Reframing the Ethical Interface: A Critical STS Approach to Science, Technology, and Society.

As science, technology, and society continue to intersect, there is a greater need than ever for ethical frameworks that include moral reflection into the core processes of research, design, and governance, rather than merely regulating reactively. This article expands on the idea of the ethical interface, which is a dynamic space where societal values, technology systems, and scientific knowledge interact, negotiate, and change one another. The study offers a multifaceted model of the ethical interface that includes epistemic, institutional, cultural, and participative dimensions, drawing on critical social theory, philosophical ethics, and Science and Technology Studies (STS). Four recent case studies—global vaccine inequities during the COVID-19 pandemic, human germ line editing via CRISPR, algorithmic bias in artificial intelligence, and data misuse in the Cambridge Analytical scandal—illustrate this framework. Instead of being added as an afterthought, the analysis shows how ethical consideration can be incorporated into techno scientific practice from the beginning. Through the integration of feminist critiques, postcolonial perspectives, and global justice considerations, the suggested model tackles disparities in risk allocation, innovation, and representation. The paper argues for an anticipatory, inclusive, and culturally plural ethics that can direct science and technology toward the common good. It ends by describing consequences for policy, education, and participatory governance.