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15 U.S.C. § 3724 — Crowdsourcing and citizen science
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Short title** This section may be cited as the “Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act”.
**(b) Sense of Congress** It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the authority granted to Federal agencies under the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–358; 124 Stat. 3982) to pursue the use of incentive prizes and challenges has yielded numerous benefits;
(2) crowdsourcing and citizen science projects have a number of additional unique benefits, including accelerating scientific research, increasing cost effectiveness to maximize the return on taxpayer dollars, addressing societal needs, providing hands-on learning in STEM, and connecting members of the public directly to Federal science agency missions and to each other; and
(3) granting Federal science agencies the direct, explicit authority to use crowdsourcing and citizen science will encourage its appropriate use to advance Federal science agency missions and stimulate and facilitate broader public participation in the innovation process, yielding numerous benefits to the Federal Government and citizens who participate in such projects.
**(c) Definitions** In this section:
(1) **Citizen science** — The term “citizen science” means a form of open collaboration in which individuals or organizations participate voluntarily in the scientific process in various ways, including—
(A) enabling the formulation of research questions;
(B) creating and refining project design;
(C) conducting scientific experiments;
(D) collecting and analyzing data;
(E) interpreting the results of data;
(F) developing technologies and applications;
(G) making discoveries; and
(H) solving problems.
(2) **Crowdsourcing** — The term “crowdsourcing” means a method to obtain needed services, ideas, o
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Source location: Title 15, Chapter 63, § 3724; chapter-063-technology-innovation.md
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**(a) Short title** This section may be cited as the “Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act”.
**(b) Sense of Congress** It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the authority granted to Federal agencies under the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–358; 124 Stat. 3982) to pursue the use of incentive prizes and challenges has yielded numerous benefits;
(2) crowdsourcing and citizen science projects have a number of additional unique benefits, including accelerating scientific research, increasing cost effectiveness to maximize the return on taxpayer dollars, addressing societal needs, providing hands-on learning in STEM, and connecting members of the public directly to Federal science agency missions and to each other; and
(3) granting Federal science agencies the direct, explicit authority to use crowdsourcing and citizen science will encourage its appropriate use to advance Federal science agency missions and stimulate and facilitate broader public participation in the innovation process, yielding numerous benefits to the Federal Government and citizens who participate in such projects.
**(c) Definitions** In this section:
(1) **Citizen science** — The term “citizen science” means a form of open collaboration in which individuals or organizations participate voluntarily in the scientific process in various ways, including—
(A) enabling the formulation of research questions;
(B) creating and refining project design;
(C) conducting scientific experiments;
(D) collecting and analyzing data;
(E) interpreting the results of data;
(F) developing technologies and applications;
(G) making discoveries; and
(H) solving problems.
(2) **Crowdsourcing** — The term “crowdsourcing” means a method to obtain needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting voluntary contributions from a group of individuals or organizations, especially from an online community.
(3) **Participant** — The term “participant” means any individual or other entity that has volunteered in a crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this section.
**(d) Crowdsourcing and citizen science**
(1) **In general** — The head of each Federal science agency, or the heads of multiple Federal science agencies working cooperatively, may utilize crowdsourcing and citizen science to conduct projects designed to advance the mission of the respective Federal science agency or the joint mission of Federal science agencies, as applicable.
(2) **Voluntary services** — Notwithstanding [section 1342 of title 31](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section1342&num=0&edition=prelim), the head of a Federal science agency may accept, subject to regulations issued by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, services from participants under this section if such services—
(A) are performed voluntarily as a part of a crowdsourcing or citizen science project authorized under paragraph (1);
(B) are not financially compensated for their time; and
(C) will not be used to displace any employee of the Federal Government.
(3) **Outreach** — The head of each Federal science agency engaged in a crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this section shall make public and promote such project to encourage broad participation.
(4) **Consent, registration, and terms of use**
(A) *In general* — Each Federal science agency shall determine the appropriate level of consent, registration, or acknowledgment of the terms of use that are required from participants in crowdsourcing or citizen science projects under this section on a per-project basis.
