research paper on product quality

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• Published: 01 November 2023

Factors that affect consumer trust in product quality: a focus on online reviews and shopping platforms

• Eunsuk Sung 1 ,
• Won Young Chung   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4395-5355 1 &
• Daeho Lee 1  

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications volume  10 , Article number:  766 ( 2023 ) Cite this article

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• Business and management
• Information systems and information technology

The growing popularity of online shopping means that consumers must determine product quality after they make a purchase decision and receive the product, a situation that is directly related to the issue of consumers’ trust toward retailers. This study analyzes the marginal willingness to pay for attributes that influence consumer trust and purchasing decisions regarding products whose quality can only be determined after they are purchased. We select six attributes that influence trust in online shopping: (1) price, (2) number of reviews, (3) “star” rating, (4) review type (i.e., text, picture, and video), (5) length of text reviews, and (6) shopping platform. We conduct a conjoint survey by categorizing brands as famous and nonfamous and analyze the survey data using a multinominal logit model. The results reveal that consumers prefer high star ratings, a large number of reviews, and a trustworthy shopping platform, even if other similar products are less expensive. Additionally, feeling confident about a product’s quality is more difficult for consumers in the case of nonfamous brands, which they have not experienced, compared with famous brands. The findings indicate that when consumers purchase products from nonfamous brands they are willing to pay more for all six attributes. These results can help retailers establish pricing strategies based on the value of trust by considering customer experience.

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Introduction.

Online shopping allows consumers to search for and purchase all types of products, regardless of time or place. This convenience has led to explosive global growth in online shopping. Moreover, finding product information and comparing prices is easier online compared with in-person shopping. These factors make online purchasing more attractive to consumers. According to UN News ( 2021 ), online shopping as a percentage of all retail sales increased dramatically in 2020, from 16% to 19%. South Korea is an emerging nation characterized by widespread, high-speed Internet access and smartphone use, which has contributed to a surge in online shopping. In 2022, sales of online shopping malls in Korea were close to 210 trillion Korean won (KRW) (Statista, 2023 ). Over the past few years, the volume of online shopping has also grown steadily (Statista, 2023 ). This study investigates the key determinants of online shopping experiences of Korean consumers and their willingness to pay (WTP) for certain attributes in assessing product quality. Despite the advantages and convenience of online shopping, quality evaluation is difficult because consumers cannot directly experience the products they are buying. In particular, purchasing experience goods (e.g., clothes and cosmetics) online involves certain limitations, including the difficulty of evaluating the quality of these products until they are experienced in person. Consumers make purchase decisions on the basis of information, including photos, provided by sellers. However, sellers may display an image that is better than the actual product, or they may be unable to provide accurate product information. Consequently, in certain cases, consumers deem the quality of a product when it is received to be different from what they expected.

For this reason, a consumer’s trust in a product is an important factor in online shopping. Previous studies mention trust as an important factor due to its decisive effect on online purchase decisions. In particular, trust is essential for experience-based purchases (Grabner-Kraeuter, 2002 ). Thus, retailers expend much effort to promote trust; however, consumers still continue to find it difficult to make confident decisions when purchasing experience goods online. Online reviews (Fernandes et al. 2021 ; Tata et al. 2020 ) and trustworthy shopping platforms (Hong and Cho, 2011 ) help provide consumers with confidence and convince them to make a purchase. Brand value is also an important factor in trust. According to Lau and Lee ( 1999 ), a brand’s reputation influences trust in that brand. Muslim et al. ( 2019 ) propose that brand image and trust exert a positive causal relationship on the purchase of products from that brand. Ultimately, brand values such as image and reputation influence trust in and product purchases from that brand. However, having trust in experienced goods, especially when shopping for them online, is difficult. For this reason, people tend to shop online based on product reviews posted by others or based on trust of a shopping platform (Abedin et al. 2019 ; Lackermair et al. 2013 ; Wu and Lin, 2017 ).

Many studies note that online reviews affect decisions to purchase or trust a product (e.g., Lackermair et al. 2013 ; Riasanow et al. 2015 ), and others find that shopping platforms affect product trust, although they only play a mediating role in product sales. However, few, if any, studies combine these factors to determine which are most important to and valued by consumers. Thus, we pose the following question: which attributes of online reviews and shopping platforms do consumers trust and ascribe economic value to when purchasing experience goods?

No global, unified guidelines exist for online reviews that the majority of consumers check before purchasing a product. According to online shopping malls operated in different countries, consumers may or may not be compensated for writing reviews, and guidelines vary widely. For example, in the United States, Amazon does not compensate reviewers because it deems that consumers perceive reviews as a monetary reward. However, in China and Korea, consumers are economically rewarded for writing reviews. One of China’s online shopping malls, Taobao, proposed a rule to provide a small monetary compensation only when a buyer leaves a positive review (Duan et al. 2019 ). Naver, one of the largest shopping platforms in South Korea, has proposed that buyers receive a reward when they purchase products online and write a review, which could be positive or negative. Thus, while the importance of reviews is increasing, no universal global guideline exists for such reviews.

This study focuses on the fact that consumers are highly dependent on reviews when purchasing experience goods online (Bei et al. 2004 ; Huang et al. 2009 ) and that shopping platforms want to generate trust among consumers (Sebastianelli and Tamimi, 2018 ). We seek to determine which attributes are most important to consumers in assessing product quality and the economic value assigned to these attributes. Trust in a brand varies according to the consumer’s impression of that brand’s value (Lau and Lee, 1999 ); thus, we aim to identify which products hold greater economic value among those with and without brand value. Hereafter, trust, as discussed in this study, is defined as a factor that influences purchase decisions by boosting consumer confidence in the quality of the product. The trust serves important functions for consumers by reducing perceived risk in online transactions and helping them to cope with uncertainty (Pavlou et al. 2007 ). Uncertainty in this context refers to the quality of products offered online, as assessing quality online is more difficult than with traditional offline (in-person) purchases (Grabner-Kraeute, 2002 ). Although online sellers provide information about their products to consumers, uncertainty about product quality remains, particularly with respect to experience goods for which quality can only be evaluated after the consumer experiences them first-hand. For example, the true quality of clothes, a type of experience goods, can only be evaluated through physical attributes such as fit and texture. Online reviews written by previous customers provide an indirect experience for new customers who are considering a purchase, helping them to assess product quality and reducing product uncertainty (Hu et al. 2008 ). The existing literature proposes that reviews, star ratings, and reliable shopping platforms can increase trust regarding experiential products.

The remainder of this study is structured as follows. First, we develop six key attributes that influence trust based on actual online shopping malls and the existing literature. Second, we collect data through a conjoint survey that presents products and services as a combination of characteristics using an orthogonal design. Third, we calculate average relative importance (RI) and marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) based on the results of a multinomial logit model. Finally, we suggest strategic implications based on the value of trust to enhance consumers’ experiential factors.

Related literature

Factors influencing trust—online reviews and shopping platforms, online reviews, number of reviews, star ratings, review types, and text review length.

Consumers rely on the content of reviews, number of reviews, and ratings to help in making purchase decisions (Riasanow et al. 2015 ). Previous studies find that high star ratings are more trustworthy and more reliable than low ones (Wu and Lin, 2017 ; Hong and Pittman, 2020 ). Online reviews created by previous consumers who have purchased the products are evolving from text to photo and video formats. Image-based reviews improve consumers’ understanding of experience goods more than search goods (Liu and Du, 2019 ). Xu et al. ( 2015 ) classify online product reviews as based on text, images, and videos and provide evidence that video-based reviews are more trustworthy than text-based reviews, and Agrawal and Mittal ( 2022 ) show that consumers prefer video reviews of products prior to purchasing online. Shopping platforms in South Korea provide additional reward points or mileage and encourage previous customers to post lengthier reviews that include detailed information and use of the product (Yi and Oh, 2021 ). Amazon suggests that written reviews be at least 20 words and no more than 5,000 words. The ideal length is 75–500 words (Amazon, 2022 ).

The majority of shopping platforms not only show content provided by reviewers but also provide the total number of reviews posted for a product and the average scores reviewers gave, and text reviews, photos, and videos are categorized separately. For text reviews, a shopping platform may set a minimum and maximum for the number of characters a review can include. In this manner, various attributes are combined in reviews on shopping platforms to provide information to potential purchasers and offer consumers confidence in the product in different ways but it is important to know which factors consumers consider more important.

Review guidelines of several countries

There are no universal guidelines or clear standards for writing online reviews; each country or shopping platform establishes its own standards. Many online shopping platforms offer reward points or miles to customers who write reviews, and these rewards can be exchanged for discounts on future purchases, free products, or other perks. These programs can help other buyers make purchasing decisions by considering reviews about the experiences previous consumers had with the products. For example, in South Korea, the platform Naver provides points when a consumer writes a review. Additionally, sellers can freely set and provide additional points for text, photo, or video reviews. Sellers are paid the sales price, excluding the value of the points paid to buyers. Sellers of household goods set 50 won for text reviews and 150 won for text and photo or video reviews, respectively. Sellers of cosmetics pay buyers 150 won for text reviews and 350 won for text and photo or video reviews (Table 1 ). Some platforms offer higher rewards for reviews of specific products or services, while others award a fixed number of points for all reviews. In other words, no guidelines exist regarding the number of points sellers pay to buyers, apart from points the platform provides for writing reviews. 11Street, a global shopping portal service from South Korea’s leading shopping portal company, offers a fixed number of points. Buyers receive 50 points for providing text and photos of 10 characters or more and 100 points for video reviews. These points can be used to obtain discounts when purchasing other products in the future. Taobao, the largest shopping platform in China, lacks a review reward program that directly pays customers directly for their reviews. However, Taobao sellers offer incentives to customers who leave positive reviews, such as offering discounts or coupons on their next purchase (Duan et al. 2019 ). Previous studies show that positive reviews increase trust in sellers and allow them to sell the same product as other sellers at a premium price (Guo et al. 2011 ). Amazon lacks an official reward program for customers who write reviews but operates a program called Amazon Vine through which insightful reviewers receive free products from vendors. This provides an opportunity to share product experiences with other Amazon customers, helping them make purchasing decisions. Footnote 1

Shopping platform

To maximize product sales, retailers use multiple channels, not only building their own shopping malls but also using shopping platforms provided by third parties. In South Korea, there are different types of online retailers, characterized by Rha et al. ( 2021 ) as online open markets (e.g., Gmarket) and online platforms (e.g., Naver shopping). Currently, Korean open market companies mainly consist of large open markets such as Coupang, Gmarket, Auction, and 11Street. Online platforms (e.g., Naver shopping) are bigger and more expansive than open markets. As an example, Naver began as a search platform for comparing product prices and connecting online shopping malls. It has expanded its influence in the online market by providing a shopping platform similar to an open market.

Previous research notes that well-known shopping platforms can promote trust to help consumers make purchase decisions. Sebastianelli and Tamimi ( 2018 ) organize virtual web pages for Amazon (as an example of a famous shopping platform) and Nile (a nonfamous shopping platform) to determine the impact of an online shopping platform’s reputation on consumer trust. In this study, we classify shopping platforms into three levels, namely personal shopping malls independently operated by individuals or companies, open markets that connect consumers and sellers, and online platforms, which are more expensive than open markets, such as information brokerage services.

Relationship between brand value and trust

Consumers with high levels of trust in retail brands offline perceive those brands’ websites more favorably and are more likely to purchase from them compared with other consumers (Zhang and Wang, 2021 ). A trusted and universally recognized retail brand can take the lead over a relatively small or new company in adopting a new business format (Kim and Jones, 2009 ). As mentioned above, evaluating the quality of experience goods is difficult before purchasing and using them. However, once they experience the quality of these goods, when consumers repurchase the same brand, they already know the quality (Alba et al. 1997 ).

Consumers want to purchase products whose quality can be understood through experience, and brand names reduce uncertainty (Grabner-Kraeuter, 2002 ). Park and Lennon ( 2009 ) find that well-known brands influence purchase intentions and an online store’s image. Reputation is important in online shopping (Qalati et al. 2021 ), and reputation-building is an important factor for lesser-known vendors by informing them of return and refund policies (Jarvenpaa et al. 2000 ). Positive online customer reviews increase the value of unknown products and help weak brands to create trust that is difficult to establish on their own (Ho-Dac et al. 2013 ). According to Liu ( 2023 ), famous brands reduce uncertainty for consumers purchasing goods whose quality is difficult to evaluate without first-hand experience. However, consumers face difficulties making purchase decisions involving nonfamous brands due to uncertainty. Thus, we examine the attributes that consumers view as important for building trust in nonfamous brands.

