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American Geophysical Union input on Improving Federal Scientific Integrity Policies
  • +5
  • Caitlin Bergstrom,
  • Christopher Erdmann,
  • Matthew Giampoala,
  • R. Brooks Hanson,
  • Raj Pandya,
  • Shelley Stall,
  • Lexi Shultz,
  • Billy Williams
Caitlin Bergstrom
American Geophysical Union
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Christopher Erdmann
American Geophysical Union
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Matthew Giampoala
American Geophysical Union
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R. Brooks Hanson
American Geophysical Union

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Raj Pandya
American Geophysical Union
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Shelley Stall
American Geophysical Union
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Lexi Shultz
American Geophysical Union
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Billy Williams
American Geophysical Union
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Abstract

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) is pleased to submit this RFI response to 2021-13640 on improving federal scientific integrity policies. AGU is the largest global organization covering the Earth sciences with a mission “to support and inspire a global community of individuals and organizations interested in advancing discovery in Earth and space sciences and its benefit for humanity and the environment.” Fostering integrity is a key part of our new strategic plan and past activities and we are engaged in supporting integrity broadly, including with federal agencies. Although not a focus of these recommendations, AGU has often spoken up through position statements and letters related to scientific integrity. Several examples are listed in the references. With this perspective, we urge OSTP to consider two points that we elaborate below: • Fostering integrity–and in turn public trust in science and science policy–requires a broad, holistic view of practices that extend beyond the typical focus on transparency and ethics to include ensuring deeper public engagement, addressing diversity and inclusivity in science and supporting the backbone infrastructure that enables all of these. • The way science is supported, practiced and conducted is changing significantly, as is its dissemination and communication, and these changes have important implications for fostering integrity in the 21st century. Specifically, parts of the culture and reward system of science need improvement to align with these changes, and OSTP and federal policy can be a strong proactive force in enabling this change. This is particularly the case if these policies and practices provide leading examples and extend to federal grants. Many other organizations would then align.