APS News

January 2004 (Volume 13, Number 1)

Council Deplores Restriction of Non-Classified Science Information

At its meeting in November, the APS Council reaffirmed a statement passed originally in 1983 on the freedom of scientific communication, and added a preamble that specifically pointed out the ill effects of labels like "sensitive but unclassified", which have the potential to expand greatly the restriction of scientific communication. The motion passed by Council, in its entirety, reads:

Restricting exchange of scientific information based on non-statutory administrative policies is detrimental to scientific progress and the future health and security of our nation. The APS opposes any such restrictions, such as those based on the label "sensitive but unclassified", and reaffirms its 1983 statement that:

Whereas the free communication of scientific information is essential to the health of science and technology, on which the economic well-being and national security of the United States depend; and

Whereas it is recognized that the government has the authority to classify and thereby restrict the communication of information bearing a particularly close relationship to national security; and

Whereas members of the American Physical Society have observed the damaging effects on science of attempts to censor unclassified research results;

Be it therefore resolved that the American Physical Society through its elected Council affirms its support of the unfettered communication at the Society's sponsored meetings or in its sponsored journals of all scientific ideas and knowledge that are not classified.


©1995 - 2024, AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY
APS encourages the redistribution of the materials included in this newspaper provided that attribution to the source is noted and the materials are not truncated or changed.

Editor: Alan Chodos
Associate Editor: Jennifer Ouellette

January 2004 (Volume 13, Number 1)

APS News Home

Issue Table of Contents

APS News Archives

Contact APS News Editor


Articles in this Issue
April Meeting Goes Mile-High in 2004
Junior Members Respond to APS Ethics Survey
Council Deplores Restriction of Non-Classified Science Information
New Techniques for Controlling Fluid Flow Highlight the APS 2003 DFD Meeting
House Resolution Recognizes Congressional Fellowship Programs
Quinn Ponders Long-Range Goals for APS in 2004
Lerch Retires as Head of APS International Affairs
Council Approves a New Prize and an New Award
Quiet Microwave Ovens, Liquid Lithium Walls Among DPP Meeting Highlights
NIH Announces New Roadmap for Funding Opportunities in Metabolomics
Letters
The Back Page
Members in the Media
This Month in Physics History
Ask the Ethicist
Zero Gravity: The Lighter Side of Science