Race & Culture/Ethnicity

This year’s RACE Affinity panel will critically examine the evolving role of bioethics within a dynamic and increasingly polarized sociopolitical context, centering on recent research that addresses these challenges. As diversity and inclusion initiatives face heightened scrutiny, bioethicists must engage with the ethical imperatives that shape their professional responsibilities, community obligations, and broader societal commitments. Panelists will present their latest research on the intersection of bioethics, political ideologies, and normative ethical frameworks, highlighting empirical findings, theoretical advancements, and applied strategies. Key questions include: How do recent studies inform our understanding of bioethics’ role in navigating political polarization while preserving its foundational principles? What evidence-based strategies can foster inclusivity for underrepresented scholars and strengthen accountability mechanisms within the field? How can contemporary research inform efforts to resist intellectual suppression and uphold ethical integrity amid professional and institutional constraints? By grounding the discussion in current research, this panel will underscore the collective ethical duty of scholars, beyond those from historically marginalized backgrounds, to sustain a bioethics discourse that is both just and epistemically rigorous.