SCB Policy Blog

Scientific integrity is one of five priority policy areas for SCB. It is important to all of us as citizens that decisions by federal and state agencies are informed by unbiased science, and that SCB members and other scientists who work within government are free to do science and speak about their results without political pressure. On March 9, 2009, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum on Scientific Integrity, and asked Federal officials to craft recommendations for ensuring scientific integrity throughout the executive branch. SCB submitted comments on this process in May of 2009, both on its own (link), and as part of a group of seven scientific societies (link). Over 21 months later, on December 17th, 2010, the White House issuing a Memorandum (link) to the heads of Departments and Agencies that provides guidance on implementing the new policies on scientific integrity. The new memorandum describes the minimum standards expected as departments and agencies craft scientific integrity rules, including a prohibition on political interference in scientific processes and expanded assurances of transparency. It requires that department and agency heads report on their progress toward completing those rules within 120 days. While SCB has not yet had time to fully review the new memorandum, the Society will continue to track this priority issue as the new policy is implemented.