Relationship between experience goods and online review

A marketing viewpoint allows us to classify goods as either experience goods or search goods based on the attributes of product-related information. Search goods are products whose characteristics consumers can clearly determine prior to purchase (e.g., books). In contrast, experience goods refer to products whose characteristics consumers can only know after purchase (e.g., clothing) (Sebastianelli and Tamimi, 2018 ). Nelson ( 1970 ) states that experience goods are those that consumers must directly purchase and consume to evaluate quality. Experience can also refer to creating a preferred brand through multiple purchases. This study defines experience goods as products for which consumers lack complete certainty regarding quality and characteristics prior to consuming or using them.

The impact of online reviews may differ according to product type. In this study, we focus on experience goods, as evaluating quality prior to purchase is difficult due to the nature of experience goods, and thus consumers evaluate these products based on information provided by the retailer and reviews written by other consumers. An online shopping review is defined as a peer-generated direct evaluation of the product (Mudambi and Schuff, 2010 ). Attribute-based reviews provide a robust informational description of the product, while experience-based reviews provide subjective and emotional content (Luan et al. 2016 ). Consumers of experience goods tend to prefer experience-based reviews over those that are attribute-based because the characteristics of the product cannot be readily known before purchasing. Huang et al. ( 2009 ) find that consumers spend more time looking at reviews when purchasing experience goods than search goods, and Bei et al. ( 2004 ) find that consumers seeking to purchase experience goods frequently use online information provided by other consumers because they value the source of online information and tend to use online information more. As such, online shopping reviews provide important information and help potential consumers make decisions to purchase experience goods. As online shopping grows, consumers can access more useful and valuable online product reviews, which are a major factor in product evaluation (Luan et al. 2016 ).

Reviews written by consumers are an important factor in decision-making for various product purchases, but the attributes of reviews that are important for search versus experience goods may differ. In this study, we recognize that making a purchase decision involving experienced goods is risky due to the difficulty of evaluating quality and obtaining information before purchasing these products. We focus on the important attributes of reviews and shopping platforms for experience goods that can reduce uncertainty and influence customer trust.

Methodology

Conjoint analysis.

We use conjoint analysis to analyze consumer preferences and the economic value of online shopping attributes that influence trust. Conjoint analysis refers to the product or service to be analyzed as a combination of several attributes and attribute levels. Underlying this notion is the theory of value proposed by Lancaster ( 1966 ), which emphasizes that people decide whether or not to buy a particular product based on a combination of product attributes. Here, a hypothetical alternative card that represents goods or services is presented to a survey respondent. In this manner, we create a virtual environment similar to the experience of purchasing products that consumers face. Respondents collect data via a choice, ranking, or rating written on each card according to their preference, and a researcher analyzes the respondents’ preference systems. Additionally, this approach estimates consumers’ WTP based on a composition of attributes by understanding the degree to which the combined attributes of the product influence consumers’ evaluations (Green and Srinivasan, 1978 ).

To use a conjoint analysis, we must first determine the attributes and attribute levels for alternative cards. The levels are determined by referring to the existing literature and actual online shopping malls for attributes that influence trust. We use six attributes (price, number of reviews, star rating, type of review, length of text review, and shopping platform) and corresponding attribute levels that influence trust in online shopping, as shown in Table 2 .

Multinomial logit model

We use a multinomial logit model, a type of discrete choice model, as shown in Eq. ( 1 ):

where U n j denotes the utility of consumer n when selecting alternative j , β ′ represents a vector that consists of estimates of each attribute, x nj is the vector of attribute x , V nj pertains to observable attributes (i.e., number of reviews, star ranking, types of review, the length of text reviews, and shopping platform), and ∈ refers to unobservable attributes.

Suppose a consumer, who possesses the same utility shown in Eq. ( 1 ), selects alternative j between two alternatives ( i or j ) because alternative j provides more utility than alternative i . In this case, the multinomial choice model can be expressed as shown in Eq. ( 2 ). The equation shows only two alternatives; however, in reality, more than two alternatives exist.

The logit model assumes type-1 error (Gumbel distribution); thus, the choice possibility can be expressed as shown in Eq. ( 3 ).

Choice possibility indicates that when consumer n chooses alternative j , this formula is called multinomial logit.

We calculate the relative importance (RI) and MWTP based on the results of the multinomial logit model. Relative importance is the influence of a given attribute, expressed as a percentage, when selecting one of various alternatives and can be calculated using part-worths. This study calculates the RI of each consumer, which is divided by the number of consumers N . Finally, we calculate the RI. In Eq. ( 4 ), the part-worth of attribute k refers to the value obtained by multiplying the interval of the level of attribute k by the estimated coefficient. RI is obtained by calculating the ratio of attribute k to the sum of the partial values of all attributes.

MWTP is mainly used in economics and is referred to as the monetary value of a consumer’s WTP in order to preserve one’s utility per unit of specific attribute changes. In this study, we calculate MWTP, as expressed in Eq. ( 5 ).

Survey and data

Survey design.

We selected six attributes, with 3, 4, 3, 3, 2, and 3 attribute levels, so combining them produces a total of 648 alternatives (3 × 4 × 3 × 3 × 2 × 3). However, selecting enough respondents would be difficult if we used all 648 alternatives. Therefore, we apply the fractional factorial design using the orthogonal design embedded in SPSS Statistics 25 (IBM, Armonk, NY), which produces 25 final alternatives. Among the variants of conjoint analysis, we employ the choice-based one to identify consumer preferences in online shopping.

An important feature of this study is that we distinguish between famous and nonfamous brands, which are classified into two categories. Therefore, a total of 50 choice cards are composed of five choice situations, which are shown on five choice cards for each set. The respondents decide on 10 choice cards (five cards each for famous and nonfamous brands; see the sample alternatives in Fig. 1 ). For example, in a scenario in which long-sleeve T-shirts are to be purchased, the respondents would select only one out of the five alternative cards. Specifically, the respondents are instructed as follows: considering price, number of reviews, star ranking, type of reviews, length of text reviews, and shopping platform, choose the preferred online shopping service. Five surveys each were conducted for the purchase of famous (Nike brand) and nonfamous (no brand name) products. The respondents answered a total of 10 questionnaires and examined 50 alternative cards. Figure 1 presents a sample used in the conjoint survey.

A sample alternative card in famous long-sleeve T-shirt brand survey questionnaire.

Data collection

A total of 528 consumers participated in the experiment over the period from April 28, 2021 to May 4, 2021. The survey was conducted by a survey company in South Korea. The online panel, created by the company, consisted of consumers with experience in online shopping nationwide, covering various age groups from 20 to 50 years, which includes millennials and Generation Z. The questionnaire was intended for respondents who have used online shopping (i.e., online, mobile, or both) services within the last three months. Table 3 shows that the respondents included 50.19% of men and 49.81% of women and was nearly evenly distributed by age group (22.73%, 21.21%, 27.84%, and 28.22% for the 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, and 50–59 age groups, respectively). In terms of occupation, office workers or technicians (46.21%) account for the greatest proportion of the respondents.

We seek to identify which attributes are relatively more important in online shopping and the price consumers are willing to pay for each attribute. The analysis is divided into two parts to determine the importance and economic value from the consumers’ perspective. In the first part, we analyze consumer preferences and MWTP for each attribute of online shopping, assuming that consumers intend to purchase long-sleeved T-shirts, which are experience goods. In the second part, products are classified as either a famous manufacturer brand (Nike) or a lesser-known manufacturer’s brand (no brand name). We analyze the importance and MWTP of each attribute in formulating strategies for selling experience goods offered by famous and nonfamous brands.

Initial analysis

Table 4 shows that among the attributes of online shopping services, the star rating is the most important factor for consumers (RI = 28.75%). The star rating has a greater effect than the number of reviews in evaluating product quality and increasing purchase intention, a finding that is consistent with Flanagin et al. ( 2014 ). The order of the relative importance of the other attributes is as follows: number of reviews (RI = 17.38%), online platform (RI = 12.03%), price (RI = 10.83%), premium reviews (RI = 10.26%), open market (RI = 8.27%), picture reviews (RI = 7.39%), and video reviews (RI = 5.10%). Interestingly, these results indicate that consumers considered star rating, number of reviews, online shopping platform, and premium reviews to be more important than price when making an online shopping decision. Lastly, we find that consumers prefer to shop on trusted shopping platforms and prefer reviews written by other consumers.

We calculate MWTP to determine the economic value of each attribute, as shown in Table 3 . When making online purchases, consumers face uncertainty in evaluating product quality, especially in terms of experience products. Consumers frequently use reviews to address product quality uncertainty (Wu et al. 2013 ). The MWTP for reviews is 6.428 KRW, increasing to 642.80 KRW and 6428 KRW when the number of reviews reaches 100 and 1000, respectively. In the case of a star rating, the MWTP per star is 2655.95 KRW. Based on this, products with average reviews of four stars are expected to sell at a price that is 7967.85 KRW higher than a similar product with one-star reviews. The respondents disclosed that they would pay 2,730.21 KRW more for text + picture reviews and 1885.00 KRW more for text + video reviews. Reviews with pictures and/or videos can increase customer trust by providing more intuitive information than text reviews alone. We define reviews with over 300 words as premium reviews and find that the MWTP for such reviews is 3790.43 KRW, which is higher than for general reviews containing fewer than 20 words. Premium reviews include more information about the consumer’s experience with the product, which can increase consumer confidence and promote purchase decisions (Mudambi and Schuff, 2010 ). This finding is consistent with Cao et al. ( 2011 ), who find that longer reviews are more helpful. To encourage customers to write premium reviews after purchase, online shopping companies in South Korea offer more rewards to consumers.

Sellers often sell the same products simultaneously through shopping malls and platforms. Our results show that when purchasing from a trustworthy shopping platform compared with a personal shopping mall, the study participants were willing to pay 4446.08 KRW and 3055.25 KRW on online platforms and open markets, respectively. We found that even when a product of similar quality is available, the amount that consumers will pay varies according to the shopping platform. For example, a product that can be purchased for 50,000 KRW at a personal shopping mall can be priced as high as 54,446.08 KRW on an online platform. Given this, we conclude that retailers will sell more on trusted shopping platforms, such as online platforms or open markets, than on personal shopping malls with 400 reviews. Hence, using a trusted shopping platform to sell experience goods is helpful in the early stages of a product’s life when no reviews are posted. Consumers’ MWTP can be used as a reference for online retailers in establishing pricing policies for their products.

Additional analysis (famous versus nonfamous brands)

We expect to see a difference in the importance of these attributes for experience goods offered by famous versus nonfamous brands for online shoppers, which we analyze separately here. Table 5 presents the results.

When purchasing a famous brand, the relative importance of the attributes is as follows: star rating (RI = 28.75%), number of reviews (RI = 17.38%), online platforms (RI = 12.03%), price (RI = 10.83%), premium reviews (RI = 10.26%), open markets (RI = 8.27%), picture reviews (RI = 7.39%), and video reviews (RI = 5.10%). However, when purchasing a nonfamous brand the relative importance for the attributes is somewhat different, as follows: star rating (RI = 29.18%), number of reviews (RI = 18.39%), online platforms (RI = 11.69%), premium reviews (RI = 10.36%), price (RI = 9.49%), open markets (RI = 7.86%), picture reviews (RI = 7.09%), and video reviews (RI = 5.95%). For nonfamous brands, premium reviews were considered to be more important than price, but not for famous brands.

