IAP Policy on Conflicts of Interest

Ensuring the integrity of IAP study panels

Importance of the issue
Extensive efforts are made by the InterAcademy Partnership to ensure the soundness and effectiveness of its reports and other outputs by selecting members for its study panel who meet the highest possible standards of professional competence in their fields. A most essential element of that effort is the nomination of candidates for IAP study panels by all academies of science, medicine and engineering that are members of IAP. However, in selecting a panel more is at stake than professional competence: reports from fully competent panels may be undermined by allegations of conflict of interest or bias however competent a panel may be.

No easy solutions
Dealing with possible conflicts of interest, bias or professional misconduct is not simple. For example, the most competent persons in a field are often also persons holding a variety of positions and some of these positions may be easily construed as a possible conflict of interest - while in reality that position may bring to an IAP study panel much needed insights and expertise. The same may be true for bias: a particular view may be needed in a panel to balance another strongly held view. For these reasons we have come to the conclusion that it is not possible to adopt a set of rigid standards and procedures to be followed at all times in selecting members for an IAP study panel.

Case-by-case approach
If general standards and procedures are not the way to go, the issue of conflict of interest and bias must be considered on a case-by-case basis and in relation to specific panels and/or persons. What may be an unacceptable conflict of interest in one situation may be quite acceptable - and even desirable - in another situation. We also consider that the IAP member academy that nominates a person for membership of an IAP panel is in a much better position than the IAP itself to assess whether or not questions of conflict of interest or bias arise in relation to that person.

Role of IAP academies
Ultimately, it is of course the IAP that is exclusively responsible for selecting and appointing the members of a study panel. However, the above observations indicate that IAP member academies may greatly assist the IAP itself in ensuring, inasmuch as possible, that IAP panels and report are not undermined by unwarranted allegations of conflict of interest and bias. In fact, the support from the nominating academies is most essential as they have first-hand knowledge of the persons they nominate.

Checklist
To assist IAP member academies in the matter, we attach a brief checklist to be used by them in nominating candidates for an IAP study panel and we ask that the items on this checklist be taken into account when making a decision. Accordingly, we do not expect the checklist to be returned to the IAP whenever an academy submits a nomination to us.

Individual Statement
Finally, we also intend to request prospective panel members to sign a simple statement essentially saying there are no unacceptable conflicts of interest. This statement will not address bias as we consider this too subjective for the IAP to judge.

Masresha Fetene                                                               Peggy Hamburg
IAC Co-President                                                               IAC Co-President

October 2024



Checklist to be used in nominating candidates for IAP study panels

  1. Does the candidate hold any position in an organization that may profit financially or otherwise from conclusions and recommendations that may emerge from the study panel?
  2. Does the candidate have any position through which the candidate may profit financially or otherwise from conclusions and recommendations that may emerge from the study panel?
  3. Did the candidate ever take a position on any particular issue relevant to the study that raises questions in regard of their ability to accept and respect different views?
  4. Have there ever been allegations that the candidate did not meet the standards that are expected from a professional scientist, health expert or engineer of good standing, including those laid out in the IAP Code of Conduct?


For further information on these questions or on this memorandum in general, please contact the IAP Secretariat:

Either in Trieste, Italy: iap@twas.org

Or Washington, DC, USA: secretariat@iapartnership.org