US government scientists now encouraged to serve in scientific societies

Nature : Changes in US government policy should make it easier for government scientists to serve in scientific societies, writes Eugenie Samuel Reich for Nature. A memorandum on scientific integrity issued by the Office of Science and Technology Policy in December explicitly encourages government scientists to get involved with societies; previously, the government tended to view such associations ambivalently or negatively. Yet many government scientists affected by the policy change say that serious legal and ethical pitfalls remain. Strict conflict-of-interest rules in the US can create administrative barriers for government scientists trying to participate in societies that are relevant to their disciplines. Employees who join outside organizations will have to be careful not to run afoul of these rules, notes John Fitzgerald, policy director of the Society for Conservation Biology in Washington DC.