Analyzing the respondents’ MWTP, we find they would pay 642.80 KRW to purchase a product from a famous brand when the number of reviews is 100. However, respondents answered that they would pay 776.30 KRW to purchase nonfamous products with the same number of reviews. This suggests that when consumers purchase products from nonfamous brands, they prefer one with reviews to reduce quality risks, even when the product is more expensive than a similar product that has fewer reviews. In the case of star rating, the respondents would pay 2655.95 KRW more and 3076.04 KRW more to purchase a product from famous and nonfamous brands, respectively. For reviews with a picture and text, the respondents would pay 2730.21 KRW and 2988.61 KRW to purchase products from famous and nonfamous brands, respectively. In the case of video reviews with text, they would pay 1885.00 KRW more for famous brands compared to 2509.49 KRW more for nonfamous brands, and for premium reviews, they would pay 3790.43 KRM more and 4368.33 KRW more for famous and nonfamous brands, respectively, compared with general reviews. In the case of open markets, they would pay 3055.26 KRW and 3313.40 KRW more for famous and nonfamous brands, respectively. Moreover, the respondents stated that they would pay 4446.08 KRW and 4931.55 KRW for famous and nonfamous brands, respectively, on online platforms. These results suggest that brands that are relatively unknown can sell products at a higher price using shopping platforms. We also find that products sold on shopping platforms can receive many choices from consumers. Another interesting result is that MWTP is higher when consumers are purchasing nonfamous brands across all attributes. The same result is seen in Zhu and Zhang ( 2010 ), who find that when consumers purchase a game that is also an experience good, consumer reviews are more influential for less popular games compared with those for popular games. Our results show that nonfamous brands command a relatively high MWTP because consumers trust online platforms and open markets more than they do famous brands. This finding is consistent with previous studies that show the reputation of shopping platforms influences initial trust formation (Sebastianelli and Tamimi, 2018 ).

Conclusion and study limitations

Discussion and implications.

We examine six attributes related to online reviews and shopping platforms that influence consumer trust. When consumers buy experience goods online, they particularly value reviews and the type of shopping platform. Kim et al. ( 2012 ) find that trust is the most important factor in purchase decisions, which is consistent with the findings in this study; that is, reviews and shopping platforms are the most important attributes in online purchase decisions. Specifically, the most important attribute for consumers in selecting an online shopping service is star rating (RI = 28.75%; MWTP = 2655.95 KRW per star).

Premium reviews (those with more than 300 words) have a higher MWTP than of general reviews because premium reviews increase the quality of information. The lengthier the review, the more information; therefore, consumers are more interested in longer reviews and evaluate them as useful (Salehan and Kim, 2016 ).

The trust provided by the platform in online shopping reduces the risk created by the uncertainty consumers face regarding products and purchase decisions. E-retailer reputations exert the greatest influence on building initial trust (Sebastianelli and Tamimi, 2018 ). The respondents reported that when using a trustworthy shopping platform, they would be willing to pay 4446.08 KRW and 3055.26 KRW for online platforms and open markets, respectively, instead of personal shopping malls. Thus, the preference for online platforms and MWTP were significantly different versus open markets.

The majority of shopping platforms impose referral fees on sellers, with online platform fees (e.g., Naver) of approximately 5% and open market fees (e.g., Gmarket) of approximately 13%. Online platforms have the advantage of strong consumer preference and MWTP but produce lower sales commissions than open markets do. This difference has implications for building trust with consumers and increasing sales in the early stages of a product’s life. If no reviews or star ratings are posted for experience goods, it is difficult for consumers to make purchase decisions. Online shopping vendors that use a trusted shopping platform improve their chances of being selected by consumers.

Our study shows that when purchasing a nonfamous brand, consumers assign high levels of importance to star ratings, the number of reviews, premium reviews, and the type of online platform rather than the price. Interestingly, MWTP is higher when consumers are making a decision to purchase nonfamous brands than when buying famous brands across all attributes studied. In other words, consumers rely more on reviews when purchasing nonfamous brands. For example, when deciding where to buy a similar product from a nonfamous brand, consumers show a willingness to buy from a large shopping platform even if they have to pay more than they would pay for a famous brand (4931.55 KRW more versus 4446.08 KRW more). Using conjoint analysis, we identify the attributes that consumers consider to be influential in purchasing products. Keen et al. ( 2004 ) noted that the retail format (Internet, catalog, and retail) is more important than the price for a CD, which is a low-cost, low-risk product; however, price is more important for a computer, which is a high-cost, high-risk product. For low-cost, low-risk products, consumers show higher levels of MWTP at higher prices to obtain the product quickly. This result is consistent with previous findings that consumers are more willing to pay for nonfamous brands than for famous brands when purchasing products because predicting quality is difficult. Without brand awareness, it takes more effort for consumers to evaluate attributes and make decisions. Thus, reviews exert a greater impact on sales for weak brands than for strong brands.

This study provides insights into the online shopping industry and other business practitioners. Many existing studies related to trust in online shopping focus on determining the factors that influence trust, but few studies categorize and analyze the characteristics of consumer goods in detail. The results here indicate that experience goods, reviews, star ratings, and shopping platforms can increase product trust and that consumers may be willing to pay more for products of the same perceived quality. Online shopping companies in South Korea offer points/mileage to buyers who write reviews based on their experience with a given product. Online shopping sellers offer cashback, mileage, and rewards for consumers who write positive reviews, which can influence consumer purchase decisions (Duan et al. 2022 ). However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no data regarding the degree of importance of these reviews; thus, rewards are set based on a company’s discretion. Our results provide guidelines on the value of consumer reviews to online shopping companies across different types of shopping platforms. In the case of nonfamous brands, assessing product quality is difficult. Our results confirm that the price that consumers are willing to pay differs according to reviews and type of shopping platform for the difference between brands. A seller pays a referral fee to sell in a store on a shopping platform (e.g., Amazon or eBay). When a product of similar quality is sold on trusted shopping platforms, consumers are willing to purchase it even if the price is higher. Based on these results, online shopping companies can consider whether or not selling in a store on a shopping platform can result in higher sales, even if they have to pay a sales commission. In the case of experience goods and nonfamous brand products, we find that reviews, star ratings, and types of shopping platforms can increase product trust and serve as a basis for gaining the trust of consumers.

Limitations and suggestions for future studies

Our study has certain limitations. First, our analysis is limited to experience goods, so the generalizability of the results may be limited. Future research could be extended to other product groups, such as search goods, building on these results.

Second, due to the use of conjoint analysis, we could not apply all combinations of attributes and attribute levels. Thus, the study considered several sub-attributes based on an analysis of the existing literature and the judgment of the researchers. Moreover, conjoint analysis poses unavoidable limitations. Therefore, the attribute levels that influence trust that the study did not consider should be expanded and analyzed.

Third, to determine the MWTP, we chose clothing as our experience good, calculated the representative price by referring to actual online shopping, and conducted a survey. We verified prices through three pilot surveys and literature studies; however, the price range used and the difference between the lower and higher price ranges could be expanded. Additional research using other product groups and price ranges would provide useful information for retailers.

Fourth, despite the rapid development of online shopping, risks remain when making purchase decisions. We analyze the RI of shopping platforms, MWTP, and reviews as factors of trust that can compensate for difficulties in purchasing goods online. Naver, which was classified as a search engine in South Korea until recently, is expanding its influence on online shopping by combining search services with fees that are lower than those of other open markets. Meanwhile, Google, the leading global search engine, intends to move into the online shopping market by strengthening its shopping search function. Therefore, future studies should conduct additional research to expand the types of platforms to include global search engines and open markets.

Fifth, in the case of a discrete choice experiment, there is a possibility of attribute non-attendance or deliberate randomization. In this study, either or both may have occurred due to the cognitive effort of having to make 10 choices. However, people have substantial experience reviewing choices in the digital world, and this is a familiar subject. In addition, the deliberate subjects may not occur because we ensured that the number of attributes did not exceed seven, which is the maximum number that can be memorized; thus, excessive cognitive efforts would not be required. Further studies could aim to address this by dividing subjects into famous and nonfamous goods.

Lastly, this study presents research that can be analyzed with a mixed logit model, which is similar to existing studies. However, we used the multinomial logit model to compensate for the less favorable heterogeneity of the consumers who write the reviews. The attributes valued by consumers who write reviews differ according to the brand (or lack thereof) of experience goods sold in online shopping platforms. Therefore, considering the differences in the amount the consumers are willing to pay for each attribute is noteworthy. Researchers could re-analyze this aspect using a mixed logit model in a future study.

Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Sung, E., Chung, W.Y. & Lee, D. Factors that affect consumer trust in product quality: a focus on online reviews and shopping platforms. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 10 , 766 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-02277-7

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• Three Big Points

What Does “Product Quality” Really Mean?

In this article, the author reviews and synthesizes the varying definitions of product quality arising from philosophy, economics, marketing, and operations management. He then goes on to build an eight­-dimensional framework to elaborate on these definitions. Using this framework, he addresses the empirical relationships between quality and variables such as price, advertising, market share, cost, and profitability.

• Quality & Service

Product quality is rapidly becoming an important competitive issue. The superior reliability of many Japanese products has sparked considerable soul-searching among American managers. 1 In addition, several surveys have voiced consumers’ dissatisfaction with the existing levels of quality and service of the products they buy. 2 In a recent study of the business units of major North American companies, managers ranked “producing to high quality standards” as their chief current concern. 3

Despite the interest of managers, the academic literature on quality has not been reviewed extensively. The problem is one of coverage: scholars in four disciplines — philosophy, economics, marketing, and operations management — have considered the subject, but each group has viewed it from a different vantage point. Philosophy has focused on definitional issues; economics, on profit maximization and market equilibrium; marketing , on the determinants of buying behavior and customer satisfaction; and operations management , on engineering practices and manufacturing control. The result has been a host of competing perspectives, each based on a different analytical framework and each employing its own terminology.

At the same time, a number of common themes are apparent. All of them have important management implications. On the conceptual front, each discipline has wrestled with the following questions: Is quality objective or subjective? Is it timeless or socially determined? Empirically, interest has focused on the correlates of quality. What, for example, is the connection between quality and price? Between quality and advertising? Between quality and cost? Between quality and market share? More generally, do quality improvements lead to higher or lower profits?

Five Approaches to Defining Quality

Five major approaches to the definition of quality can be identified: (1) the transcendent approach of philosophy; (2) the product-based approach of economics; (3) the user-based approach of economics, marketing, and operations management; and (4) the manufacturing-based and (5) value-based approaches of operations management. Table 1 presents representative examples of each approach.

About the Author

David A. Garvin is Associate Professor of Business Administration at the Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University. Dr. Garvin holds the A.B. degree from Harvard University and the Ph.D. degree from M.I.T. His primary research interests are in the areas of production and operations management, industrial economics, and discussion teaching. Dr. Garvin has had consulting and executive education experience with major U.S. corporations, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies. He is the author of The Economics of University Behavior and coauthor of Cases in Operations Management . His many articles have appeared in such journals as Columbia Journal of World Business, Business Horizons, Harvard Business Review, and California Management Review.

1. See: W. J. Abernathy, K. B. Clark, and A. M. Kantrow, Industrial Renaissance (New York: Basic Books, 1983); D. A. Garvin, “Quality on the Line,” Harvard Business Review, September–October 1983, pp. 64–75; D. A. Garvin, “Japanese Quality Management,” Columbia Journal of World Business , in press. J. M. Juran, “Japanese and Western Quality: A Contrast,” Quality Progress, December 1978, pp. 10–18; A. L. Robinson, “Perilous Times for U.S. Microcircuit Makers,” Science , 9 May 1980, pp. 582–586.

2. See: Barksdale et al., “A Cross-National Survey of Consumer Attitudes Towards Marketing Practices, Consumerism, and Government Relations,” Columbia Journal of World Business , Summer 1982, pp. 71–86; Center for Policy Alternatives, Consumer Durables: Warranties, Service Contracts, and Alternatives (Cambridge, MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1978), pp. 3-127–3-146; “Rising Concern on Consumer Issues Is Found in Harris Poll,” New York Times , 17 February 1983.

3. See J. G. Miller, The 1983 Manufacturing Futures Project: Summary of North American Survey Responses & Preliminary Report (Boston, MA: School of Management, Boston University, 1983), p. 14.

4. See: R. M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (New York: Bantam Books, 1974); B. W. Tuchman, “The Decline of Quality,” New York Times Magazine , 2 November 1980.

5. See: S. Buchanen, ed., The Portable Plato (New York: The Viking Press, 1948); G. Dickie, Aesthetics: An Introduction (New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., 1971), p. 5.

6. See: L. Abbott, Quality and Competition (New York: Columbia University Press, 1955); Z. Griliches, ed., Price Indexes and Quality Change (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1971); K. Lancaster, Consumer Demand: A New Approach (New York: Columbia University Press, 1971), p. 122; K. B. Leffler, “Ambiguous Changes in Product Quality,” American Economic Review (December 1982): 956–967.

