Ethical guidelines put in place to protect scientific integrity often struggle to keep pace with new technologies developed at breakneck speeds, especially as the nuances of policy are revealed and debated. For decades, one of the most vocal advocates for clear, consistent ethical frameworks in research was Sheldon Krimsky, who died unexpectedly on April 23 at the age of 80.
Krimsky was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1942. According to The New York Times, his father painted houses while his mother worked as a seamstress. He remained close to home, attending Brooklyn College to earn bachelor’s degrees in physics and math, graduating in 1963. He then attended Purdue University and earned a master’s degree in physics in 1965 before getting his PhD in philosophy from Boston University in 1970. That same year, he married playwright Carolyn Boriss. After some short-lived engagements at a handful of universities, Krimsky joined the ...
