Much has been written about codes of conduct in science and engineering. Many questions have been or need to be raised. The most important goal is to get scientists and students continually involved in developing their own codes. These would address questions such as: 

- Are explicit codes really needed? If so, what types of codes? - Are they effective, and at what?  
- Is a code the most appropriate way to secure high standards of behaviour?  
- How can codes be made relevant and alive?  
- Could one ethical code be expected to be universally valid?  
- Do codes have a widespread appeal outside of the countries where they have been developed? 
- Who should devise codes?

The Further Readings section provides a number of web sources about codes.  After reading some of the listed documents and looking at existing codes, consider what you would want a code to do.

- What would it have in terms of its content?
- What would it say about scientists and engineers considering the implications of their work? 
- Would it aim simply to inspire? Or should it provide clear guidelines for appropriate conduct?  
- What would it say about the need to prevent the spread of chemical weapons?
- What would it say about the need for responsible utilization of multi-use chemicals like ephedrine?
- Who would be its primary audience?  
- In an ideal world, who would be involved in its development?  
- How could it be disseminated and made relevant to those in science and engineering and possibly beyond?