Science in the Public Policy Arena

Science and technology provide critical tools that help us address our national and global needs. Open exchange of information and ideas is critical to scientific progress.  However, dynamic security challenges to our infrastructure, economy, and lives require that the scientific community minimize unintended or nefarious uses of legitimate science and technology.

ACS supports efforts to

  • Promote a strong, non-governmental, scientific publishing enterprise that assures access to information and exchange of scientific ideas and information among all parties with legitimate uses while appropriately protecting copyright and security-related information.
  • Assure the quality of science and technological advancement through open, rigorous and inclusive peer review.
  • Promote institutions and guidelines to assure that governments make appropriate and open use of scientific and technological information in making policy decisions.
  • Assure the most open interactions possible among scientists, engineers, and students from across the globe.

Access to High Quality Science

  • Supports using publishing models that are sustainable and provide universal access to scientific research. 
  • Supports the 10 principles outlined in the Brussels Declaration on STM Publishing as set forth by the International Association of STM Publishers.

Scientific Freedom

  • Advocates freedom of scientific exchange and stronger scientific collaboration to benefit humankind.

Peer Review: Ensuring High-Quality Science

  • Urges support for scientific peer review processes that evaluate based on both intellectual merit and broader impacts. 
  • Supports reviewer freedom from interference in scientific merit assessments. 
  • Recommends periodic evaluation by federal agencies and stakeholders of the process effectiveness and efficiency.

Forensic Science

  • Calls for scientific rigor in forensic science and for its integration with the broader scientific community
  • Supports evaluation and improvement of forensic analytical methods.
  • Supports high quality forensic science education, outreach and standards.

Preventing the Reemergence of Chemical Weapons

  • Supports efforts to improve chemical safety and security and evaluation of alternative materials. 
  • Urges governments to prioritize actions surrounding establishing standards for responsible conduct, and to prevent the use of pharmaceutical compounds as weapons. 
  • Further encourages the U.S. to continue the strong support of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Scientific Insight and Integrity

  • Supports the use of insightful, comprehensive, scientific and engineering input to the development and evaluation of policy options.
  • Encourages scientific integrity policies that help the federal government obtain and integrate scientific assessments into policy development and implementation.

Safety in the Chemistry Enterprise

  • Supports the use of risk-based criteria in creating safety regulations and policies, 
  • Supports continued funding of research to inform policy makers and stakeholders in the creation of those regulations and policies which foster innovation within a safer chemical environment.

ACS Policy Positions

Innovation through Research & Technology

Science Education & Workforce

Sustainability & the Environment

Science in the Public Policy