Organizations Urge Federal Agencies to Balance Security Considerations with Impacts on Scientific Collaborations

In a September 4, 2019 letter, sixty science, engineering, and international education organizations, including the American Institute of Biological Sciences, have urged the heads of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Defense (DOD) to consider a wide range of stakeholder perspectives as the agencies work together to address issues of foreign influence on U.S. research. The letter reads, “While we must be vigilant to safeguard research, we must also ensure that the U.S. remains a desirable and welcoming destination for researchers from around the world. Finding the appropriate balance between our nation’s security and an open, collaborative scientific environment requires focus and due diligence.” The agencies have been tasked with working together through the new National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Joint Committee on Research Environments to develop policies and procedures that address issues related to the participation of international researchers in the U.S. scientific enterprise. The letter warns about a rising concern among U.S. and international scientists that “new policies and procedures under consideration to minimize security risks will have the unintended effect of harming the scientific enterprise.” Read the letter: https://www.aibs.org/position-statements/20...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news