Basic Information
The Office of Science Coordination and Policy (OSCP) was created in January 1999 as a third office within the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) to provide advice and leadership on cross-cutting science policy issues and emphasize quality science on emerging scientific and technical issues. We aim to assure sound scientific decisions are made regarding safe pesticide and chemical management through the leadership of the Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP). We also coordinate emerging exposure and hazard assessment topics such as endocrine disruptors and biotechnology.
OSCP supports science and advisory functions within OPPTS by:
- Making available a core group of senior science advisors with a wide range of expertise in risk assessment
- Providing a means for scientists to work on short term projects as a growth, training, or sabbatical opportunity
- Centralizing key functions such as peer review implementation, including management of the FIFRA SAP
- Increasing science outreach activities
Examples of roles and responsibilities for OSCP include:
- Leadership demonstrated through the FIFRA SAP
- Brainstorming/planning to develop EPA science policy
- Contributing to cross-governmental technical panels
- Coordinating endocrine disruptor activities, international test guideline harmonization, and research planning
- Communication through presentations to scientific groups and the public
- Reviewing science policy position papers
- Providing technical assistance to develop scientific standard operating procedures
- Mentoring staff development
- Advocating Agency-wide scientific guidelines, principles or policies
- Facilitating cross-Agency technical workgroups
- Providing staff support to the OPPTS Assistant Administrator