U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowGovernment Website**Official websites use .gov**
              
                              A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        Safely connect using HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
              
              A **lock**
                (A locked padlock)
                or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.  
 Menu

      close
        
                            Enter Search Term
                Search
      Research & Development
      
                
  
          Research & Development


      
        Research & Development
    
    
              Advanced Sensing
      
    
              Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems
      
    
              Biotechnology
      
    
              Border Security
      
    
              Chemical, Biological and Explosive Defense R&D
      
    
              Communications and Cyber Resiliency
      
    
              Community and Infrastructure Resilience
      
    
              Counter Terrorist
      
    
              Cybersecurity/Information Analysis R&D
      
    
              Data, Modeling, and Simulation Sciences
      
    
              Digital Identity and Trust
      
    
              Earth Systems Sciences
      
    
              Emerging Computing Paradigms
      
    
              First Responder Capability
      
    
              Food and Agriculture Defense
      
    
              Novel Materials and Secure Manufacturing
      
    
              Physical Security and Critical Infrastructure Resilience
      
    
              Social Sciences
      
    
              Wildfire Technology
      
    
              Expertise
      
                
  
          Expertise


      
        Expertise
    
    
              National Laboratories
      
    
              Technology Centers
      
    
              Test and Evaluation
      
    
              Systems Engineering and Standards
      
    
              Technology Scouting
      
    
              Operations and Requirements Analysis
      
    
              Technology Clearinghouse
      
    
              Partnerships
      
                
  
          Partnerships


      
        Partnerships
    
    
              Federally Funded Research and Development Centers
      
    
              Industry Partnerships
      
    
              International Partnerships
      
    
              University Programs
      
    
              Work with S&T
      
                
  
          Work with S&T


      
        Work with S&T
    
    
              Funding and Partnership Opportunities
      
    
              DHS R&D Needs
      
    
              Innovation Funding Programs
      
    
              Engage with S&T
      
    
              Industry Partnerships Insights Outreach Webinar Series
      
    
              Technology Transfer and Commercialization Program
      
    
              SAFETY Act
      
    
              News & Events
      
                
  
          News & Events


      
        News & Events
    
    
              News
      
    
              Events
      
    
              Technologically Speaking Podcast
      
    
              Videos
      
    
              S&T Impact Series
      
    
              About S&T
      
                
  
          About S&T


      
        About S&T
    
    
              Leadership
      
    
              Organization
      
    
              Careers
      
    
              S&T in 2023: A Year in Review
      
    
              Impact 20: Celebrating 20 Years of Science and Technology
      
    
              Scientific Integrity Breadcrumb
Science and Technology
  About S&T
  Scientific Integrity

     Research & Development
                
                    
      
      Expertise
                
                    
      
      Partnerships
                
                    
      
      Work with S&T
                
                    
      
      News & Events
                
                    
                    
      About S&T
                
      Leadership
                
                    
      
      Organization
                
                    
      
      Careers
                
                    
      
      S&T in 2023: A Year in Review
                
                    
      
      Impact 20: Celebrating 20 Years of Science and Technology
                
                    
                    
      Scientific IntegrityScientific Integrity
Overview

Science and engineering play a critical role in the Department’s mission to protect the homeland. From the development and deployment of technologies to support our operators, to the development of evidence-based policy, scientific integrity is critical to ensuring the Department serves the American people.

Image
              Scientific IntegrityScientific integrity at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the adherence to professional practices, ethical behavior, and the principles of honesty and objectivity when conducting, managing, using the results of, and communicating about science and scientific activities. Inclusivity, transparency, and protection from inappropriate influence are hallmarks of scientific integrity. Scientific integrity is the responsibility of every DHS employee, political employee, contractor, grantee, volunteer and collaborator who conducts, utilizes, supervises, manages, communicates, or influences scientific activities.

The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is the lead for Scientific Integrity for the Department and the Executive Director of the S&T Office of Science and Engineering (OSE) serves as the DHS Scientific Integrity Official.

What is Scientific Integrity?

Scientific integrity results from adherence to professional values and practices, when conducting and applying the results of science and scholarship. It ensures:

Objectivity
	Clarity
	Reproducibility
	UtilityScientific integrity is important because it provides insulation from:

Bias
	Fabrication
	Falsification
	Plagiarism
	Outside interference
	Censorship
	Inadequate procedural and information securityScientific Integrity at DHS

Integrity and transparency have been hallmark traits of our scientists and engineers since the Department was established in 2002. The DHS Scientific Integrity Directive builds on these traits and focuses on key areas such as:

Promoting a culture of discovery and integrity that supports freedom of inquiry, open discussion, and public access to data that is critical to a healthy scientific ecosystem absent from political interference or inappropriate influence.
	Ensuring the free flow of scientific information in the communication of scientific activities, findings, and products.
	Supporting the decision-making processes with quality, accuracy, and transparency of scientific information used to support policy and decision making.
	Ensuring accountability of the scientific record and providing clear guidance on how to report concerns and allegations of violations.
	Ensuring protections that support the selection and retention of candidates based on their scientific and technical knowledge, credentials, experience, and integrity; that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the scientific workforce; and that protect individuals who report allegations of compromised scientific integrity in good faith.
	Promoting and facilitating professional development of federal scientists and engineers by encouraging timely publication of research; supporting attendance and presentation of research; promoting service as peer reviewers or editors; encouraging participation in professional societies; permitting government scientists to receive honors and awards for contributions to scientific activities; and performing outreach and engagement activities as part of their official duties.
	Adhering to the Federal Advisory Committee Act to support the credibility, quality, and transparency of the Department’s research portfolio.How do I report a violation or allegation of loss of scientific integrity?

To report an incident involving the loss of scientific integrity, please contact: Scientific_Integrity@hq.dhs.gov.

Include the following details in the description:

Date, circumstances, and location of the incident.
	Explanation of how the allegation relates to the loss of scientific integrity and the impact of the alleged loss of integrity.
	Statement explaining any personal or professional extenuating circumstances, non-scientific disagreements or conflict(s) of interest the person making the allegation has with the subject(s), entity(ies), or situation(s) named in the allegation.Where can I access the DHS Scientific Integrity Directive?

Thank you to those who submitted comments on the draft DHS Scientific Integrity Directive prior to the public comment period ending on October 20, 2023. DHS will review public comments received and complete a final draft of the Scientific Integrity Directive for DHS-wide review. The Scientific Integrity Directive is expected to be released in FY2024.
      
      
  
    
    TopicsScience and TechnologyKeywordsScience and Technology

    Last Updated: 10/22/2023
  
Was this page helpful?
  Yes
NoThis page was not helpful because the content
  has too little information
has too much information
is confusing
is out-of-date Return to top

           Research & Development
      
    
                  Expertise
      
    
                  Partnerships
      
    
                  Work with S&T
      
    
                  News & Events
      
    
                  About S&T
                            
        Science and Technology
      
    https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology
                  An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityAbout DHS
                              Accessibility
                              Budget and Performance
                              DHS Components
                              FOIA Requests
                              No FEAR Act Data
                              Privacy Policy
                              Site Links
                              Office of Inspector General
                              The White House
                              USA.gov

                        Looking for U.S. government information and services?
                Visit USA.gov