7. See: Abbott (1955), p. 129; K. Lancaster, Variety, Equity, and Efficiency (New York: Columbia University Press, 1979), p. 28.

8. See: D. Levhari and T. N. Srinivasan, “Durability of Consumption Goods: Competition versus Monopoly,” American Economic Review (March 1969): 102–107; R. L. Schmalensee, “Regulation and the Durability of Goods,” Bell Journal of Economics and Management Science (Spring 1970): 54–64; P. L. Swan, “Durability of Consumption Goods,” American Economic Review (December 1970): 884–894; P. L. Swan, “The Durability of Goods and the Regulation of Monopoly,” Bell Journal of Economics and Management Science (Autumn 1971): 347–357; T. R. Saving, “Market Organization and Product Quality,” Southern Economic Journal (April 1982): 856.

9. See: C. D. Edwards, “The Meaning of Quality,” Quality Progress , October 1968, pp. 36–39; A. A. Kuehn and R. L. Day, “Strategy of Product Quality,” Harvard Business Review, November–December 1962, pp. 100–110.

10. See: Kuehn and Day (November–December 1962); R. M. Johnson, “Market Segmentation: A Strategic Management Tool,” Journal of Marketing Research , February 1971, pp. 13–18; P. Kotler, Marketing Decision Making: A Model Building Approach (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1971), pp. 491–497; B. T. Ratchford, “The New Economic Theory of Consumer Behavior: An Interpretive Essay,” Journal of Consumer Research , September 1975, pp. 65–75.

11. See: E. H. Chamberlin, “The Product as an Economic Variable,” Quarterly Journal of Economics , February 1953, pp. 1–29; R. Dorfman and P. O. Steiner, “Optimal Advertising and Optimal Quality,” American Economic Review (December 1954): 822–836; L. J. White, “Quality Variation When Prices Are Regulated,” Bell Journal of Economics and Management Science (Autumn 1972): 425–436.

12. See: J. M. Juran, ed., Quality Control Handbook , 3rd ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1974), p. 2; H. L. Gilmore, “Product Conformance Cost,” Quality Progress , June 1974, pp. 16–19.

13. See: Edwards (October 1968), pp. 36–39; Lancaster (1979), p. 28; H. Theil, Principles of Econometrics (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1971), pp. 556–573.

14. See: E. Sheshinski, “Price, Quality, and Quantity Regulation in a Monopoly Situation,” Economica , May 1976, pp. 127–137; White (Autumn 1972).

15. See R. B. Yepsen, Jr., ed., The Durability Factor (Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1982), pp. 12–15.

16. See: P. B. Crosby, Quality Is Free (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1979); Gilmore (June 1974).

17. See: G. Boehm, “ 'Reliability' Engineering,” Fortune , April 1963, pp. 124–127, 181–182, 184, 186; A. V. Feigenbaum, Total Quality Control (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1961), ch. 14; Juran (1974), pp. 8-9–8-32.

18. See: Feigenbaum (1961), chs. 10–13; J. M. Juran and F. M. Gryna, Jr., Quality Planning and Analysis (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1980).

19. See: J. Campanella and F. J. Corcoran, “Principles of Quality Costs,” Quality Progress , April 1983, p. 21; Crosby (1979).

20. See: R. A. Broh, Managing Quality for Higher Profits (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1982), ch. 1; Juran (1974), ch. 5.

21. See: Broh (1982); Feigenbaum (1961).

22. See The Consumer Network, Inc., Brand Quality Perceptions (Philadelphia, PA: The Consumer Network, Inc., August 1983).

23. See K. Ishikawa, “Quality and Standardization: Program for Economic Success,” Quality Progress , January 1984, p. 18.

24. See Juran (1974), pp. 2-4–2-9.

25. See E. S. Maynes, “The Concept and Measurement of Product Quality,” in Household Production and Consumption , ed. N. E. Terleckyj (New York: National Bureau of Economic Research, 1976), pp. 550–554.

26. See: K. Lancaster, “A New Approach to Consumer Theory,” Journal of Political Economy , April 1966, pp. 132–157; Lancaster (1971); Lancaster (1979).

27. See Lancaster (1971), p. 7.

28. See Juran (1974), pp. 8–12.

29. See C. J. Bliss, Capital Theory and the Distribution of Income (Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1975), ch. 6.

30. See “Retiring Autos at 14,” New York Times , 3 April 1983, sec. 3, p. 1.

31. See S. W. Burch, “The Aging U.S. Auto Stock: Implications for Demand,” Business Economics , May 1983, pp. 22–26.

32. See J. A. Quelch and S. B. Ash, “Consumer Satisfaction with Professional Services,” in Marketing of Services, ed. J. H. Donnelly and W. R. George (Chicago, IL: American Marketing Association, 1981).

33. See: Kuehn and Day (November–December 1962); Johnson (February 1971).

34. See: D. F. Cox, ed., Risk Taking and Information Handling in Consumer Behavior (Boston, MA: Division of Research, Harvard University, Graduate School of Business Administration, 1967), ch. 11; D. R. Lambert, “Price as a Quality Signal: The Tip of the Iceberg,” Economy Inquiry , January 1980, pp. 144–150.

35. See: W. O. Hagstrom, “inputs, Outputs, and the Prestige of American University Science Departments,” Sociology of Education , Fall 1971, pp. 384–385; D. D. Knudsen and T. R. Vaughan, “Quality in Graduate Education: A Reevaluation of the Rankings of Sociology Departments in the Cartter Report,” American Sociologist, February 1969, p. 18.

36. See Steinway & Sons (Boston, MA: Harvard Business School, HBS Case Services #9-682-625, 1981), p. 5.

37. See P. C. Riesz, “Price-Quality Correlations for Packaged Food Products,” Journal of Consumer Affairs , Winter 1979, p. 234.

38. See Lambert (January 1980).

39. See Riesz (1979), p. 244.

40. See: H. J. Leavitt, “A Note on Some Experimental Findings about the Meanings of Price,” Journal of Business , July 1954, pp. 205–210; A. Gabor and C. W. J. Granger, “Price as an Indicator of Quality: Report on an Enquiry,” Economica , February 1966, pp. 43–70; J. D. McConnell, “An Experimental Examination of the Price-Quality Relationship,” Journal of Business , October 1968, pp. 439–444.

41. See Riesz (1979), p. 236.

42. See R. A. Westbrook, J. W. Newman, and J. R. Taylor, “Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction in the Purchase Decision Process,” Journal of Marketing , October 1978, pp. 54–60.

43. See “The Buying Consumer: Room Air Conditioners,” a report by Appliance Manufacturer (Chicago, IL: Cahners Publishing, 1979).

44. See Lambert (January 1980).

45. See: P. Nelson, “Information and Consumer Behavior,” Journal of Political Economy (March–April 1970): 311–329; P. Nelson, “Advertising as Information,” Journal of Political Economy (July–August 1974): 729–754.

46. See R. L. Schmalensee, “A Model of Advertising and Product Quality,” Journal of Political Economy (June 1978): 485–504.

47. Ibid., pp. 485–486.

48. See H. J. Rotfeld and K. B. Rotzoll, “Advertising and Product Quality: Are Heavily Advertised Products Better?” Journal of Consumer Affairs , September 1976, p. 46.

49. See C. T. Gilligan and D. E. A. Holmes, “Advertising Expenditure and Product Quality,” Management Decision (Vol. 17, No. 5): 392.

50. See Barksdale et al. (Summer 1982), p. 78.

51. See: R. D. Buzzell and F. D. Wiersema, “Modeling Changes in Market Share: A Cross-Sectional Analysis,” Strategic Management Journal, 1981, pp. 27–42; R. D. Buzzell and F. D. Wiersema, “Successful Share-Building Strategies,” Harvard Business Review, January–February 1981, pp. 135–144; C. S. Craig and S. P. Douglas, “Strategic Factors Associated with Market and Financial Performance,” Quarterly Review of Economics and Business , Summer 1982, pp. 101–111; B. T. Gale and B. S. Branch, “Concentration versus Market Share: Which Determines Performance and Why Does It Matter?” The Antitrust Bulletin, Spring 1982, pp. 83–105; L. W. Phillips, D. Chang, and R. D. Buzzell, “Product Quality, Cost Position, and Business Performance: A Test of Some Key Hypotheses,” Journal of Marketing , Spring 1983, pp. 26–43; S. Schoeffler, R. D. Buzzell, and D. F. Heany, “Impact of Strategic Planning on Profit Performance,” Harvard Business Review, March–April 1974, pp. 137–145.

52. See Buzzell and Wiersema (January–February 1981), p. 140.

53. See: Schoeffler, Buzzell, and Heany (March–April 1974), p. 141; Gale and Branch (Spring 1982), pp. 93–95.

54. See: Buzzell and Wiersema (1981); Craig and Douglas (Summer 1982); Phillips, Chang, and Buzzell (Spring 1983).

55. See: R. E. Cole, “Improving Product Quality through Continuous Feedback,” Management Review, October 1983, pp. 8–12; Garvin (in press).

56. See Campanella and Corcoran (April 1983) p. 17.

57. See: Campanella and Corcoran (April 1983); Crosby (1979); Gilmore (June 1974); H. L. Gilmore, “Consumer Product Quality Cost Revisited,” Quality Progress , April 1983, pp. 28–33.

58. See: R. S. Kaplan, “Measuring Manufacturing Performance: A New Challenge for Managerial Accounting Research,” The Accounting Review (October 1983): 686–705; S. C. Wheelwright, “Japan — Where Operations Really Are Strategic,” Harvard Business Review, July–August 1981, pp. 70–71.

59. See Phillips, Chang, and Buzzell (Spring 1983), p. 27.

60. See Garvin (September–October 1983).

61. See Crosby (1979).

62. See “Quality Cost Survey,” Quality, June 1977, pp. 20–22.

63. See: Gilmore (June 1974); Gilmore (April 1983).

64. See Gale and Branch (Spring 1982), pp. 96–97.

65. See Phillips, Chang, and Buzzell (Spring 1983), pp. 38–39.

66. Ibid., p. 37.

67. See M. E. Bader, Practical Quality Management in the Chemical Process Industry (New York: Marcel Dekker, 1983), ch. 1.

68. See: Chamberlin (February 1953); Dorfman and Steiner (December 1954).

69. See: Craig and Douglas (Summer 1982); Phillips, Chang, and Buzzell (Spring 1983); Schoeffler, Buzzell, and Heany (March–April 1974).

70. See Schoeffler, Buzzell, and Heany (March–April 1974), p. 141.

71. See: Buzzell and Wiersema (January–February 1981); Phillips, Chang, and Buzzell (Spring 1983).

72. See A. R. Andreasen, “A Taxonomy of Consumer Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction Measures,” Journal of Consumer Affairs , Winter 1977, pp. 11–24.

73. See H. Takeuchi and J. A. Quelch, “Quality Is More Than Making a Good Product,” Harvard Business Review , July–August 1983, pp. 139–145.

74. See: W. Skinner, “Manufacturing — Missing Link in Corporate Strategy,” Harvard Business Review, May–June 1969, pp. 136–145; W. Skinner, “The Focused Factory,” Harvard Business Review , May–June 1974, pp. 113–121; S. C. Wheelwright, “Reflecting Corporate Strategy in Manufacturing Decisions,” Business Horizons , February 1978, pp. 57–66.

75. See Wheelwright (July–August 1981).

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There is a debate about the ethical implications of using human embryos in stem cell research, which can be influenced by cultural, moral, and social values. This paper argues for an adaptable framework to accommodate diverse cultural and religious perspectives. By using an adaptive ethics model, research protections can reflect various populations and foster growth in stem cell research possibilities.

INTRODUCTION

Stem cell research combines biology, medicine, and technology, promising to alter health care and the understanding of human development. Yet, ethical contention exists because of individuals’ perceptions of using human embryos based on their various cultural, moral, and social values. While these disagreements concerning policy, use, and general acceptance have prompted the development of an international ethics policy, such a uniform approach can overlook the nuanced ethical landscapes between cultures. With diverse viewpoints in public health, a single global policy, especially one reflecting Western ethics or the ethics prevalent in high-income countries, is impractical. This paper argues for a culturally sensitive, adaptable framework for the use of embryonic stem cells. Stem cell policy should accommodate varying ethical viewpoints and promote an effective global dialogue. With an extension of an ethics model that can adapt to various cultures, we recommend localized guidelines that reflect the moral views of the people those guidelines serve.

