STPF Fellows Shape Scientific Integrity Policy

Scientific integrity is fundamental to evidence-informed decision making and ensuring public trust in government science. To bolster scientific integrity, which includes safeguarding against inappropriate influence and political interference in the conduct, management, communication, and use of science, the Biden administration in collaboration with federal Agencies recently developed the Framework for Strengthening Federal Scientific Integrity Policies and Practices.

This landmark guidance continues efforts by the Obama Administration, builds on the 2021 Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking, and the 2022 Scientific Integrity Task Force Report Protecting the Integrity of Government Science.

The guidance provides key building blocks for federal Agencies to strengthen scientific integrity policies and practices, including a federal definition for scientific integrity, a model scientific integrity policy, and a roadmap of actions and outcomes that will help agencies regularly assess and improve policies and practices. It also includes the charter for the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Scientific Integrity, which was established to help oversee implementation. Agencies are now creating or updating their scientific integrity policies and working to launch them in early 2024.

AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows are champions of scientific integrity and engaged in several aspects of this important work. Alumni who played leadership roles in developing the Framework through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Scientific Integrity Framework Interagency Working Group (SIFIWG) include:

• Ryan Donohue (2020-22 fellow at OSTP; currently at NIH)
  • OSTP Executive Secretary, Scientific Integrity Fast-Track Action Committee
  • OSTP Co-chair, Scientific Integrity Framework Interagency Working Group
• Francesca Grifo (1990-91 fellow at USAID; currently at EPA)
  • Agency Co-chair, Scientific Integrity Fast-Track Action Committee
  • Agency Co-chair, Scientific Integrity Framework Interagency Working Group
  • Agency Co-chair, Subcommittee on Scientific Integrity
• Sarah Burgess-Herbert (2009-11 fellow at EPA and NASA; Overseas fellow at USAID 2015-17; currently at USAID)
  • Member, Scientific Integrity Fast-Track Action Committee
  • Co-chair, Fast-Track Action Committee Working Group
  • Principal Member, Scientific Integrity Framework Interagency Working Group
  • Member, Subcommittee on Scientific Integrity

Several current STPF fellows are carrying forward the framework policy during their fellowships by actively supporting the updating of scientific integrity policies and practices at federal Agencies in response to this White House guidance, including*: 

• Miriam Akeju (NIH, Office of the Director-Office of Science Policy) 
• Rebecca Barnes (NSF GEO/OAD; Belmont Forum)
• Aiste Degesys (USAID, Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Hub, Bureau for Development Democracy and Innovation)
• Rachel Golden Kroner (USAID, Research Division; Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub; Bureau for Development Democracy and Innovation)
• William Singer (USDA, Office of the Chief Scientist)

*This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all current or alumni fellows working on the topic of scientific integrity.