White House releases expected guidelines for scientific integrity (sciencemag.org)

This is a very long wait for a four-page memo. Seventeen end months of meeting the deadline in order of March 2009 President Barack Obama, the Office of science White House and Technology Policy (OSTP) published today high level advice on how to develop policies on scientific integrity, Federal agencies. The guide, which includes a ban on interference, is being received warmly but somewhat cautiously by advocacy groups.

Followed Obama order concerns about the politicization of science to the Bush Administration and the recognition that the Federal Government had no uniform rules and practices. The memo outlines four areas that should cover the policies of the Agency: the foundations of the scientific integrity of the Government, communication to the public on science, the use of advisory committees and professional scientists.

The guide includes the following points:

"Politicians should not remove or alter the scientific or technological findings." Data used for political decisions must "undergo peer independent qualified experts, there where possible and appropriate." Agencies should set clear standards for dealing with conflicts of interests and adopt protections of denunciation. Agencies should develop and promote access to scientific information by making them available online. Should principles for science communication to the public, such as explaining the uncertainties and describing the probabilities of case scenarios better and more. Federal scientists can speak to the media and the public in their research "coordination." appropriate with their immediate supervisor and the Office of public affairs Agencies should facilitate professional development of scientists, such as encouraging the publication of the results and presentations at meetings.

Francesca Grifo EU scientists interested in Cambridge, Massachusetts, welcomed the note in a statement: "It's a crude but promising plan of honesty and accountability in the use of science in government decisions." Al Teich, Director of science policy at the AAAS (which publishes science Insider) in Washington, D.C., tweeted his reaction on the note of the White House: "they have spoken presentation." We hope that they walk the walk.

Blog post on the memo, Scientific Advisor John Holdren, directed OSTP, stressed that it was the minimum standards to improve ongoing efforts to ensure scientific integrity for organizations.

Holdren said ScienceInsider earlier this week, the part of the reason for the delay in the issuance of the memo was difficult to obtain the agreement of all the stakeholders and develop guidelines that would be applicable to all.

Federal agencies are supposed to report to the Holdren within 120 days of their orientation implementation progress. If they do, they beat their performance pattern by more than a year.