Nation to improve ethics oversight for researchers

China will continue to improve its ethics and academic integrity in scientific research to limit any negative impact on society brought by substandard practices or unethical conduct, China's top science official said on Monday.

Wang Zhigang, minister of science and technology, said the ministry has attached great importance to regulating research practices, and will continue to issue rules to guide scientists and keep research within proper ethical boundaries.

"Science and technology are double-edged swords," Wang said. He said fast-developing technologies - artificial intelligence and gene editing, for example - raise ethical questions involving individual privacy or technological uncertainties.