NSF Seeks Input on Research Ethics

Ideally, researchers routinely and repeatedly evaluate their projects’ ethical, social, safety, and security implications. Against this backdrop, America’s National Science Foundation wants to know how researchers are already integrating these important questions into their workflows, and also how the NSF itself might encourage these best practices in the grants it distributes, or alternatively mitigate the ethical, social, safety, and security concerns that research creates.

In a ‘Dear Colleague’ letter released earlier this week, the NSF issued a ‘request for information,’ or RFI, from those interested in research ethics. In the NSF’s estimation, these parties extend beyond academic researchers to include non-profits, industry, government, and all levels of education. Responses must be received by November 15 using the official submission form available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ResearchEthicsRFI.

As an RFI, the letter does not offer any money to investigate the research ecosystem. “However,” the letter reads, “the submission of collective input to this RFI spanning different perspectives from multiple constituent communities may be used to inform, refine, and catalyze future NSF investments, policies, and programs.”

The foundation does, however, fund some research specifically into ethical and societal risks; the letter points out two of them, Ethical and Responsible Research and Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies.

NSF is asking for input now so it can respond to a section of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167) addressing research ethics. Section 10343 mandates that NSF include ethical, social, safety, and security considerations in its grant merit review process, especially since many areas of concern may manifest “as early as the basic research stage.”

The request includes seven questions:

Question 1: Describe ethical, social, safety, and/or security risks from current or emerging research activities that you believe might be of concern to the community, profession, or organization with which you are connected.

Question 2: Which products, technologies, and/or other outcomes from research do you think could cause significant harm to the public in the foreseeable future?

Question 3: Describe one or more approaches for identifying ethical, social, safety, and/or security risks from research activities and balancing such risks against potential societal benefits.

Question 4: Describe one or more strategies for encouraging research teams to incorporate ethical, social, safety, and/or security considerations into the design of their research approach. Also, how might the strategy vary depending on research type (for example, basic vs. applied) or setting (for example, academia or industry)?

Question 5: How might NSF work with stakeholders to promote best practices for governance of research in emerging technologies at every stage of research?

Question 6: How could ethical, social, safety, and/or security considerations be incorporated into the instructions for proposers and into NSF’s merit review process? Also, what challenges could arise if the merit review process is modified to include such considerations?

Question 7: What other measures could NSF consider as it seeks to identify and mitigate ethical, social, safety, and/or security risks from research projects or other activities that the agency supports?

For questions, contact CHIPSethicsRFI@nsf.gov