(B) *Disclosures* — In seeking consent, conducting registration, or developing terms of use for a project under this subsection, a Federal science agency shall disclose the privacy, intellectual property, data ownership, compensation, service, program, and other terms of use to the participant in a clear and reasonable manner.
(C) *Mode of consent* — A Federal agency or Federal science agencies, as applicable, may obtain consent electronically or in written form from participants under this section.
(5) **Protections for human subjects** — Any crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this section that involves research involving human subjects shall be subject to part 46 of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
(6) **Data**
(A) *In general* — A Federal science agency shall, where appropriate and to the extent practicable, make data collected through a crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this section available to the public, in a machine readable format, unless prohibited by law.
(B) *Notice* — As part of the consent process, the Federal science agency shall notify all participants—
(i) of the expected uses of the data compiled through the project;
(ii) if the Federal science agency will retain ownership of such data;
(iii) if and how the data and results from the project would be made available for public or third party use; and
(iv) if participants are authorized to publish such data.
(7) **Technologies and applications** — Federal science agencies shall endeavor to make technologies, applications, code, and derivations of such intellectual property developed through a crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this section available to the public.
(8) **Liability** — Each participant in a crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this section shall agree—
(A) to assume any and all risks associated with such participation; and
(B) to waive all claims against the Federal Government and its related entities, except for claims based on willful misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits (whether direct, indirect, or consequential) arising from participation in the project.
(9) **Research misconduct** — Federal science agencies coordinating crowdsourcing or citizen science projects under this section shall make all practicable efforts to ensure that participants adhere to all relevant Federal research misconduct policies and other applicable ethics policies.
(10) **Multi-sector partnerships** — The head of each Federal science agency engaged in crowdsourcing or citizen science under this section, or the heads of multiple Federal science agencies working cooperatively, may enter into a contract or other agreement to share administrative duties for such projects with—
(A) a for profit or nonprofit private sector entity, including a private institution of higher education;
(B) a State, tribal, local, or foreign government agency, including a public institution of higher education; or
(C) a public-private partnership.
(11) **Funding** — In carrying out crowdsourcing and citizen science projects under this section, the head of a Federal science agency, or the heads of multiple Federal science agencies working cooperatively—
(A) may use funds appropriated by Congress;
(B) may publicize projects and solicit and accept funds or in-kind support for such projects, to be available to the extent provided by appropriations Acts, from—
(i) other Federal agencies;
(ii) for profit or nonprofit private sector entities, including private institutions of higher education; or
(iii) State, tribal, local, or foreign government agencies, including public institutions of higher education; and
(C) may not give any special consideration to any entity described in subparagraph (B) in return for such funds or in-kind support.
(12) **Facilitation**
(A) *General Services Administration assistance* — The Administrator of the General Services Administration, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall, at no cost to Federal science agencies, identify and develop relevant products, training, and services to facilitate the use of crowdsourcing and citizen science projects under this section, including by specifying the appropriate contract vehicles and technology and organizational platforms to enhance the ability of Federal science agencies to carry out the projects under this section.
(B) *Additional guidance* — The head of each Federal science agency engaged in crowdsourcing or citizen science under this section may—
(i) consult any guidance provided by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, including the Federal Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Toolkit;
(ii) designate a coordinator for that Federal science agency’s crowdsourcing and citizen science projects; and
(iii) share best practices with other Federal agencies, including participation of staff in the Federal Community of Practice for Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science.
**(e) Report**
(1) **In general** — Not later than 2 years after January 6, 2017, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall include, as a component of an annual 11 So in original. As amended by Pub. L. 114–329, [section 3719(p) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section3719/p&num=0&edition=prelim) requires biennial reports. report required under [section 3719(p) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section3719/p&num=0&edition=prelim), a report on the projects and activities carried out under this section.
