The “Ethics Rupture” Summit, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, October 25–28, 2012

This report explains the background of the “Ethics Rupture” Summit held in New Brunswick, Canada, October 2012, focusing on the disconnect between research-ethics policies and the nature and purpose of social-science research—an unintended “rupture” in ethics governance. Ethics is about human relationships, and the governance of ethics must reflect that fact rather than function as a bureaucratic, self-legitimating system of control. The themes that emerged from the Summit point to: structural problems with the current system; an undermining of the original, historical mission of some social-science disciplines; a discomfort with new methodologies; ethics committees and the well-being and education of social-science students; the possibilities of reform and renewal; and the next steps. Finally, the report refers in broad outlines to a “New Brunswick Declaration,” which is currently being considered by participants of the Summit.