The AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Programs in Executive Branch agencies have built an exceptional reputation for providing high-quality fellows who learn firsthand about the federal policy realm and make valuable contributions to the agencies and offices in which they serve. Maintaining the program's reputation, integrity, and educational purpose is the responsibility of AAAS, its partner sponsoring societies, the fellows, and the agencies and offices in which they work.
To this end, fellows are required to be free agents who make their own choices of the offices in which they serve, subject to the agreement of the office and the ethics committee rulings of the host agency. Fellows may not provide special considerations of any kind to their sponsoring societies, AAAS, its affiliated organizations, or any entity contributing to the fellow’s stipend or support. To maintain the integrity of the STPF, as well as to underscore that the fellowship is a learning experience, the fellow’s responsibility is to the office in which they are assigned and the ethics rules guiding that agency. It is important that fellows adhere to this principle and avoid any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
It is the responsibility of AAAS, sponsoring societies, affiliated organizations, and any entity contributing to the fellow’s stipend or support to avoid creating conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest with respect to the fellows, in accordance with the hosting agency’s ethics rules.
Guidelines
Fellows in board or policy committee positions with any organizations that conduct outreach or advocacy to policy makers should receive clearance from their host office/agency to continue that involvement. If the activity is not approved, the fellow must discontinue such involvement for the duration of the fellowship.
Fellows involved in research collaborations or any appointments, with or without government support or remuneration of any kind, must receive approval from their host office/agency to continue that involvement. If the activity is not approved, the fellow must take a hiatus from such involvement for the duration of the fellowship.
Fellows invited to give presentations must receive approval from their office to give the presentation and for the time off for the event. Fellows who publish on work involved in their fellowship or who identify themselves in publications as affiliated with any government agency must receive prior permission from their host office/agency ethics office.
Fellows offered honoraria for speaking engagements, service on committees, editorial review boards, and such activities must receive clearance from their host office/agency to accept the payment.
More details are available on the website for the U.S. Office of Government Ethics at www.oge.gov.