The beta site for a national digital library for ethics in science and engineering is designed to benefit the national and international scientific and engineering research communities. In April 2009, the National Science Foundation's Office of Integrative Research sponsored a project at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to advance development of an Ethics in Science and Engineering National Clearinghouse (SES 0936857). The Ethics in Science and Engineering National Clearinghouse (ESENCe) uses state-of-the-art digital tools to preserve and widely disseminate a variety of materials on ethics and the responsible conduct of research in science and engineering disciplines. The project is a direct response to the America COMPETES Act, which, beginning January 4, 2010, will require "that each institution that applies for financial assistance from the Foundation for science and engineering research or education describe in its grant proposal a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers participating in the proposed research project" (Section 7009) and "that all grant applications that include funding to support postdoctoral researchers include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals" (Section 7008).