ExoPAG 32

Whereas NASA Science Mission Directorate policy document SPD-41a states that “It is SMD’s intent to require openly shared data, with no period of exclusive access to the data, in a future version of this policy.”,
We find that among the community of exoplanet astronomers present at the ExoPAG 31 meeting, the negative aspects of a move toward zero proprietary period were seen to outweigh the positive aspects. This conclusion is apparent in the attached word cloud depicting the 158 collected responses to the question “When you think of a move toward a zero proprietary period, what 3 words come first to mind?”. Free response survey descriptions of the outcomes of subsequent small group discussions on this topic demonstrated several common themes, all of which were negative in tone. Ten of the fourteen groups of 3-6 astronomers (71%) reported that their group anticipated decreased quality of scientific results due to “rushing” and/or an increase in the incidence of “scooping” as a result of the policy change. Among these responses, the policy change was seen as likely to disproportionately impact early career scientists, to discourage submission of general observing proposals, and to disincentivize mission development. 64% of respondents to the post-discussion survey “Agreed” or “Strongly Agreed” with the statement “NASA moving to a zero proprietary period would affect me or my students negatively”, while only 17% chose “Disagree” or “Strongly Disagree”. The most common suggestion for amendment to NASA’s new proprietary period policy was that the agency consider implementing a zero proprietary period only for survey proposals and missions, and retain an exclusive access period for general observing proposals. These results are based on exoplanet astronomers’ opinions and concerns about reduced proprietary periods, and are largely anecdotal. A report that compiles (a) the opinions of past, current, and future mission designers on this issue, and (b) information about how the career stage and type of institution has varied among scientists publishing high-impact results from NASA’s previous missions (which have varied somewhat in their exclusive access policies) will be important for making more robust predictions as to the impacts of this policy.