Stem cells, characterized by their unique ability to differentiate into various cell types, enable the repair or replacement of damaged tissues. Two primary types of stem cells are somatic stem cells (adult stem cells) and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells exist in developed tissues and maintain the body’s repair processes. [1] Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are remarkably pluripotent or versatile, making them valuable in research. [2] However, the use of ESCs has sparked ethics debates. Considering the potential of embryonic stem cells, research guidelines are essential. The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) provides international stem cell research guidelines. They call for “public conversations touching on the scientific significance as well as the societal and ethical issues raised by ESC research.” [3] The ISSCR also publishes updates about culturing human embryos 14 days post fertilization, suggesting local policies and regulations should continue to evolve as ESC research develops. [4]  Like the ISSCR, which calls for local law and policy to adapt to developing stem cell research given cultural acceptance, this paper highlights the importance of local social factors such as religion and culture.

I.     Global Cultural Perspective of Embryonic Stem Cells

Views on ESCs vary throughout the world. Some countries readily embrace stem cell research and therapies, while others have stricter regulations due to ethical concerns surrounding embryonic stem cells and when an embryo becomes entitled to moral consideration. The philosophical issue of when the “someone” begins to be a human after fertilization, in the morally relevant sense, [5] impacts when an embryo becomes not just worthy of protection but morally entitled to it. The process of creating embryonic stem cell lines involves the destruction of the embryos for research. [6] Consequently, global engagement in ESC research depends on social-cultural acceptability.

a.     US and Rights-Based Cultures

In the United States, attitudes toward stem cell therapies are diverse. The ethics and social approaches, which value individualism, [7] trigger debates regarding the destruction of human embryos, creating a complex regulatory environment. For example, the 1996 Dickey-Wicker Amendment prohibited federal funding for the creation of embryos for research and the destruction of embryos for “more than allowed for research on fetuses in utero.” [8] Following suit, in 2001, the Bush Administration heavily restricted stem cell lines for research. However, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 was proposed to help develop ESC research but was ultimately vetoed. [9] Under the Obama administration, in 2009, an executive order lifted restrictions allowing for more development in this field. [10] The flux of research capacity and funding parallels the different cultural perceptions of human dignity of the embryo and how it is socially presented within the country’s research culture. [11]

b.     Ubuntu and Collective Cultures

African bioethics differs from Western individualism because of the different traditions and values. African traditions, as described by individuals from South Africa and supported by some studies in other African countries, including Ghana and Kenya, follow the African moral philosophies of Ubuntu or Botho and Ukama , which “advocates for a form of wholeness that comes through one’s relationship and connectedness with other people in the society,” [12] making autonomy a socially collective concept. In this context, for the community to act autonomously, individuals would come together to decide what is best for the collective. Thus, stem cell research would require examining the value of the research to society as a whole and the use of the embryos as a collective societal resource. If society views the source as part of the collective whole, and opposes using stem cells, compromising the cultural values to pursue research may cause social detachment and stunt research growth. [13] Based on local culture and moral philosophy, the permissibility of stem cell research depends on how embryo, stem cell, and cell line therapies relate to the community as a whole . Ubuntu is the expression of humanness, with the person’s identity drawn from the “’I am because we are’” value. [14] The decision in a collectivistic culture becomes one born of cultural context, and individual decisions give deference to others in the society.

Consent differs in cultures where thought and moral philosophy are based on a collective paradigm. So, applying Western bioethical concepts is unrealistic. For one, Africa is a diverse continent with many countries with different belief systems, access to health care, and reliance on traditional or Western medicines. Where traditional medicine is the primary treatment, the “’restrictive focus on biomedically-related bioethics’” [is] problematic in African contexts because it neglects bioethical issues raised by traditional systems.” [15] No single approach applies in all areas or contexts. Rather than evaluating the permissibility of ESC research according to Western concepts such as the four principles approach, different ethics approaches should prevail.

Another consideration is the socio-economic standing of countries. In parts of South Africa, researchers have not focused heavily on contributing to the stem cell discourse, either because it is not considered health care or a health science priority or because resources are unavailable. [16] Each country’s priorities differ given different social, political, and economic factors. In South Africa, for instance, areas such as maternal mortality, non-communicable diseases, telemedicine, and the strength of health systems need improvement and require more focus. [17] Stem cell research could benefit the population, but it also could divert resources from basic medical care. Researchers in South Africa adhere to the National Health Act and Medicines Control Act in South Africa and international guidelines; however, the Act is not strictly enforced, and there is no clear legislation for research conduct or ethical guidelines. [18]

Some parts of Africa condemn stem cell research. For example, 98.2 percent of the Tunisian population is Muslim. [19] Tunisia does not permit stem cell research because of moral conflict with a Fatwa. Religion heavily saturates the regulation and direction of research. [20] Stem cell use became permissible for reproductive purposes only recently, with tight restrictions preventing cells from being used in any research other than procedures concerning ART/IVF.  Their use is conditioned on consent, and available only to married couples. [21] The community's receptiveness to stem cell research depends on including communitarian African ethics.

c.     Asia

Some Asian countries also have a collective model of ethics and decision making. [22] In China, the ethics model promotes a sincere respect for life or human dignity, [23] based on protective medicine. This model, influenced by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), [24] recognizes Qi as the vital energy delivered via the meridians of the body; it connects illness to body systems, the body’s entire constitution, and the universe for a holistic bond of nature, health, and quality of life. [25] Following a protective ethics model, and traditional customs of wholeness, investment in stem cell research is heavily desired for its applications in regenerative therapies, disease modeling, and protective medicines. In a survey of medical students and healthcare practitioners, 30.8 percent considered stem cell research morally unacceptable while 63.5 percent accepted medical research using human embryonic stem cells. Of these individuals, 89.9 percent supported increased funding for stem cell research. [26] The scientific community might not reflect the overall population. From 1997 to 2019, China spent a total of $576 million (USD) on stem cell research at 8,050 stem cell programs, increased published presence from 0.6 percent to 14.01 percent of total global stem cell publications as of 2014, and made significant strides in cell-based therapies for various medical conditions. [27] However, while China has made substantial investments in stem cell research and achieved notable progress in clinical applications, concerns linger regarding ethical oversight and transparency. [28] For example, the China Biosecurity Law, promoted by the National Health Commission and China Hospital Association, attempted to mitigate risks by introducing an institutional review board (IRB) in the regulatory bodies. 5800 IRBs registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry since 2021. [29] However, issues still need to be addressed in implementing effective IRB review and approval procedures.

The substantial government funding and focus on scientific advancement have sometimes overshadowed considerations of regional cultures, ethnic minorities, and individual perspectives, particularly evident during the one-child policy era. As government policy adapts to promote public stability, such as the change from the one-child to the two-child policy, [30] research ethics should also adapt to ensure respect for the values of its represented peoples.

Japan is also relatively supportive of stem cell research and therapies. Japan has a more transparent regulatory framework, allowing for faster approval of regenerative medicine products, which has led to several advanced clinical trials and therapies. [31] South Korea is also actively engaged in stem cell research and has a history of breakthroughs in cloning and embryonic stem cells. [32] However, the field is controversial, and there are issues of scientific integrity. For example, the Korean FDA fast-tracked products for approval, [33] and in another instance, the oocyte source was unclear and possibly violated ethical standards. [34] Trust is important in research, as it builds collaborative foundations between colleagues, trial participant comfort, open-mindedness for complicated and sensitive discussions, and supports regulatory procedures for stakeholders. There is a need to respect the culture’s interest, engagement, and for research and clinical trials to be transparent and have ethical oversight to promote global research discourse and trust.

d.     Middle East

Countries in the Middle East have varying degrees of acceptance of or restrictions to policies related to using embryonic stem cells due to cultural and religious influences. Saudi Arabia has made significant contributions to stem cell research, and conducts research based on international guidelines for ethical conduct and under strict adherence to guidelines in accordance with Islamic principles. Specifically, the Saudi government and people require ESC research to adhere to Sharia law. In addition to umbilical and placental stem cells, [35] Saudi Arabia permits the use of embryonic stem cells as long as they come from miscarriages, therapeutic abortions permissible by Sharia law, or are left over from in vitro fertilization and donated to research. [36] Laws and ethical guidelines for stem cell research allow the development of research institutions such as the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, which has a cord blood bank and a stem cell registry with nearly 10,000 donors. [37] Such volume and acceptance are due to the ethical ‘permissibility’ of the donor sources, which do not conflict with religious pillars. However, some researchers err on the side of caution, choosing not to use embryos or fetal tissue as they feel it is unethical to do so. [38]

Jordan has a positive research ethics culture. [39] However, there is a significant issue of lack of trust in researchers, with 45.23 percent (38.66 percent agreeing and 6.57 percent strongly agreeing) of Jordanians holding a low level of trust in researchers, compared to 81.34 percent of Jordanians agreeing that they feel safe to participate in a research trial. [40] Safety testifies to the feeling of confidence that adequate measures are in place to protect participants from harm, whereas trust in researchers could represent the confidence in researchers to act in the participants’ best interests, adhere to ethical guidelines, provide accurate information, and respect participants’ rights and dignity. One method to improve trust would be to address communication issues relevant to ESC. Legislation surrounding stem cell research has adopted specific language, especially concerning clarification “between ‘stem cells’ and ‘embryonic stem cells’” in translation. [41] Furthermore, legislation “mandates the creation of a national committee… laying out specific regulations for stem-cell banking in accordance with international standards.” [42] This broad regulation opens the door for future global engagement and maintains transparency. However, these regulations may also constrain the influence of research direction, pace, and accessibility of research outcomes.

e.     Europe

In the European Union (EU), ethics is also principle-based, but the principles of autonomy, dignity, integrity, and vulnerability are interconnected. [43] As such, the opportunity for cohesion and concessions between individuals’ thoughts and ideals allows for a more adaptable ethics model due to the flexible principles that relate to the human experience The EU has put forth a framework in its Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being allowing member states to take different approaches. Each European state applies these principles to its specific conventions, leading to or reflecting different acceptance levels of stem cell research. [44]

For example, in Germany, Lebenzusammenhang , or the coherence of life, references integrity in the unity of human culture. Namely, the personal sphere “should not be subject to external intervention.” [45]  Stem cell interventions could affect this concept of bodily completeness, leading to heavy restrictions. Under the Grundgesetz, human dignity and the right to life with physical integrity are paramount. [46] The Embryo Protection Act of 1991 made producing cell lines illegal. Cell lines can be imported if approved by the Central Ethics Commission for Stem Cell Research only if they were derived before May 2007. [47] Stem cell research respects the integrity of life for the embryo with heavy specifications and intense oversight. This is vastly different in Finland, where the regulatory bodies find research more permissible in IVF excess, but only up to 14 days after fertilization. [48] Spain’s approach differs still, with a comprehensive regulatory framework. [49] Thus, research regulation can be culture-specific due to variations in applied principles. Diverse cultures call for various approaches to ethical permissibility. [50] Only an adaptive-deliberative model can address the cultural constructions of self and achieve positive, culturally sensitive stem cell research practices. [51]

II.     Religious Perspectives on ESC

Embryonic stem cell sources are the main consideration within religious contexts. While individuals may not regard their own religious texts as authoritative or factual, religion can shape their foundations or perspectives.

The Qur'an states:

“And indeed We created man from a quintessence of clay. Then We placed within him a small quantity of nutfa (sperm to fertilize) in a safe place. Then We have fashioned the nutfa into an ‘alaqa (clinging clot or cell cluster), then We developed the ‘alaqa into mudgha (a lump of flesh), and We made mudgha into bones, and clothed the bones with flesh, then We brought it into being as a new creation. So Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.” [52]

Many scholars of Islam estimate the time of soul installment, marked by the angel breathing in the soul to bring the individual into creation, as 120 days from conception. [53] Personhood begins at this point, and the value of life would prohibit research or experimentation that could harm the individual. If the fetus is more than 120 days old, the time ensoulment is interpreted to occur according to Islamic law, abortion is no longer permissible. [54] There are a few opposing opinions about early embryos in Islamic traditions. According to some Islamic theologians, there is no ensoulment of the early embryo, which is the source of stem cells for ESC research. [55]

In Buddhism, the stance on stem cell research is not settled. The main tenets, the prohibition against harming or destroying others (ahimsa) and the pursuit of knowledge (prajña) and compassion (karuna), leave Buddhist scholars and communities divided. [56] Some scholars argue stem cell research is in accordance with the Buddhist tenet of seeking knowledge and ending human suffering. Others feel it violates the principle of not harming others. Finding the balance between these two points relies on the karmic burden of Buddhist morality. In trying to prevent ahimsa towards the embryo, Buddhist scholars suggest that to comply with Buddhist tenets, research cannot be done as the embryo has personhood at the moment of conception and would reincarnate immediately, harming the individual's ability to build their karmic burden. [57] On the other hand, the Bodhisattvas, those considered to be on the path to enlightenment or Nirvana, have given organs and flesh to others to help alleviate grieving and to benefit all. [58] Acceptance varies on applied beliefs and interpretations.

