NASA Reaffirms Agency Scientific Integrity Policy

Dec. 16, 2011

Sarah DeWitt / Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-2451/1726
sarah.l.dewitt@nasa.gov / dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 11-420

NASA REAFFIRMS AGENCY SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY POLICY

WASHINGTON -- NASA has reaffirmed its commitment to science with the
release of a new framework on scientific integrity. The framework
summarizes the agency's policies and practices that strengthen and
uphold scientific integrity. This represents the first time NASA has
codified these policies under the umbrella of scientific integrity.

"Integrity is woven throughout the fabric of NASA, and science plays a
leading role in that," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "This
framework reflects and strengthens our commitment to open, honest,
unrestricted and fair science practices, and sustains a culture that
promotes them."

To support this culture of transparency, the framework reaffirms
NASA's public communications policy of 2006, which states NASA
scientists may speak freely with the public about scientific and
technical matters.

"The ability to accurately and widely communicate our amazing science
discoveries is one of our highest priorities," said NASA Chief
Scientist Waleed Abdalati at the agency's headquarters in Washington.
"NASA set a high standard with its forward-looking communications
policy in 2006, and today we welcome the opportunity to join other
agencies that are re-dedicating themselves to the highest standards
of scientific excellence and advancing public trust in our
discoveries."

NASA and other federal agencies submitted scientific integrity
policies in response to a memorandum issued by the White House Office
of Science and Technology Policy in December 2010. NASA's framework
expands on the President's Memorandum to Department and Agency Heads
on Scientific Integrity issued March 9, 2009, and specifies how the
agency will address key issues.

In addition to public communications, the framework addresses
professional development of government scientists and engineers, peer
review and other topics. In developing its framework, NASA leadership
evaluated the agency's existing policies and sought opportunities to
improve and build on them. The agency currently is revising certain
policies, including directives on the use of federal advisory
committees. NASA will continue evaluating and improving policies
within the framework through its formal review and renewal process.

To read NASA's Framework on Scientific Integrity, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/611201main_NASA_SI_Policy_12_15_11.pdf

-end-

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