[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38363-38364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15309]


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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY


Public Listening Sessions on Scientific Integrity and Evidence-
Based Policymaking

AGENCY: Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), The White 
House.

ACTION: Announcement of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) 
is organizing a series of three virtual listening sessions to hear 
about issues and concerns related to scientific integrity from members 
of the public who produce, communicate, and use scientific and 
technical information. Perspectives gathered during the virtual 
listening sessions will inform the assessment of Federal agencies' 
scientific-integrity policies and identification of best practices and 
lessons-learned that the National Science and Technology Council's Task 
Force on Scientific Integrity is preparing, pursuant to the January 
2021 Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through 
Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking.

DATES: 
    Virtual listening sessions (all times Eastern Daylight Time):
    1. Communications: Wednesday, July 28, 2021, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    2. Science and Education: Thursday, July 29, 2021, 11:00 a.m. to 
1:00 p.m.
    3. Use of Scientific and Technical Information: Friday, July 30, 
2021, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    Registration deadline: Friday, July 23, 2021, 5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Register for a virtual listening session using the session-
specific links below:
    1. Communications: https://ida-org.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdeGrqTstHfZn-KhEXlhuusJW7sGzvx0.
    2. Science and Education: https://ida-org.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdeyspjgrG4tLkU3xiX8wbbxq_DPsDIM.
    3. Use of Scientific and Technical Information: https://ida-org.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItd-2grjMiHcF1JwMUaZQ9hxBRY9iJEKI.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information, please 
contact Ryan Donohue, 202-456-4444, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Presidential Memorandum on Restoring 
Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based 
Policymaking, issued on January 27, 2021, calls for the establishment 
of an interagency Task Force on Scientific Integrity of the National 
Science and Technology Council to review the effectiveness of agency 
scientific integrity policies developed since the issuance of the 
Presidential Memorandum of March 9, 2009 on scientific integrity. To 
inform its review, the Task Force is organizing a series of virtual 
listening sessions to hear from members of the public who produce, 
communicate, and use scientific and technical information. Perspectives 
gathered during the virtual listening sessions will inform the Task 
Force's assessment of Federal agencies' scientific-integrity policies 
and identification of best practices and lessons-learned.
    Each of three listening sessions will be organized around a 
particular theme and audience, described below:
    Session 1 (Wednesday, July 28, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT): 
Communications, including effective policies and practices to improve 
the communication of scientific and technological information, 
including for engagement of Federal scientists and contractors with 
news media and on social media. The target audience includes 
individuals from news media, science writers, and science 
communicators.
    Session 2 (Thursday, July 29, 2021, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT): 
Science and Education, including effective policies and practices to 
support professional development of scientists and researchers of all 
genders, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds; address scientific-
integrity issues related to emerging technologies, such as artificial 
intelligence and machine-learning, and evolving scientific practices, 
such as citizen science and community-engaged research; improve 
training of scientific staff about scientific integrity; and handle 
disagreements about scientific methods and conclusions. The target 
audience includes scientists, engineers, and educators from the Federal 
and non-Federal sectors.
    Session 3 (Friday, July 30, 2021, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT): Use 
of Scientific and Technical Information, including the effectiveness of 
Federal scientific integrity policies in promoting trust in Federal 
science and concerns about a lack of scientific integrity impeding the 
equitable delivery of the Federal Government's programs. Target 
audience includes individuals who use Federal scientific and technical 
information for decision-making or provision of services; individuals 
from disadvantaged communities; and other consumers of science.
    Participants in all sessions may also comment on the predominant 
challenges they perceive to scientific integrity in Federal agencies 
and effective practices for minimizing political or other inappropriate 
interference in the conduct, communication, or use of Federal science. 
Speakers will have up to two minutes each to make a comment. As

[[Page 38364]]

many speakers will be accommodated as the scheduled time allows.
    Staff from the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute will 
facilitate the meeting, which will be recorded for use by the Task 
Force. Participation in a listening session will imply consent to 
capture participant's names, voices, and likenesses. Anything said may 
be recorded and transcribed for use by the Task Force. Moderators will 
manage the discussion and order of remarks.
    Individuals unable to attend the listening sessions or who would 
like to provide more detailed information may respond to the Request 
for Information (RFI) to Improve Federal Scientific Integrity Policies 
that was published in the Federal Register [86 FR 34064, June 28, 
2021].

    Dated: July 13, 2021.
Stacy Murphy,
Operations Manager.
[FR Doc. 2021-15309 Filed 7-19-21; 8:45 am]
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