Effective government depends on accurate, honest, and timely advice from scientists and engineers. Science and engineering demands an open, transparent process of review. Mistakes dangerous to the nation’s welfare and security are made when governments prevent scientists and engineers from presenting the best evidence and analysis. Americans should ask that all elected officials and candidates for public office support the following SEA Bill of Rights:
- Public policy shall be made using the best available scientific, technical, and engineering knowledge.
- No government organization shall knowingly distribute false or misleading information.
- Government funding for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education shall only be used for evidence-based curricula.
- No one should fear reprisals or intimidation because of the results of his or her research.
- Scientists, technologists, and engineers conducting research or analysis with public funding shall be free of unreasonable restrictions in discussing and publishing their work, and the results of governmentally-funded research and analysis shall be made open to the public without unreasonable delay.
- A clear, public, and transparent process shall be used to make decisions about restricting public access to information for reasons of national security. There shall be a process for challenging decisions, and remedial measures to correct mistakes and abuses of the classification system.
- Employees exposing what they believe to be manipulation of research and analysis for political or ideological reasons shall be protected from intimidation, retribution, or adverse personnel action resulting from the decision to speak out.
- Appointments to publicly funded advisory committees shall be based on professional and academic qualifications, not political affiliation or ideology.
