Today, Jarret Cummings at EDUCAUSE published a really excellent concise update "Cautious Optimism on OSTP Research Cybersecurity Requirements" discussing the final version of the requirements for research security programs issued by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the relationship between these requirements and other federal cybersecurity frameworks. See

Last week, the US National Academies issued a report "International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment" and held a report release webinar. The report can be downloaded at

International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment

The U.S. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce plays a vital role in fostering and sustaining innovation, economic competitiveness, and national security. This workforce currently depends, and for the foreseeable future will depend, on both international and domestic talent. Foreign STEM talent contributes to domestic innovation, economic growth, and U.S. leadership in science and technology and also expands perspectives and networks essential to future scientific co...

A recording of the report release webinar is available at

International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment

The public release of the International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment consensus study report was held on August 29, 2024, 3:00-4:00 PM ET. The report reviews foreign and domestic talent or incentive programs and recommends ways to improve the effectiveness of U.S. mechanisms for attracting and retaining the best and brightest scholars, relative to programs and incentives used by the U.S.'s strategic competitors. Members of the consensus study committee provided an overview o...

This is an interesting consensus study, which looks broadly at international dimensions of STEM workforce issues as well as the specifics of so-called "talent programs" and the national security concerns related to them.

In addition, on September 16-17, 2024, the National Academies is hosting a meeting "Assessing Research Security Efforts in Higher Education" which will take place both in person and virtually; for details and to register, see

Assessing Research Security Efforts in Higher Education: Experts Meeting and Workshop Series

This initial meeting of experts informed a May 2025 workshop explored potential avenues, challenges, and opportunities to assess the effectiveness and progress of current and potential U.S. federal government research security efforts in higher education.

Clifford Lynch Director, CNI