A Public Colloquium - March 29, 1999 - MIT Campus, Cambridge, MA

Sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Program | Speaker Bios| Presentations | Selected Readings | Home Most academic scientists consider the open exchange of ideas and information to be a fundamental norm for the practice of science. However, the openness of scientific exchange often is tempered by justifications for secrecy. During World War II, for example, the U.S. government cloaked its nuclear research program in secrecy on national security grounds. In the years following the war, national security concerns continue to be central to the government’s management of the dissemination of scientific and technical information and products, particularly in debates over declassification of documents and export controls. Balancing military and security needs with open scientific exchange is an ongoing process, with frequent clashes over the government’s denial of U.S. or foreign scientists freedom to travel to professional meetings. During the past two decades, potential benefits of scientific and technical research have come to be connected more explicitly with industrial and commercial processes. The current university-industry relationship in science, while fostering many economic advantages, challenges the traditional norm of open scientific communication. Companies sponsoring university research may suppress research results or limit access to materials to preserve or enhance their competitive edge. The use of publication delays, censorship, and nondisclosure agreements can confront university scientists with professional and ethical dilemmas, particularly if their research findings have public health implications. The Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable of the National Academy of Sciences recently expressed concern "that increasing secrecy and proprietary pressures could jeopardize the value and utility of academic research for both public and private ends." The colloquium explored current and historical issues of secrecy facing university scientists in their work with industry and government. Speakers examinined the effects of secrecy on a wide range of scientific practices—in anthropology, medical research, biotechnology, cryptography, engineering, and information technology. For more information regarding the colloquium, contact Mark S. Frankel, AAAS, at mfrankel@aaas.org or 202-326-6793.