Catholicism does not support embryonic stem cell research, as it entails creation or destruction of human embryos. This destruction conflicts with the belief in the sanctity of life. For example, in the Old Testament, Genesis describes humanity as being created in God’s image and multiplying on the Earth, referencing the sacred rights to human conception and the purpose of development and life. In the Ten Commandments, the tenet that one should not kill has numerous interpretations where killing could mean murder or shedding of the sanctity of life, demonstrating the high value of human personhood. In other books, the theological conception of when life begins is interpreted as in utero, [59] highlighting the inviolability of life and its formation in vivo to make a religious point for accepting such research as relatively limited, if at all. [60] The Vatican has released ethical directives to help apply a theological basis to modern-day conflicts. The Magisterium of the Church states that “unless there is a moral certainty of not causing harm,” experimentation on fetuses, fertilized cells, stem cells, or embryos constitutes a crime. [61] Such procedures would not respect the human person who exists at these stages, according to Catholicism. Damages to the embryo are considered gravely immoral and illicit. [62] Although the Catholic Church officially opposes abortion, surveys demonstrate that many Catholic people hold pro-choice views, whether due to the context of conception, stage of pregnancy, threat to the mother’s life, or for other reasons, demonstrating that practicing members can also accept some but not all tenets. [63]

Some major Jewish denominations, such as the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements, are open to supporting ESC use or research as long as it is for saving a life. [64] Within Judaism, the Talmud, or study, gives personhood to the child at birth and emphasizes that life does not begin at conception: [65]

“If she is found pregnant, until the fortieth day it is mere fluid,” [66]

Whereas most religions prioritize the status of human embryos, the Halakah (Jewish religious law) states that to save one life, most other religious laws can be ignored because it is in pursuit of preservation. [67] Stem cell research is accepted due to application of these religious laws.

We recognize that all religions contain subsets and sects. The variety of environmental and cultural differences within religious groups requires further analysis to respect the flexibility of religious thoughts and practices. We make no presumptions that all cultures require notions of autonomy or morality as under the common morality theory , which asserts a set of universal moral norms that all individuals share provides moral reasoning and guides ethical decisions. [68] We only wish to show that the interaction with morality varies between cultures and countries.

III.     A Flexible Ethical Approach

The plurality of different moral approaches described above demonstrates that there can be no universally acceptable uniform law for ESC on a global scale. Instead of developing one standard, flexible ethical applications must be continued. We recommend local guidelines that incorporate important cultural and ethical priorities.

While the Declaration of Helsinki is more relevant to people in clinical trials receiving ESC products, in keeping with the tradition of protections for research subjects, consent of the donor is an ethical requirement for ESC donation in many jurisdictions including the US, Canada, and Europe. [69] The Declaration of Helsinki provides a reference point for regulatory standards and could potentially be used as a universal baseline for obtaining consent prior to gamete or embryo donation.

For instance, in Columbia University’s egg donor program for stem cell research, donors followed standard screening protocols and “underwent counseling sessions that included information as to the purpose of oocyte donation for research, what the oocytes would be used for, the risks and benefits of donation, and process of oocyte stimulation” to ensure transparency for consent. [70] The program helped advance stem cell research and provided clear and safe research methods with paid participants. Though paid participation or covering costs of incidental expenses may not be socially acceptable in every culture or context, [71] and creating embryos for ESC research is illegal in many jurisdictions, Columbia’s program was effective because of the clear and honest communications with donors, IRBs, and related stakeholders.  This example demonstrates that cultural acceptance of scientific research and of the idea that an egg or embryo does not have personhood is likely behind societal acceptance of donating eggs for ESC research. As noted, many countries do not permit the creation of embryos for research.

Proper communication and education regarding the process and purpose of stem cell research may bolster comprehension and garner more acceptance. “Given the sensitive subject material, a complete consent process can support voluntary participation through trust, understanding, and ethical norms from the cultures and morals participants value. This can be hard for researchers entering countries of different socioeconomic stability, with different languages and different societal values. [72]

An adequate moral foundation in medical ethics is derived from the cultural and religious basis that informs knowledge and actions. [73] Understanding local cultural and religious values and their impact on research could help researchers develop humility and promote inclusion.

IV.     Concerns

Some may argue that if researchers all adhere to one ethics standard, protection will be satisfied across all borders, and the global public will trust researchers. However, defining what needs to be protected and how to define such research standards is very specific to the people to which standards are applied. We suggest that applying one uniform guide cannot accurately protect each individual because we all possess our own perceptions and interpretations of social values. [74] Therefore, the issue of not adjusting to the moral pluralism between peoples in applying one standard of ethics can be resolved by building out ethics models that can be adapted to different cultures and religions.

Other concerns include medical tourism, which may promote health inequities. [75] Some countries may develop and approve products derived from ESC research before others, compromising research ethics or drug approval processes. There are also concerns about the sale of unauthorized stem cell treatments, for example, those without FDA approval in the United States. Countries with robust research infrastructures may be tempted to attract medical tourists, and some customers will have false hopes based on aggressive publicity of unproven treatments. [76]

For example, in China, stem cell clinics can market to foreign clients who are not protected under the regulatory regimes. Companies employ a marketing strategy of “ethically friendly” therapies. Specifically, in the case of Beike, China’s leading stem cell tourism company and sprouting network, ethical oversight of administrators or health bureaus at one site has “the unintended consequence of shifting questionable activities to another node in Beike's diffuse network.” [77] In contrast, Jordan is aware of stem cell research’s potential abuse and its own status as a “health-care hub.” Jordan’s expanded regulations include preserving the interests of individuals in clinical trials and banning private companies from ESC research to preserve transparency and the integrity of research practices. [78]

The social priorities of the community are also a concern. The ISSCR explicitly states that guidelines “should be periodically revised to accommodate scientific advances, new challenges, and evolving social priorities.” [79] The adaptable ethics model extends this consideration further by addressing whether research is warranted given the varying degrees of socioeconomic conditions, political stability, and healthcare accessibilities and limitations. An ethical approach would require discussion about resource allocation and appropriate distribution of funds. [80]

While some religions emphasize the sanctity of life from conception, which may lead to public opposition to ESC research, others encourage ESC research due to its potential for healing and alleviating human pain. Many countries have special regulations that balance local views on embryonic personhood, the benefits of research as individual or societal goods, and the protection of human research subjects. To foster understanding and constructive dialogue, global policy frameworks should prioritize the protection of universal human rights, transparency, and informed consent. In addition to these foundational global policies, we recommend tailoring local guidelines to reflect the diverse cultural and religious perspectives of the populations they govern. Ethics models should be adapted to local populations to effectively establish research protections, growth, and possibilities of stem cell research.

For example, in countries with strong beliefs in the moral sanctity of embryos or heavy religious restrictions, an adaptive model can allow for discussion instead of immediate rejection. In countries with limited individual rights and voice in science policy, an adaptive model ensures cultural, moral, and religious views are taken into consideration, thereby building social inclusion. While this ethical consideration by the government may not give a complete voice to every individual, it will help balance policies and maintain the diverse perspectives of those it affects. Embracing an adaptive ethics model of ESC research promotes open-minded dialogue and respect for the importance of human belief and tradition. By actively engaging with cultural and religious values, researchers can better handle disagreements and promote ethical research practices that benefit each society.

This brief exploration of the religious and cultural differences that impact ESC research reveals the nuances of relative ethics and highlights a need for local policymakers to apply a more intense adaptive model.

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[24] Wang, Y., Xue, Y., & Guo, H. D. (2022). Intervention effects of traditional Chinese medicine on stem cell therapy of myocardial infarction.  Frontiers in pharmacology ,  13 , 1013740. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.1013740

[25] Li, X.-T., & Zhao, J. (2012). Chapter 4: An Approach to the Nature of Qi in TCM- Qi and Bioenergy. In Recent Advances in Theories and Practice of Chinese Medicine (p. 79). InTech.

[26] Luo, D., Xu, Z., Wang, Z., & Ran, W. (2021). China's Stem Cell Research and Knowledge Levels of Medical Practitioners and Students.  Stem cells international ,  2021 , 6667743. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6667743

[27] Luo, D., Xu, Z., Wang, Z., & Ran, W. (2021). China's Stem Cell Research and Knowledge Levels of Medical Practitioners and Students.  Stem cells international ,  2021 , 6667743. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6667743

[28] Zhang, J. Y. (2017). Lost in translation? accountability and governance of Clinical Stem Cell Research in China. Regenerative Medicine , 12 (6), 647–656. https://doi.org/10.2217/rme-2017-0035

[29] Wang, L., Wang, F., & Zhang, W. (2021). Bioethics in China’s biosecurity law: Forms, effects, and unsettled issues. Journal of law and the biosciences , 8(1).  https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsab019 https://academic.oup.com/jlb/article/8/1/lsab019/6299199

[30] Chen, H., Wei, T., Wang, H.  et al.  Association of China’s two-child policy with changes in number of births and birth defects rate, 2008–2017.  BMC Public Health   22 , 434 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12839-0

[31] Azuma, K. Regulatory Landscape of Regenerative Medicine in Japan.  Curr Stem Cell Rep   1 , 118–128 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40778-015-0012-6

[32] Harris, R. (2005, May 19). Researchers Report Advance in Stem Cell Production . NPR. https://www.npr.org/2005/05/19/4658967/researchers-report-advance-in-stem-cell-production

[33] Park, S. (2012). South Korea steps up stem-cell work.  Nature . https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2012.10565

[34] Resnik, D. B., Shamoo, A. E., & Krimsky, S. (2006). Fraudulent human embryonic stem cell research in South Korea: lessons learned.  Accountability in research ,  13 (1), 101–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/08989620600634193 .

[35] Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics, 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6

[36] Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies.  https://www.aabb.org/regulatory-and-advocacy/regulatory-affairs/regulatory-for-cellular-therapies/international-competent-authorities/saudi-arabia

[37] Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: Interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia.  BMC medical ethics ,  21 (1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6

[38] Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: Interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics , 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6

Culturally, autonomy practices follow a relational autonomy approach based on a paternalistic deontological health care model. The adherence to strict international research policies and religious pillars within the regulatory environment is a great foundation for research ethics. However, there is a need to develop locally targeted ethics approaches for research (as called for in Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics, 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6), this decision-making approach may help advise a research decision model. For more on the clinical cultural autonomy approaches, see: Alabdullah, Y. Y., Alzaid, E., Alsaad, S., Alamri, T., Alolayan, S. W., Bah, S., & Aljoudi, A. S. (2022). Autonomy and paternalism in Shared decision‐making in a Saudi Arabian tertiary hospital: A cross‐sectional study. Developing World Bioethics , 23 (3), 260–268. https://doi.org/10.1111/dewb.12355 ; Bukhari, A. A. (2017). Universal Principles of Bioethics and Patient Rights in Saudi Arabia (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/124; Ladha, S., Nakshawani, S. A., Alzaidy, A., & Tarab, B. (2023, October 26). Islam and Bioethics: What We All Need to Know . Columbia University School of Professional Studies. https://sps.columbia.edu/events/islam-and-bioethics-what-we-all-need-know

[39] Ababneh, M. A., Al-Azzam, S. I., Alzoubi, K., Rababa’h, A., & Al Demour, S. (2021). Understanding and attitudes of the Jordanian public about clinical research ethics.  Research Ethics ,  17 (2), 228-241.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016120966779

[40] Ababneh, M. A., Al-Azzam, S. I., Alzoubi, K., Rababa’h, A., & Al Demour, S. (2021). Understanding and attitudes of the Jordanian public about clinical research ethics.  Research Ethics ,  17 (2), 228-241.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016120966779

