WIP: Exploring the Nexus of Ethics and Empathy in STEM Higher Education Through Faculty and Student Perspectives

This work-in-progress paper does not stem from specific research questions but rather emerges from secondary findings within a broader study on the culture of STEM ethics. Our focus is on exploring the connection between empathy and ethics, which became apparent as study participants often intertwined these concepts. The contribution of this paper lies in its exploration of the empathy-ethics relationship and its relevance to ethics education in STEM, offering insights that may enrich discussions and practices within the community. The primary study aimed to understand the components that constitute a culture of ethics, utilizing thirteen focus groups with students and faculty and guided by interview questions centered on culture of STEM ethics. However, upon analyzing the data, the researchers observed that participants often discussed empathy instead of ethics. In this work-in progress paper, we only focus on the emerging themes related to the construct empathy and begin to explore the relationship between ethics and empathy. Data analysis employing thematic analysis techniques, with a specific focus on identifying patterns and themes related to empathy and its intersections with ethics, is currently undergoing. Despite addressing an important topic, this study is still work-in-progress and does not yet yield significant results for broader conclusions. Further research is needed to assess how these dynamics evolve over time and across different contexts. Completing the study, including the ongoing analysis, will help address these limitations, and we outline the next steps for finalizing this work in the last section of the paper.