[3] National Institutes of Health, Bioethics Summer Programs, 2025, https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/bioethics/bioethics-summer-programs
[4] Harvard Medical School, Clinical Ethics Summer Institute, 2025, https://www.hms.harvard.edu/ceci/
- The Summer Bioethics Program, hosted by The Hastings Center, not only delved into ethical issues in digital and animal research realms, but also incorporated discussions on science, medical-conditions, and health-and-wellness, such as the ethical aspects of AI and robotics in caregiving, the ethics of organ transplants between species, and the societal implications of human genomics.
- As part of The Hastings Center's pathway programs, the Summer Bioethics Program encourages students to explore various careers in bioethics, including health-and-wellness sectors, and provides opportunities for research and internships in this field.