[41] Dajani, R. (2014). Jordan’s stem-cell law can guide the Middle East.  Nature  510, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/510189a

[42] Dajani, R. (2014). Jordan’s stem-cell law can guide the Middle East.  Nature  510, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/510189a

[43] The EU’s definition of autonomy relates to the capacity for creating ideas, moral insight, decisions, and actions without constraint, personal responsibility, and informed consent. However, the EU views autonomy as not completely able to protect individuals and depends on other principles, such as dignity, which “expresses the intrinsic worth and fundamental equality of all human beings.” Rendtorff, J.D., Kemp, P. (2019). Four Ethical Principles in European Bioethics and Biolaw: Autonomy, Dignity, Integrity and Vulnerability. In: Valdés, E., Lecaros, J. (eds) Biolaw and Policy in the Twenty-First Century. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 78. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05903-3_3

[44] Council of Europe. Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (ETS No. 164) https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=164 (forbidding the creation of embryos for research purposes only, and suggests embryos in vitro have protections.); Also see Drabiak-Syed B. K. (2013). New President, New Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Policy: Comparative International Perspectives and Embryonic Stem Cell Research Laws in France.  Biotechnology Law Report ,  32 (6), 349–356. https://doi.org/10.1089/blr.2013.9865

[45] Rendtorff, J.D., Kemp, P. (2019). Four Ethical Principles in European Bioethics and Biolaw: Autonomy, Dignity, Integrity and Vulnerability. In: Valdés, E., Lecaros, J. (eds) Biolaw and Policy in the Twenty-First Century. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 78. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05903-3_3

[46] Tomuschat, C., Currie, D. P., Kommers, D. P., & Kerr, R. (Trans.). (1949, May 23). Basic law for the Federal Republic of Germany. https://www.btg-bestellservice.de/pdf/80201000.pdf

[47] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Germany . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-germany

[48] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Finland . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-finland

[49] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Spain . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-spain

[50] Some sources to consider regarding ethics models or regulatory oversights of other cultures not covered:

Kara MA. Applicability of the principle of respect for autonomy: the perspective of Turkey. J Med Ethics. 2007 Nov;33(11):627-30. doi: 10.1136/jme.2006.017400. PMID: 17971462; PMCID: PMC2598110.

Ugarte, O. N., & Acioly, M. A. (2014). The principle of autonomy in Brazil: one needs to discuss it ...  Revista do Colegio Brasileiro de Cirurgioes ,  41 (5), 374–377. https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-69912014005013

Bharadwaj, A., & Glasner, P. E. (2012). Local cells, global science: The rise of embryonic stem cell research in India . Routledge.

For further research on specific European countries regarding ethical and regulatory framework, we recommend this database: Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Europe . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-europe   

[51] Klitzman, R. (2006). Complications of culture in obtaining informed consent. The American Journal of Bioethics, 6(1), 20–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265160500394671 see also: Ekmekci, P. E., & Arda, B. (2017). Interculturalism and Informed Consent: Respecting Cultural Differences without Breaching Human Rights.  Cultura (Iasi, Romania) ,  14 (2), 159–172.; For why trust is important in research, see also: Gray, B., Hilder, J., Macdonald, L., Tester, R., Dowell, A., & Stubbe, M. (2017). Are research ethics guidelines culturally competent?  Research Ethics ,  13 (1), 23-41.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016116650235

[52] The Qur'an  (M. Khattab, Trans.). (1965). Al-Mu’minun, 23: 12-14. https://quran.com/23

[53] Lenfest, Y. (2017, December 8). Islam and the beginning of human life . Bill of Health. https://blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2017/12/08/islam-and-the-beginning-of-human-life/

[54] Aksoy, S. (2005). Making regulations and drawing up legislation in Islamic countries under conditions of uncertainty, with special reference to embryonic stem cell research. Journal of Medical Ethics , 31: 399-403.; see also: Mahmoud, Azza. "Islamic Bioethics: National Regulations and Guidelines of Human Stem Cell Research in the Muslim World." Master's thesis, Chapman University, 2022. https://doi.org/10.36837/ chapman.000386

[55] Rashid, R. (2022). When does Ensoulment occur in the Human Foetus. Journal of the British Islamic Medical Association , 12 (4). ISSN 2634 8071. https://www.jbima.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2-Ethics-3_-Ensoulment_Rafaqat.pdf.

[56] Sivaraman, M. & Noor, S. (2017). Ethics of embryonic stem cell research according to Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, and Islamic religions: perspective from Malaysia. Asian Biomedicine,8(1) 43-52.  https://doi.org/10.5372/1905-7415.0801.260

[57] Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.),  Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues  (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press.  https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005

[58] Lecso, P. A. (1991). The Bodhisattva Ideal and Organ Transplantation.  Journal of Religion and Health ,  30 (1), 35–41. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27510629 ; Bodhisattva, S. (n.d.). The Key of Becoming a Bodhisattva . A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life. http://www.buddhism.org/Sutras/2/BodhisattvaWay.htm

[59] There is no explicit religious reference to when life begins or how to conduct research that interacts with the concept of life. However, these are relevant verses pertaining to how the fetus is viewed. (( King James Bible . (1999). Oxford University Press. (original work published 1769))

Jerimiah 1: 5 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee…”

In prophet Jerimiah’s insight, God set him apart as a person known before childbirth, a theme carried within the Psalm of David.

Psalm 139: 13-14 “…Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”

These verses demonstrate David’s respect for God as an entity that would know of all man’s thoughts and doings even before birth.

[60] It should be noted that abortion is not supported as well.

[61] The Vatican. (1987, February 22). Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation Replies to Certain Questions of the Day . Congregation For the Doctrine of the Faith. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19870222_respect-for-human-life_en.html

[62] The Vatican. (2000, August 25). Declaration On the Production and the Scientific and Therapeutic Use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells . Pontifical Academy for Life. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdlife/documents/rc_pa_acdlife_doc_20000824_cellule-staminali_en.html ; Ohara, N. (2003). Ethical Consideration of Experimentation Using Living Human Embryos: The Catholic Church’s Position on Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology . Retrieved from https://article.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/30/2-3/pii/2003018/77-81.pdf.

[63] Smith, G. A. (2022, May 23). Like Americans overall, Catholics vary in their abortion views, with regular mass attenders most opposed . Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/05/23/like-americans-overall-catholics-vary-in-their-abortion-views-with-regular-mass-attenders-most-opposed/

[64] Rosner, F., & Reichman, E. (2002). Embryonic stem cell research in Jewish law. Journal of halacha and contemporary society , (43), 49–68.; Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.),  Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues  (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press.  https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005

[65] Schenker J. G. (2008). The beginning of human life: status of embryo. Perspectives in Halakha (Jewish Religious Law).  Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics ,  25 (6), 271–276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-008-9221-6

[66] Ruttenberg, D. (2020, May 5). The Torah of Abortion Justice (annotated source sheet) . Sefaria. https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/234926.7?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

[67] Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.),  Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues  (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press.  https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005

[68] Gert, B. (2007). Common morality: Deciding what to do . Oxford Univ. Press.

[69] World Medical Association (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA , 310(20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053 Declaration of Helsinki – WMA – The World Medical Association .; see also: National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979).  The Belmont report: Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research . U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/read-the-belmont-report/index.html

[70] Zakarin Safier, L., Gumer, A., Kline, M., Egli, D., & Sauer, M. V. (2018). Compensating human subjects providing oocytes for stem cell research: 9-year experience and outcomes.  Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics ,  35 (7), 1219–1225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1171-z https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6063839/ see also: Riordan, N. H., & Paz Rodríguez, J. (2021). Addressing concerns regarding associated costs, transparency, and integrity of research in recent stem cell trial. Stem Cells Translational Medicine , 10 (12), 1715–1716. https://doi.org/10.1002/sctm.21-0234

[71] Klitzman, R., & Sauer, M. V. (2009). Payment of egg donors in stem cell research in the USA.  Reproductive biomedicine online ,  18 (5), 603–608. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1472-6483(10)60002-8

[72] Krosin, M. T., Klitzman, R., Levin, B., Cheng, J., & Ranney, M. L. (2006). Problems in comprehension of informed consent in rural and peri-urban Mali, West Africa.  Clinical trials (London, England) ,  3 (3), 306–313. https://doi.org/10.1191/1740774506cn150oa

[73] Veatch, Robert M.  Hippocratic, Religious, and Secular Medical Ethics: The Points of Conflict . Georgetown University Press, 2012.

[74] Msoroka, M. S., & Amundsen, D. (2018). One size fits not quite all: Universal research ethics with diversity.  Research Ethics ,  14 (3), 1-17.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016117739939

[75] Pirzada, N. (2022). The Expansion of Turkey’s Medical Tourism Industry.  Voices in Bioethics ,  8 . https://doi.org/10.52214/vib.v8i.9894

[76] Stem Cell Tourism: False Hope for Real Money . Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI). (2023). https://hsci.harvard.edu/stem-cell-tourism , See also: Bissassar, M. (2017). Transnational Stem Cell Tourism: An ethical analysis.  Voices in Bioethics ,  3 . https://doi.org/10.7916/vib.v3i.6027

[77] Song, P. (2011) The proliferation of stem cell therapies in post-Mao China: problematizing ethical regulation,  New Genetics and Society , 30:2, 141-153, DOI:  10.1080/14636778.2011.574375

[78] Dajani, R. (2014). Jordan’s stem-cell law can guide the Middle East.  Nature  510, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/510189a

[79] International Society for Stem Cell Research. (2024). Standards in stem cell research . International Society for Stem Cell Research. https://www.isscr.org/guidelines/5-standards-in-stem-cell-research

[80] Benjamin, R. (2013). People’s science bodies and rights on the Stem Cell Frontier . Stanford University Press.

Mifrah Hayath

SM Candidate Harvard Medical School, MS Biotechnology Johns Hopkins University

Olivia Bowers

MS Bioethics Columbia University (Disclosure: affiliated with Voices in Bioethics)

Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License .

• MyU : For Students, Faculty, and Staff

News Roundup Spring 2024

CEGE Spring Graduation Celebration and Order of the Engineer

Forty-seven graduates of the undergraduate and grad student programs (pictured above) in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering took part in the Order of the Engineer on graduation day. Distinguished Speakers at this departmental event included Katrina Kessler (MS EnvE 2021), Commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and student Brian Balquist. Following this event, students participated in the college-wide Commencement Ceremony at 3M Arena at Mariucci. 

UNIVERSITY & DEPARTMENT

The University of Minnesota’s Crookston, Duluth, and Rochester campuses have been awarded the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, joining the Twin Cities (2006, 2015) and Morris campuses (2015), and making the U of M the country’s first and only university system at which every individual campus has received this selective designation. Only 368 from nearly 4,000 qualifying U.S. universities and colleges have been granted this designation.

CEGE contributed strongly to the College of Science and Engineering’s efforts toward sustainability research. CEGE researchers are bringing in over $35 million in funded research to study carbon mineralization, nature and urban areas, circularity of water resources, and global snowfall patterns. This news was highlighted in the Fall 2023 issue of  Inventing Tomorrow  (pages 10-11). https://issuu.com/inventingtomorrow/docs/fall_2023_inventing_tomorrow-web

CEGE’s new program for a one-year master’s degree in structural engineering is now accepting applicants for Fall 2024. We owe a big thanks to DAN MURPHY and LAURA AMUNDSON for their volunteer work to help curate the program with Professor JIA-LIANG LE and EBRAHIM SHEMSHADIAN, the program director. Potential students and companies interested in hosting a summer intern can contact Ebrahim Shemshadian ( [email protected] ).

BERNIE BULLERT , CEGE benefactor and MN Water Research Fund founder, was profiled on the website of the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF). There you can read more about his mission to share clean water technologies with smaller communities in Minnesota. Many have joined Bullert in this mission. MWRF Recognizes their Generous 2024 Partners. Gold Partners: Bernie Bullert, Hawkins, Inc., Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and SL-serco. Silver Partners: ISG, Karl and Pam Streed, Kasco, Kelly Lange-Haider and Mark Haider, ME Simpson, Naeem Qureshi, Dr. Paul H. Boening, TKDA, and Waterous. Bronze Partners: Bruce R. Bullert; Brenda Lenz, Ph.D., APRN FNP-C, CNE; CDM Smith; Central States Water Environment Association (CSWEA MN); Heidi and Steve Hamilton; Jim “Bulldog” Sadler; Lisa and Del Cerney; Magney Construction; Sambatek; Shannon and John Wolkerstorfer; Stantec; and Tenon Systems.

