Aims and tasks
The BOKU sees itself as a university of life sciences. Therefore it puts a lot of emphasis on a respectful interaction within the University. It is aware of its ethical responsibility for the society and the environment. This results in the necessity to discuss ethical questions in the context with the University but also with environmental protection and conservation, risk assessment of technology and sustainable management of natural processes.
The ethics platform aims at pushing discussions in a systematic, constructive and participatory way. This concerns in general the interaction of people within the University, and in particular issues of research and teaching. Thereby it is important to focus on the basic values of equality, tolerance, independence of research and freedom of thinking. Further important is it to respect the rights of others, to show compassion and to consider the consequences of our interactions of people and nature.
The ethics platforms’ members are from the following institutions: the rectorate, the senate, the Vienna Institute of Biotechnology, all departments and other centers, the ÖH-BOKU, the non-academic and academic work councils.