NSF tests ways to improve research security without disrupting peer review

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is spending $571 million to build the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile so astronomers can survey the sky in unprecedented detail for evidence of dark matter and energy. It’s part of the agency’s mission to fund basic research. But when the telescope sees first light next year, its 3.2-gigapixel camera will also see things the U.S. government might not want disclosed, including spy satellites and other military hardware that could pose a threat to the United States. So do the data it collects need to be restricted in some way? In response to pressure from Congress, NSF officials are asking that question about everything in the agency’s $8 billion research portfolio—and hoping the answer won’t disrupt basic research. Last month, an outside panel of experts suggested a solution : Instead of designating entire research areas as sensitive, NSF should assess projects individually, with grant applicants identifying potential security risks. NSF would then develop a plan to reduce or eliminate any risks before making an award. NSF officials say they welcome the advice but want to make sure that the additional monitoring isn’t a burden on peer reviewers and agency staff. “We do not want to do anything that would hinder or delay the funding process,” says Rebecca Keiser, NSF’s chief research security officer. In 2022, Congress told NSF to “identify research areas … that may involv...
Source: Science of Aging Knowledge Environment - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research