US grapples with security of the scientific enterprise
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US grapples with security of the scientific enterprise
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ederally funded scientific advancements have, in many respects, maintained and strengthened US national security. The role of science in general, and materials science in particular, in bolstering national security is broad—spanning from technology developed specifically to aid US military and protect the country; to research-based improvements across health, energy, and environmental stewardship; to the commercialization of a wide variety of science-enabled products and services that drive the US economy. Policymakers in the United States and other countries recognize the dependence of security on science, and members of Congress often cite “national security” as one reason for sponsoring or supporting science-related legislation. The relationship between science and national security is also evident within the executive branch, where many of the departments and agencies that lead scientific research are tasked with enhancing or protecting US security. But recent concerns, raised by the US intelligence community and a growing number of lawmakers across political parties, question the security of the US
scientific enterprise. The security threat centers on alleged exploitation of the US research environment by other countries. Characterized by openness and collaboration, the US research environment promotes the free flow of ideas, information, and expertise. This environment, where open access to data and results has been encouraged—and in some cases mandated—across federally supported research, has enabled more rapid technological advancement as well as drawn international talent to the United States. But now, the environment that has made the United States a global leader in science and technology is increasingly being viewed as a potential target for exploitation. A number of hearings have been held in the US Congress over the last two years to both raise the alarm and examine the alleged means of exploitation. During a December 2018 hearing before the US Senate Judiciary Committee, Assistant Attorney General of the National Security Division of the US Department of Justice John C. Demers presented a statement that outlined US intelligence officials’ allegations of a multifaceted approach by a
country that employs both legal and illegal means “to advance its economic development at our expense.” The testimony calls out several areas where the US research environment may be vulnerable, including through access to nontraditional collectors, research partnerships, academic collaborations, and talent recruitment programs. While there is escalated awareness of the alleged national security threats and vulnerabilities within the research environment, the agencies that fund science research have also taken action to update, clarify, and/or reiterate their policies related to “foreign influence.” The National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, US Department of Energy, and US Department of Defense (DoD) are among those that both fund materials r
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