"Small choices have a huge cumulative impact on the credibility of science."
Luis Montuenga spoke at the I Professional Ethics seminar organized by the Core Curriculum Institute.
28 | 11 | 2025
"Professional ethics start small; integrity is built into every email we respond to, every graph we review, and every piece of data we choose to report. These small choices have a huge cumulative impact on the credibility of science." This was emphasized by the Full Professor in Cell Biology, Luis Montuenga, during his intervention in the I Professional Ethics seminar organized by the Core Curriculum Institute of the University of Navarra.
At the event, which was attended by more than thirty professors, Montuenga pointed out that although students tend to associate ethics with great debates, " professor experience shows that it is the everyday cases that most challenge them and help them to connect theory with professional internship ," which he defined as "microethics". "Ethics is not only played out in major dilemmas, but in the decisions we make every day, often without realizing it," he stressed.
A review of the ethical and deontological teaching in the area of Science
In his speech, the Full Professor explained the origin and evolution of the subject of Professional Ethics in the School of Sciences. Born in the 1980s as a series of sessions given by experts from different Schools, it has adopted different formats until it recovered, in 2014, its interdisciplinary approach . "The goal is to awaken students' interest in ethical issues, to show them that they are not academic complements, but a fundamental part of their training and their future professional responsibility," he added.
He also highlighted some issues that are often particularly useful in the teaching of these subjects, such as the employment real stories or historical episodes, or the essay of ethical micro-cases, "an exercise that began with Professor Javier Novo, which encourages staff reflection and has generated, over the years, a collection of real situations of great value for teaching".
Finally, the professor explained how the subjects of Ethics and Deontology allow us to talk about the essential values that underpin scientific activity: objectivity, honesty, openness, equity, responsibility and stewardship. These principles, he said, "are not an abstract ideal, but practical criteria that guide the way we research, collaborate, publish and review the work of others". Montuenga added that these principles have also been a guide in the preparation of his forthcoming book on bioethics, the fruit of the work of an interdisciplinary team.
The goal of the 1st Professional Ethics seminar was to invite reflection in this area as part of the 25-30 Strategy, A university for all: talent, science and commitment, which includes teaching and research in ethics among its core topic . It was also announced that the next seminar will be held on January 20 and will include the participation of Ana Marta González, continuing the university's commitment to ethical training .