(2) **Information included** — The report required under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A) a summary of each crowdsourcing and citizen science project conducted by a Federal science agency during the most recently completed 2 fiscal years, including a description of the proposed goals of each crowdsourcing and citizen science project;
(B) an analysis of why the utilization of a crowdsourcing or citizen science project summarized in subparagraph (A) was the preferable method of achieving the goals described in subparagraph (A) as opposed to other authorities available to the Federal science agency, such as contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and prize competitions;
(C) the participation rates, submission levels, number of consents, and any other statistic that might be considered relevant in each crowdsourcing and citizen science project;
(D) a detailed description of—
(i) the resources, including personnel and funding, that were used in the execution of each crowdsourcing and citizen science project;
(ii) the project activities for which such resources were used; and
(iii) how the obligations and expenditures relating to the project’s execution were allocated among the accounts of the Federal science agency, including a description of the amount and source of all funds, private, public, and in-kind, contributed to each crowdsourcing and citizen science project;
(E) a summary of the use of crowdsourcing and citizen science by all Federal science agencies, including interagency and multi-sector partnerships;
(F) a description of how each crowdsourcing and citizen science project advanced the mission of each participating Federal science agency;
(G) an identification of each crowdsourcing or citizen science project where data collected through such project was not made available to the public, including the reasons for such action; and
(H) any other information that the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy considers relevant.
**(f) Savings provision** Nothing in this section may be construed—
(1) to affect the authority to conduct crowdsourcing and citizen science authorized by any other provision of law; or
(2) to displace Federal Government resources allocated to the Federal science agencies that use crowdsourcing or citizen science authorized under this section to carry out a project.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
An officer or employee of the United States Government or of the District of Columbia government may not accept voluntary services for either government or employ personal services exceeding that authorized by law except for emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property. This section does not apply to a corporation getting amounts to make loans (except paid in capital amounts) without legal liability of the United States Government. As used in this section, the term “emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property” does not include ongoing, regular functions of government the suspension of which would not imminently threaten the safety of human life or the protection of property.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 31 U.S.C. § 1342
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Sense of Congress** It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) sustained, predictable Federal funding of basic research is essential to United States leadership in science and technology;
(2) the Foundation’s intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria are appropriate for evaluating grant proposals, as concluded by the 2011 National Science Board Task Force on Merit Review;
(3) evaluating proposals on the basis of the Foundation’s intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria should be used to assure that the Foundation’s activities are in the national interest as these reviews can affirm that—
(A) the proposals funded by the Foundation are of high quality and advance scientific knowledge; and
(B) the Foundation’s grants address societal needs through basic research findings or through related activities; and
(4) as evidenced by the Foundation’s contributions to scientific advancement, economic growth, human health, and national security, its peer review and merit review processes have identified and funded scientifically and societally relevant basic research and should be preserved.
**(b) Merit review criteria** The Foundation shall maintain the intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria, among other specific criteria as appropriate, as the basis for evaluating grant proposals in the merit review process.
**(c) Updates** If after January 6, 2017, a change is made to the merit-review process, the Director shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress not later than 30 days after the date of the change.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 1862s
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
There is established in the executive branch of the Government an independent agency to be known as the National Science Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the “Foundation”). The Foundation shall consist of a National Science Board (hereinafter referred to as the “Board”) and a Director.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 1861
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The Congress finds and declares that:
(1) Technology and industrial innovation are central to the economic, environmental, and social well-being of citizens of the United States.
(2) Technology and industrial innovation offer an improved standard of living, increased public and private sector productivity, creation of new industries and employment opportunities, improved public services and enhanced competitiveness of United States products in world markets.
(3) Many new discoveries and advances in science occur in universities and Federal laboratories, while the application of this new knowledge to commercial and useful public purposes depends largely upon actions by business and labor. Cooperation among academia, Federal laboratories, labor, and industry, in such forms as technology transfer, personnel exchange, joint research projects, and others, should be renewed, expanded, and strengthened.
(4) Small businesses have performed an important role in advancing industrial and technological innovation.
(5) Industrial and technological innovation in the United States may be lagging when compared to historical patterns and other industrialized nations.
(6) Increased industrial and technological innovation would reduce trade deficits, stabilize the dollar, increase productivity gains, increase employment, and stabilize prices.
(7) Government antitrust, economic, trade, patent, procurement, regulatory, research and development, and tax policies have significant impacts upon industrial innovation and development of technology, but there is insufficient knowledge of their effects in particular sectors of the economy.
