Scientific Integrity Now Policy at the White House

For years the Union of Concerned Scientists have documented dozens of cases of science being interfered with by politics. Several high-profile cases became public during the last Bush administration, including a critical report about climate change.

Since President Obama began running for high office, restoring scientific integrity at the White House has been a priority. In 2009 he issued a directive calling for a return of scientific integrity to the White House. Since then he has been criticized for keeping his policy plans secret.

Earlier this month at the annual American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco, the President’s science advisor gave a special policy keynote speech and apologized for not being able to announce the scientific integrity policy to the 19,000 gathered. But last week, the President made good on that campaign promise with a new four-page directive for all executive office departments and agencies.

Coming from Dr. Holdren, the memo (PDF) outlines principles that will govern the new Scientific Integrity policy.

Foundations of scientific Integrity

1. Ensure a culture of scientific integrity.

2. Strengthen the actual and perceived credibility of government research.

3. Facilitate the free flow of scientific and technological information, consistent with privacy and classification standards.

4. Establish Principles for conveying scientific and technological information to the public.

Public Communications

1. Agencies will offer articulate and knowledgeable and non-partisan scientific spokespersons in response to media requests.

2. Federal scientists may speak to the media and public about their scientific work with appropriate coordination with supervisors and public affairs offices.

3. Mechanisms are in place to resolve disputes that arise from decisions to proceed or cancel interviews or public information events.

Use of Federal Advisory Committees

1. Recruitment for FAC members should be transparent.

2. Professional biographical information for appointed members should be made widely available to the public.

3. Selection to serve on an FAC should be made on expertise, knowledge and contribution to relevant subject area.

4. Agencies should make all conflict of interest waivers that committee members sign publicly available.

5. Except where prohibited, all reports, recommendations and products produced by FACs should be treated as findings of the committees alone and not the entire U.S. Government, and are thus not subject to inter-agency or intra-agency revision.

Professional Development of Government Scientists and Engineers

1. Encourage publication of research findings in peer-reviewed scholarly journals.

2. Encourage presentation of research findings at professional scientific meetings.

3. Allow federal scientists and engineers to become editors or editorial board members of journals.

4. Allow full participation in professional science societies, including removing barriers for serving as officers of governing boards of such societies.

5. Allow federal scientists and engineers to receive honors and awards for their research and discoveries with the goal to minimize disparities between private sector and public sector scientists accruing professional benefits from such honors and awards.

Implementation

1. All agencies must submit their plans for implementing the new science integrity policy within 120 days of the date on the memo (Dec. 17).