There is a growing tension between a scientific culture based on transparency and the need for secrecy to protect national security. While most scientists would argue that the openness that characterizes much of the scientific research enterprise is the source of the extraordinary gains in scientific knowledge that have enriched us materially and intellectually, the ideal of a scientific culture based on principles of openness and transparency faces continuing challenges.

In today's world of rapidly advancing science, where tools and technologies are more widely available than ever before and where the dissemination of scientific findings occurs through multiple channels and at multiple levels, developing policies for managing the dissemination of knowledge, tools, and techniques produced by scientific research has become ever more difficult. It is important to consider whether, among the broader scientific community, there is appropriate awareness of the issues and policies related to life sciences research with the potential for dual use and whether limits placed on research and dissemination are reasonable and serve both scientific and security interests. Dual Use Research of Concern in the Life Sciences: Current Issues and Controversies examines the U.S. strategy for reducing biosecurity risks in life sciences research and considers mechanisms that would allow researchers to manage the dissemination of the results of research while mitigating the potential for harm to national security.

Contents

• The National Academies of SCIENCES • ENGINEERING • MEDICINE
• COMMITTEE ON DUAL USE RESEARCH OF CONCERN: OPTIONS FOR FUTURE MANAGEMENT
• COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND LAW
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Summary
  • CHARGE TO THE COMMITTEE
  • COMMITTEE FINDINGS
  • CONTEXT: CHANGES IN RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION TOOLS
  • U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY
  • MECHANISMS AND PROCESSES
  • EDUCATION AND TRAINING
  • CONCLUSION
• 1. Introduction
  • BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY
  • “DUAL USE” RESEARCH
  • CONTINUING CONTROVERSIES OVER DISSEMINATION
  • CHARGE TO THE COMMITTEE
• 2. The Current Policy Environment
  • THE DEVELOPMENT OF U.S. GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT OF INFORMATION WITH NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS
  • THE EVOLUTION OF U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY ON DUAL USE RESEARCH IN THE LIFE SCIENCES
  • THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT
  • CONCLUSION
• 3. Managing Dual Use Research of Concern
  • FOUNDATIONAL U.S. POLICIES ON THE DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH
  • LIMITATIONS OF DURC POLICY
  • EDUCATION AND TRAINING
  • INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT OF DURC
  • THE NATIONAL SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD FOR BIOSECURITY
  • OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THE DISSEMINATION OF DURC
  • CONCLUSION
• 4. Committee Findings
  • CONTEXT: CHANGES IN RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION TOOLS
  • U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY
  • MECHANISMS AND PROCESSES
  • EDUCATION AND TRAINING
  • CONCLUSION
• Appendixes
  • Appendix A. Biographical Information of Committee and Staff
  • Appendix B. Committee Meeting Agendas
  • Appendix C. Acronyms and Abbreviations

Suggested citation:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Dual Use Research of Concern in the Life Sciences: Current Issues and Controversies. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: https://doi.org/10.17226/24761.