(8) No comprehensive national policy exists to enhance technological innovation for commercial and public purposes. There is a need for such a policy, in
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 3701
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Definitions** In this section:
(1) **Administration** — The term “Administration” means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(2) **Administrator** — The term “Administrator” means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(3) **Earth Prediction Innovation Center** — The term “Earth Prediction Innovation Center” means the community global weather research modeling system described in paragraph (5)(E) of [section 8512(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section8512/b&num=0&edition=prelim).
(4) **Model** — The term “model” means any vetted numerical model and associated data assimilation of the Earth’s system or its components—
(A) developed, in whole or in part, by scientists and engineers employed by the Administration; or
(B) otherwise developed, in whole or in part, using Federal funds.
(5) **Open license** — The term “open license” has the same meaning given such term in [section 3502(21) of title 44](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title44-section3502/21&num=0&edition=prelim).
(6) **Operational model** — The term “operational model” means any model that has an output used by the Administration for operational functions.
(7) **Suitable model** — The term “suitable model” means a model that meets the requirements described in paragraph (5)(E)(ii) of [section 8512(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section8512/b&num=0&edition=prelim), as determined by the Administrator.
**(b) Purposes** The purposes of this section are—
(1) to support innovation in modeling by allowing interested stakeholders to have easy and comple
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 8513
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. Incoming connection: Explicit cross-reference supplied in source Markdown; currentness and applicability require review.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In general** The Secretary shall coordinate with the Director of the National Drought Mitigation Center and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to enhance the collection of data to improve the accuracy of the United States Drought Monitor.
**(b) Utilization** To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall utilize a consistent source or sources of data for programs that are based on drought or precipitation indices, such as the livestock forage disaster program established under [section 9081(c) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section9081/c&num=0&edition=prelim) or policies or plans of insurance established under the Federal Crop Insurance Act ([7 U.S.C. 1501](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section1501&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.).
**(c) Review** Not later than 1 year after December 20, 2018, the Secretary shall conduct a review of—
(1) the types of data currently utilized by the United States Drought Monitor;
(2) the geographic coverage and density of existing data collection sites; and
(3) other meteorological or climatological data that is being collected by other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and non-Federal entities that could be utilized by the United States Drought Monitor.
**(d) Improvements**
(1) **In general** — Upon the completion of the review prescribed in subsection (c), the Secretary shall—
(A) seek to expand the collection of relevant data in States or geographic areas where coverage is currently lacking as compared to other States or geographic areas; and
(B) to the maximum extent practicable, develop standards to allow the integration of meteorological or climatological data into the U
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 7 U.S.C. § 5856
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 2081
TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE
§ 3724
(A) is a nonprofit organization, an institu-
tion of higher education, a public-private
partnership, a science or research park, a
Federal laboratory, or an economic develop-
ment organization or similar entity; and
(B) has an application that is supported by
a State, a political subdivision of a State, or
a native organization; or
(5) a consortium of any of the entities de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (5).
(c) Needs assessment grants
The Secretary of Commerce may provide a
grant to an eligible recipient to conduct a needs
assessment to identify—
(1) the unmet need of a region’s employer
base for skilled STEM workers;
(2) the potential of STEM apprenticeships to
address the unmet need described in paragraph
(1); and
(3) any barriers to addressing the unmet
need described in paragraph (1).
(d) Apprenticeship expansion grants
The Secretary of Commerce may provide a
grant to an eligible recipient that has conducted
a needs assessment as described in subsection
(c)(1) to develop infrastructure to expand STEM
apprenticeship programs.
(Pub. L. 96–480, § 30, formerly § 28, as added Pub.
L. 114–329, title III, § 312(e), Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat.
3014; renumbered § 30, Pub. L. 117–167, div. B,
title VI, § 10621(a)(1), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1642.)
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
DEVELOPING STEM APPRENTICESHIPS
Pub. L. 114–329, title III, § 312(a)–(d), Jan. 6, 2017, 130
Stat. 3013, 3014, provided that:
‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings:
‘‘(1) The lack of data on the return on investment
for United States employers using registered appren-
ticeships makes it difficult—
‘‘(A) to communicate the value of these programs
to businesses; and
‘‘(B) to expand registered appren
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 15 U.S.C. § 3724
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. Same stored citation; legal effect and authority still require review.