Academics and National-Security Experts Must Work Together

In the years since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the federal government's policies that deal with national security have changed significantly. In an effort to prevent the results of science and engineering research from being misused or falling into the wrong hands, government agencies that support studies are placing restrictions on how unclassified research is conducted, how information is exchanged, and who is allowed to participate in the process. Rather than strengthening national security, the restrictions are instead impeding the nation's ability to be economically competitive and defend itself against potential threats. The authors recently chaired a nonpartisan committee of the National Research Council and they traveled around the country to gain insights from intelligence experts and academic researchers on government's restrictions on research. Based from their findings, the authors conclude that the best way to protect the United States is to ensure the open exchange of unclassified research between academics and national security experts.