Scientific Integrity Policies Increasingly in Place

Departments and agencies across the Federal government submitted to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) their latest and, in some cases, final, drafts of their scientific integrity policies this past week, in compliance with a deadline I set in October for completion of final or draft-final versions for review. The latest versions—produced by 20 Federal entities—reflect inputs received from OSTP this past fall to ensure that each includes the full range of assurances called for in President Obama’s March 2009 Memorandum on Scientific Integrity and my December 2010 Memorandum that outlined in greater detail the minimum requirements expected by this Administration.

The scientific integrity policies now final or being finalized by departments and agencies will help ensure that federally supported science and scientific information remain undiluted and untainted—not only for policymakers but also for the public. All of the policies also ensure that Federal Advisory Committees—which provide outside expert advice to the government, including in many instances from scientists and engineers—operate transparently and free of problematic conflicts of interest. Finally, all the policies also provide assurances that Federal scientists have the freedom to advance their careers in much the same way they would in the private sector in terms of their participation in outside professional activities and receipt of awards. This is key to ensuring that the public sector remains an attractive place for high-quality scientists and engineers to pursue their careers in service to the Nation.