MetaArXiv Preprints | Written Testimony for the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on November 13, 2019

Abstract:  Making open the default for research plans, data, materials, code, and outcomes will reduce friction in discovery and maximize return on research investments. Extending existing policy frameworks about transparency and openness across federal agencies will help improve research efficiency. These frameworks can help decision-makers navigate situations in which principles of security and privacy are in conflict with principles of transparency and openness. Rule-making should be informed by the best available evidence. Sometimes the best available evidence is based on data that cannot be transparent, has high uncertainty, or has unknown reproducibility. Developing tools that clarify uncertainty will improve policymaking and shape research priorities.