Week in Review — 10.8.21
Research Security in the U.S.
On Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a joint hearing titled, “Balancing Open Science and Security in the U.S. Research Enterprise.” Committee Members discussed the risks to research integrity and security posed by undue foreign influence in the U.S. research enterprise. The Subcommittees also examined ongoing efforts at universities and federal science agencies to address these risks and the need for additional clarity regarding the scale and scope of the risks and best practices for securing federally funded fundamental research. They also discussed the risks of overcorrection, including the impact on researchers, institutions, and the competitiveness of the U.S. research enterprise.
“Collaboration is the lifeblood of scientific discovery. Scientists build upon one another’s work, across time and around the globe. Openness in science allows reproduction and replication of work, increasing the reliability of conclusions and building public trust. It fosters cooperation across disciplines, brings in new perspectives, and sparks ideas that wouldn’t come from one solitary lab, or even one country.”
- Chairman Bill Foster (D-IL) of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
“We have built the world’s most successful research enterprise based on the values of openness and transparency, which closely aligns with our democratic principles in the United States. Maintaining our nation’s competitive edge in research depends on our commitment to equipping our greatest minds with the resources they need to continue to lead on the global stage. Our leadership also depends on our ability to identify, understand, and address emerging risks to the nation’s research enterprise.”
- Chairwoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology
Coming up in Committee
Subject: “The Future of Forecasting: Building a Weather-Ready Nation on All Fronts”
DATE: Thursday, October 14, 2021
TIME: 11:00 a.m. EDT
PLACE: Online via videoconferencing
Witnesses:
· Dr. Louis Uccellini, Assistant Administrator for Weather Services and Director of the National Weather Service (NWS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
· Mr. Cardell Johnson, Acting Director, Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
· Mr. John Werner, President, National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO)
· Mr. Erik Salna, Associate Director for Education and Outreach, International Hurricane Research Center, Extreme Events Institute, Florida International University
