Protecting Scientific Integrity
In the age of rapid news cycles and technological developments, there have been concerns over the movement of science. Specifically, in how external political and industry forces can influence the quality and scope of scientific research and in general, a professional’s scientific integrity.
Scientists at federal agencies have said external political and industry forces heavily influence the quality and scope of their research, according to a large survey conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists in 2015, involving thousands of top researchers. This still holds true today. The most recent example comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) retracting a public service announcement made by their Chief, presenting false information to the public due to pressures from the executive branch of the government. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office, a federal watchdog, concluded in July that the Environmental Protection Agency violated ethics rules when it replaced academic scientists with industry representatives as members of science advisory panels.
In order for science to keep up with the pace of information spreading and to retain public trust in science and scientists, a new bill has been proposed with an aim of protecting scientific integrity. The Scientific Integrity Act was first introduced by the 115th congress to the House of Representatives by Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY) in April of 2017. This bill unfortunately died when the congress adjourned sine die. Representative Tonko reintroduced the bill when the 116th congress took office with Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i).
According to Senator Schatz, the scientific integrity act would do three things: Formalize and reinforce policies that require federal agencies that conduct or fund scientific research to maintain clear scientific integrity principles; affirm that science dictates policy, and that scientific research should be free from the pressure of politics, ideology, or financial influence; and hold public scientists to high standards and guarantee their rights and protections under the law.
The bill was approved by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on 17 October in a 25–6 vote that included bipartisan support. The need for scientific integrity policies in federal agencies, in particular, has received support from both sides of the aisle during a congressional hearing in July. Both parties stressed the importance of protecting scientists and the scientific process. Although this bill has passed the house, with impeachment hearings and a lot on the plates of congressmembers as of late, we’ll have to see how much bipartisan support this bill has in the Senate. Additionally, if it passes the senate, what will happen when it reaches the President’s desk?
“Our economy, our health and safety, and our environment all depend on independent federal scientific research and fully informed, science-based policies. The Scientific Integrity Act would protect scientists from political interference in their scientific work, and make sure that they can carry out their research and share it without fear of retaliation. Congress should pass the Scientific Integrity Act so that all presidential administrations can be held to that strong standard,” - Dr. Andrew Rosenberg, Director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
PHOTO CREDIT TATIANA EAVES