Despite increasing liability for businesses and corporations in contemporary society, very little is known about how the public conceptualizes and judges corporate wrongdoing. In prior work, Dr. Hans used three different methodological approaches to provide converging evidence about lay views of the moral and legal responsibility of businesses and corporations, including juror interviews, experiments, and a public opinion survey. In this project, she will undertake additional work to elaborate and integrate the research findings more fully and to place them within a broader framework of scholarship on the relationship between law and business. A resulting monograph will provide a unique and important portrayal of how the public views the ethical and legal responsibilities of business. Interactive activities at the host institution include: co-teaching an undergraduate course entitled "Corporate Responsibility and Ethics;" providing guest lectures to both undergraduate and graduate students in other Legal Studies courses; and holding special sessions for women students on careers in science. This project furthers VPW program objectives which are (1) to provide opportunities for women to advance their careers in engineering and in the disciplines of science supported by NSF and (2) to encourage women to pursue careers in science and engineering by providing greater visibility for women scientists and engineers employed in industry, government, and academic institutions. By encouraging the participation of women in science, it is valuable investment in the Nation's future scientific vitality.
