The panel discussion focuses on the implementation of NSPM-33 research security program requirements across several major research universities, addressing both practical considerations and unique institutional perspectives. NSPM-33 mandates, initially applicable to institutions receiving over $50 million in federal science and engineering funds, include appointing a research security point of contact, program documentation, institutional certification, and comprehensive training and compliance processes within a year of formal standards issuance. The outlined requirements span core areas such as cybersecurity, foreign travel security, export controls, and research security training.
Each represented university—University of Pittsburgh, Brown University, Washington State University, and the University of Chicago—shared its approach to compliance, illustrating both challenges and strategies in institutional adaptation. Pittsburgh highlighted complexities in applying federal cybersecurity standards to fundamental research and the need for flexibility, alongside well-defined export controls and foreign travel protocols. Brown University emphasized a longstanding commitment to openness in research, with its governance reviewing existing compliance and identifying further educational and resource needs. Washington State University detailed a phased, consultative approach, involving multiple campus offices to navigate disclosure, documentation, and training requirements, all under principles of openness and international collaboration. The University of Chicago underscored the need to expand cybersecurity and training efforts in a traditionally decentralized environment, with specific attention to significant process and cultural shifts, particularly regarding international travel oversight. Collectively, the discussion reveals that while institutions are broadly aligned with the principles of research security, challenges remain in interpreting vague requirements, balancing openness with compliance, securing appropriate resources, and driving organizational change to meet federal mandates.
