Statement on the Freedom of Communication in Fundamental Scientific Research
Adopted by the Council on April 20, 2026
Effective April 20, 2026
The American Physical Society (APS) advocates for the open communication of results from fundamental scientific research within the constraints imposed by legitimate ethical, legal, and security considerations.
Context
Restricting the exchange of fundamental research information is detrimental to scientific progress and may hinder the future health and security of our nation and of society at large. Harmful outcomes of restricted research communication include impeding the validation of results and correcting errors and fraud, slowing the identification of unanticipated consequences and applications of new results, and degrading the foundation of scientific advancement.
Limits on open communication can arise from—among other reasons—considerations of protection of intellectual property and privacy, national security, ethics, and standards of professional behavior. Some of these limits come at a cost to science and should be implemented sparingly and only as necessary.
Taking this into account, APS advocates for the appropriate open sharing of scientific research, thereby continuing the central role that open communication has played in the advancement of physics and society.