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September 4, 2019

On September 4, 2019, 60 top science, engineering and international education organizations - representing hundreds of thousands of scientists, engineers and educators around the world - sent an open letter to five top federal officials in charge of science programs, calling for fairer treatment of foreign-born scientists in the face of policies that could put a chill on the participation of foreign nationals in the scientific enterprise.


The letter was addressed to Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House; Dr. France Córdova, Director of the National Science Foundation; Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institute of Health; Dr. Chris Fall, Director of the Office of Science at the Department of Energy; and Dr. Michael Griffin, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.


"Finding the appropriate balance between our nation’s security and an open, collaborative scientific environment requires focus and due diligence," the letter said.  "Any response should consider the impact on both the overall scientific enterprise and on individual scientists and its development should include the input of the science and engineering community."


Otherwise, "many scientists—both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals—who properly follow codes of conduct, regulations, policies and laws, may inappropriately be harmed in response to the misconduct and illegal actions of others."


The co-signers of the letter ask the federal officials to "consider a wide range of stakeholder perspectives as your agencies work together through the new NSTC (National Science and Technology Council) Joint Committee on Research Environments to develop policies and procedures that address issues related to international researchers’ participation in the U.S. scientific enterprise, and we would welcome the opportunity to work with you."


 


60 top scientific organizations are calling for balance between an open scientific environment and economic and national security.

Top Scientific Organizations Call for Fairer Treatment of Foreign-born Scientists

Top Scientific Organizations Call for Fairer Treatment of Foreign-born Scientists
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