But scientists typically have little training in making visible those things they do not know, or that might turn out otherwise than predicted. To the extent that science fails to communicate relevant uncertainties it fails to provide trustworthy information. In performing risk studies one has to make methodological choices, sometimes related to alternative conceptions of the very notion of risk. That these different conceptions reflect basic value choices often becomes apparent in their implications for legal questions of responsibility and liability. Managing risks involves further problems.
Similar considerations apply to the distribution of risks among different generations.
They serve to justify a precautionary strategy in those areas that may be vital for the future generations. One such strategy in regard to new knowledge and technology may be to delay the practical uses thus providing time for more comprehensive assessments. This is not the place to suggest specific remedies of the problems above. Yet one could at least point to some possible measures which may be worth further discussion. We recommend that ethics in scientific education be strengthened.