After retiring from Baker-Tilly,  NICK DRAGISICH  (BCE 1977) has taken on a new role: City Council member in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. After earning his BCE from the University of Minnesota, Dragisich earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas. Dragisich retired in May from his position as managing director at Baker Tilly, where he had previously served as firm director. Prior to that, he served as assistant city manager in Spokane, Washington, was the city administrator and city engineer in Virginia, Minnesota, and was mayor of Chisholm, Minnesota—all adding up to more than 40 years of experience in local government. Dragisich was selected by a unanimous vote. His current term expires in December 2024.

PAUL F. GNIRK  (Ph.D. 1966) passed away January 29, 2024, at the age of 86. A memorial service was held Saturday, February 24, at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T), where he started and ended his teaching career, though he had many other positions, professional and voluntary. In 2018 Paul was inducted into the SDSM&T Hardrocker Hall of Fame, and in 2022, he was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame, joining his mother Adeline S. Gnirk, who had been inducted in 1987 for her work authoring nine books on the history of south central South Dakota.

ROGER M. HILL  (BCE 1957) passed away on January 13, 2024, at the age of 90. His daughter, Kelly Robinson, wrote to CEGE that Roger was “a dedicated Gopher fan until the end, and we enjoyed many football games together in recent years. Thank you for everything.”

KAUSER JAHAN  (Ph.D. 1993, advised by Walter Maier), PE, is now a civil and environmental engineering professor and department head at Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. Jahan was awarded a 3-year (2022- 2025), $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The grant supports her project, “WaterWorks: Developing the New Generation of Workforce for Water/Wastewater Utilities,” for the development of educational tools that will expose and prepare today’s students for careers in water and wastewater utilities.

SAURA JOST  (BCE 2010, advised by Timothy LaPara) was elected to the St. Paul City Council for Ward 3. She is part of the historic group of women that make up the nation’s first all-female city council in a large city.

The 2024 ASCE Western Great Lakes Student Symposium combines several competitions for students involved in ASCE. CEGE sent a large contingent of competitors to Chicago. Each of the competition groups won awards: Ethics Paper 1st place Hans Lagerquist; Sustainable Solutions team 1st place overall in (qualifying them for the National competition in Utah in June); GeoWall 2nd place overall; Men’s Sprint for Concrete Canoe with rowers Sakthi Sundaram Saravanan and Owen McDonald 2nd place; Product Prototype for Concrete Canoe 2nd place; Steel Bridge (200 lb bridge weight) 2nd place in lightness; Scavenger Hunt 3rd place; and Aesthetics and Structural Efficiency for Steel Bridge 4th place.

Students competing on the Minnesota Environmental Engineers, Scientists, and Enthusiasts (MEESE) team earned second place in the Conference on the Environment undergraduate student design competition in November 2023. Erin Surdo is the MEESE Faculty Adviser. Pictured are NIKO DESHPANDE, ANNA RETTLER, and SYDNEY OLSON.

The CEGE CLASS OF 2023 raised money to help reduce the financial barrier for fellow students taking the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, a cost of $175 per test taker. As a result of this gift, they were able to make the exam more affordable for 15 current CEGE seniors. CEGE students who take the FE exam pass the first time at a rate well above national averages, demonstrating that CEGE does a great job of teaching engineering fundamentals. In 2023, 46 of 50 students passed the challenging exam on the first try.

This winter break, four CEGE students joined 10 other students from the College of Science and Engineering for the global seminar, Design for Life: Water in Tanzania. The students visited numerous sites in Tanzania, collected water source samples, designed rural water systems, and went on safari. Read the trip blog: http://globalblogs.cse.umn.edu/search/label/Tanzania%202024

Undergraduate Honor Student  MALIK KHADAR  (advised by Dr. Paul Capel) received honorable mention for the Computing Research Association (CRA) Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award for undergraduate students who show outstanding research potential in an area of computing research.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

AKASH BHAT  (advised by William Arnold) presented his Ph.D. defense on Friday, October 27, 2023. Bhat’s thesis is “Photolysis of fluorochemicals: Tracking fluorine, use of UV-LEDs, and computational insights.” Bhat’s work investigating the degradation of fluorinated compounds will assist in the future design of fluorinated chemicals such that persistent and/or toxic byproducts are not formed in the environment.

ETHAN BOTMEN  (advised by Bill Arnold) completed his Master of Science Final Exam February 28, 2024. His research topic was Degradation of Fluorinated Compounds by Nucleophilic Attack of Organo-fluorine Functional Groups.

XIATING CHEN , Ph.D. Candidate in Water Resources Engineering at the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory is the recipient of the 2023 Nels Nelson Memorial Fellowship Award. Chen (advised by Xue Feng) is researching eco-hydrological functions of urban trees and other green infrastructure at both the local and watershed scale, through combined field observations and modeling approaches.

ALICE PRATES BISSO DAMBROZ  has been a Visiting Student Researcher at the University of Minnesota since last August, on a Doctoral Dissertation Research Award from Fulbright. Her CEGE advisor is Dr. Paul Capel. Dambroz is a fourth year Ph.D. student in Soil Science at Universidade Federal de Santa Maria in Brazil, where she studies with her adviser Jean Minella. Her research focuses on the hydrological monitoring of a small agricultural watershed in Southern Brazil, which is located on a transition area between volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Its topography, shallow soils, and land use make it prone to runoff and erosion processes.

Yielding to people in crosswalks should be a very pedestrian topic. Yet graduate student researchers  TIANYI LI, JOSHUA KLAVINS, TE XU, NIAZ MAHMUD ZAFRI  (Dept.of Urban and Regional Planning at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology), and Professor Raphael Stern found that drivers often do not yield to pedestrians, but they are influenced by the markings around a crosswalk. Their work was picked up by the  Minnesota Reformer.

TIANYI LI  (Ph.D. student advised by Raphael Stern) also won the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation (DDET) Fellowship for the third time! Li (center) and Stern (right) are pictured at the Federal Highway Administration with Latoya Jones, the program manager for the DDET Fellowship.

The Three Minute Thesis Contest and the Minnesota Nice trophy has become an annual tradition in CEGE. 2023’s winner was  EHSANUR RAHMAN , a Ph.D. student advised by Boya Xiong.

GUANJU (WILLIAM) WEI , a Ph.D. student advised by Judy Yang, is the recipient of the 2023 Heinz G. Stefan Fellowship. He presented his research entitled Microfluidic Investigation of the Biofilm Growth under Dynamic Fluid Environments and received his award at the St. Anthony Falls Research Laboratory April 9. The results of Wei's research can be used in industrial, medical, and scientific fields to control biofilm growth.

BILL ARNOLD  stars in an award-winning video about prairie potholes. The Prairie Potholes Project film was made with the University of Delaware and highlights Arnold’s NSF research. The official winners of the 2024 Environmental Communications Awards Competition Grand Prize are Jon Cox and Ben Hemmings who produced and directed the film. Graduate student Marcia Pacheco (CFANS/LAAS) and Bill Arnold are the on-screen stars.

Four faculty from CEGE join the Center for Transportation Studies Faculty and Research Scholars for FY24–25:  SEONGJIN CHOI, KETSON ROBERTO MAXIMIANO DOS SANTOS, PEDRAM MORTAZAVI,  and  BENJAMIN WORSFOLD . CTS Scholars are drawn from diverse fields including engineering, planning, computer science, environmental studies, and public policy.

XUE FENG  is coauthor on an article in  Nature Reviews Earth and Environment . The authors evaluate global plant responses to changing rainfall regimes that are now characterized by fewer and larger rainfall events. A news release written at Univ. of Maryland can be found here: https://webhost.essic. umd.edu/april-showers-bring-mayflowers- but-with-drizzles-or-downpours/ A long-running series of U of M research projects aimed at improving stormwater quality are beginning to see practical application by stormwater specialists from the Twin Cities metro area and beyond. JOHN GULLIVER has been studying best practices for stormwater management for about 16 years. Lately, he has focused specifically on mitigating phosphorous contamination. His research was highlighted by the Center for Transportation Studies.

JIAQI LI, BILL ARNOLD,  and  RAYMOND HOZALSKI  published a paper on N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) precursors in Minnesota rivers. “Animal Feedlots and Domestic Wastewater Discharges are Likely Sources of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) Precursors in Midwestern Watersheds,” Environmental Science and Technology (January 2024) doi: 10.1021/acs. est.3c09251

ALIREZA KHANI  contributed to MnDOT research on Optimizing Charging Infrastructure for Electric Trucks. Electric options for medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks (e-trucks) are still largely in development. These trucks account for a substantial percentage of transportation greenhouse gas emissions. They have greater power needs and different charging needs than personal EVs. Proactively planning for e-truck charging stations will support MnDOT in helping to achieve the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. This research was featured in the webinar “Electrification of the Freight System in Minnesota,” hosted by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies. A recording of the event is now available online.

MICHAEL LEVIN  has developed a unique course for CEGE students on Air Transportation Systems. It is the only class at UMN studying air transportation systems from an infrastructure design and management perspective. Spring 2024 saw the third offering of this course, which is offered for juniors, seniors, and graduate students.

Research Professor  SOFIA (SONIA) MOGILEVSKAYA  has been developing international connections. She visited the University of Seville, Spain, November 13–26, 2023, where she taught a short course titled “Fundamentals of Homogenization in Composites.” She also met with the graduate students to discuss collaborative research with Prof. Vladislav Mantic, from the Group of Continuum Mechanics and Structural Analysis at the University of Seville. Her visit was a part of planned activities within the DIAGONAL Consortium funded by the European Commission. CEGE UMN is a partner organization within DIAGONAL, represented by CEGE professors Mogilevskaya and Joseph Labuz. Mantic will visit CEGE summer 2024 to follow up on research developments and discuss plans for future collaboration and organization of short-term exchange visits for the graduate students from each institution. 

DAVID NEWCOMB  passed away in March. He was a professor in CEGE from 1989–99 in the area of pavement engineering. Newcomb led the research program on asphalt materials characterization. He was the technical director of Mn/ROAD pavement research facility, and he started an enduring collaboration with MnDOT that continues today. In 2000, he moved from Minnesota to become vice-president for Research and Technology at the National Asphalt Pavement Association. Later he moved to his native Texas, where he was appointed to the division head of Materials and Pavement at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, a position from which he recently retired. He will be greatly missed.

PAIGE NOVAK  won Minnesota ASCE’s 2023 Distinguished Engineer of the Year Award for her contributions to society through her engineering achievements and professional experiences.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced ten inaugural (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines awards, with a potential $1.6 billion investment nationally over the next decade. Great Lakes ReNEW is led by the Chicago-based water innovation hub,  Current,  and includes a team from the University of Minnesota, including PAIGE NOVAK. Current will receive $15 mil for the first two years, and up to $160 million over ten years to develop and grow a water-focused innovation engine in the Great Lakes region. The project’s ambitious plan is to create a decarbonized circular “blue economy” to leverage the region’s extraordinary water resources to transform the upper Midwest—Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Brewing one pint of beer generates seven pints of wastewater, on average. So what can you do with that wastewater?  PAIGE NOVAK  and her team are exploring the possibilities of capturing pollutants in wastewater and using bacteria to transform them into energy.

BOYA XIONG  has been selected as a recipient of the 2024 40 Under 40 Recognition Program by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. The award was presented at the 2024 AAEES Awards Ceremony, April 11, 2024, at the historic Howard University in Washington, D.C. 

JUDY Q. YANG  received a McKnight Land-Grant Professorship Award. This two-year award recognizes promising assistant professors and is intended to advance the careers of individuals who have the potential to make significant contributions to their departments and their scholarly fields. 

Professor Emeritus CHARLES FAIRHURST , his son CHARLES EDWARD FAIRHURST , and his daughter MARGARET FAIRHURST DURENBERGER were on campus recently to present Department Head Paige Novak with a check for $25,000 for the Charles Fairhurst Fellowship in Earth Resources Engineering in support of graduate students studying geomechanics. The life of Charles Fairhurst through a discussion with his children is featured on the Engineering and Technology History Wiki at https://ethw.org/Oral-History:Charles_Fairhurst#00:00:14_INTRODUCTION

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