Science.gov - Scientific Integrity

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <title>Science.gov - Scientific Integrity</title> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="ie=edge"> <meta name="description" content="Science.gov is a gateway to government science information provided by U.S. Government science agencies, including research and development results."> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles/main.css"> <link rel="icon" href="/images/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <script> function scrollToTop(){ if (document.documentElement.scrollTop > 200) { document.getElementById("backToTop").style.setProperty('right', '0px'); } else { document.getElementById("backToTop").style.setProperty('right', '-100px'); } } </script> <style> /* NAV HIGHLIGHTING */ ul.menu > li:nth-child(3) > a{ text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-color: #88bd3a; text-decoration-thickness: 3px; text-underline-offset: .25em; } </style>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-PL8SK8Q34R"></script> <noscript></noscript> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-PL8SK8Q34R'); </script> <noscript></noscript> </head> <body onscroll="scrollToTop()"> <noscript>Some elements on this page will not display correctly without Javascript.</noscript> <header id="top"> <div id="official-site-container"> <input id="how-you-know" type="checkbox"> <div id="official-site"> <img src="/images/us_flag.png" alt="US Flag">An official website of the United States government <label for="how-you-know">Here's how you know <span class="material-symbols-outlined expand_more">expand_more</span><span class="material-symbols-outlined expand_less">expand_less</span></label> </div> <div id="official-site-info"> <section> <img src="/images/icon-dot-gov.png" alt="dot gov icon"> <div> <div><strong>Official websites use .gov</strong></div> <div>A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.</div> </div> </section> <section> <img src="/images/icon-https.png" alt="https lock icon"> <div> <div><strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong></div> <div>A <strong>lock ( <span class="material-symbols-outlined lock">lock</span> ) or https://</strong> means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.</div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div id="banner-container"> <h1>Science.gov</h1> <div id="logo"><a href="/index.html"><img src="/images/SciGov_logo.webp" alt="Science.gov logo"></a></div> <nav> <label for="hamburger"><span class="material-symbols-outlined menu">menu</span></label><input type="checkbox" id="hamburger"> <ul class="menu"> <li><a href="/about.html">About Science.gov <span class="material-symbols-outlined expand_more">expand_more</span><span class="material-symbols-outlined expand_less">expand_less</span></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li><a href="/faq.html">FAQs</a></li> <li><a href="/help.html">Help</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="/Open-Science-Public-Access.html">Open Science & Public Access <span class="material-symbols-outlined expand_more">expand_more</span><span class="material-symbols-outlined expand_less">expand_less</span></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li><a href="https://open.science.gov/" target="_blank">Open Science Announcements</a></li> <li><a href="/Public-Access-Plans-Guidance.html">Public Access Plans & Guidance</a></li> <li><a href="/Submissions-Public-Access.html">Submissions for Public Access</a></li> <li><a href="/servicesandtools.html">Services for Public Access Collections</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="/Scientific-Integrity.html">Scientific Integrity <span class="material-symbols-outlined expand_more">expand_more</span><span class="material-symbols-outlined expand_less">expand_less</span></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li><a href="/Scientific-Integrity-Policy.html">Policies</a></li> <li><a href="/Scientific-Integrity-Best-Practices.html">Best Practices</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </header> <div id="search"> <div id="search-box"> <form id="search_form" action="https://www.science.gov/scigov/search.html" method="POST"> <input type="search" id="fullRecord" name="fullRecord" placeholder="Search for authoritative federal science information" required><button class="search-btn" type="submit"><span class="material-symbols-outlined search">search</span></button> <div id="search-link"><a href="https://www.science.gov/scigov/desktop/en/search.html">Advanced Search</a></div> <label for="fullRecord" class="accessibility">Search</label> </form> </div> </div> <main> <h2>Scientific Integrity</h2> <p>Protecting scientific integrity in government is vital to the Nation. Scientific integrity is defined as:</p> <blockquote>“The adherence to professional practices, ethical behavior, and the principles of honesty and objectivity when conducting, managing, using the results of, and communicating about science and scientific activities. Inclusivity, transparency, and protection from inappropriate influence are hallmarks of scientific integrity.”</blockquote> <p>Scientific and technological information is essential for the development of evidence-based policies and the equitable delivery of government programs intended to improve the environment and the health, security, safety, and well-being of all people. In turn, government science and scientific activities must be held to the highest standards of scientific integrity, free from inappropriate influence at all stages from development to dissemination. A strong culture of scientific integrity allows science and scientists at Federal agencies to thrive and supports agencies' abilities to meet their missions.</p> <p>In response to the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/memorandum-on-restoring-trust-in-government-through-scientific-integrity-and-evidence-based-policymaking/" target="_blank"> 2021 Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking</a>, federal departments and agencies have been working to strengthen or develop scientific integrity policies and develop a framework for regular assessment and iterative improvement of scientific integrity policies and practices. In response to the Memorandum, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) established a Scientific Integrity Fast-Track Action Committee under the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).</p> <p>In January 2022, the Committee published a report, <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2024-10/01-22-Protecting_the_Integrity_of_Government_Science.pdf" target="_blank"> Protecting the Integrity of Government Science</a>, which identified good agency practices on scientific integrity and areas in need of consistency across agencies. The report led to the development of a <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2024-10/01-2023-Framework-for-Federal-Scientific-Integrity-Policy-and-Practice.pdf" target="_blank"> Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice</a>, which was published in January 2023 with an <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2024-10/01-2023-Memorandum_on_Framework_Delivery.pdf" target="_blank">OSTP memorandum</a>, and includes a first-ever Government-wide definition of scientific integrity, a roadmap of activities and outcomes to achieve an ideal state of scientific integrity, a Model Scientific Integrity Policy, as well as critical policy features and metrics that OSTP will use to iteratively assess agency progress. The Framework also includes a charter for the newly established <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2024-10/07-2022-SOSI-NSTC-Charter.pdf" target="_blank"> NSTC Subcommittee on Scientific Integrity</a>, which was established to coordinate, assess, and communicate on matters of federal scientific integrity.</p> <p>A list of agency-specific scientific integrity policies is available on the <a href="Scientific-Integrity-Policy.html">Scientific Integrity Policies & Other Information</a> page.</p> </main> <a id="backToTop" href="#top"> Top </a> <footer> <nav> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/sitemap.html">Site Map</a></li> <li><a href="/members/index.html">Members Only</a></li> <li><a href="/website-policies.html">Website Policies</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.energy.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy" target="_blank">Vulnerability Disclosure Program</a></li> <li><a href="/contact.html">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> <div class="small">Science.gov is maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy's <a href="https://www.osti.gov/" target="_blank">Office of Scientific and Technical Information</a>, in partnership with <a href="https://www.cendi.gov/" target="_blank">CENDI</a>.</div> </nav> </footer> </body> </html>

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Science.gov - Scientific Integrity