Sneak Preview: OSTP Wants Input on Scientific Integrity Policies

(The following was excerpted from a recent Thompson Grants Compliance Expert article.) Research institutions now can provide input to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) efforts to create a “framework for regular assessment and iterative improvement” of federal agency scientific integrity policies and practices. OSTP is leading a cross-agency effort to develop a federal scientific integrity framework to assist agencies in improving related policies, practices and cultures.

In a recent blog posting, OSTP said that feedback from a request for information (RFI) “will inform a durable framework that advances the president’s pledge to restoring trust in federal science and evidence-based policymaking … [to] ensure scientific integrity is built into government practice, research and policymaking — now and for years to come.”

The framework will include assessment criteria that OSTP and agencies can use to review and improve the content and implementation of agency scientific integrity policies. “Across the federal government, science and scientists provide foundational information, data and evidence to inform the policy decisions” that support U.S. safety, health, equity and security, OSTP said. “Ensuring the integrity of the conduct, management, communication and use of federal science in every part of our government is critical to these efforts.”

OSTP is asking for specific comments on the following “key elements” of the scientific integrity framework:

• how scientific integrity policies can address emergent issues, such as diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility; new technologies; new modes of science; and coordination with related policy domains;
• how to evaluate scientific integrity policy content, implementation, outcomes and impacts in the executive branch;
• how to ensure that scientific integrity evaluation findings lead to effective improvement of policy and practices; and
• how to ensure the long-term viability and implementation of federal scientific integrity policies, practices and culture through future administrations.

(The full version of this story has now been made available to all for a limited time here.)

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