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What’s Ahead
National Science Board Convening Midweek
The National Science Board, which is the 25-member governing body for the National Science Foundation, is meeting Wednesday and Thursday at NSF’s headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. On the agenda is discussion of strategy and deliverables for the board’s Skilled Technical Workforce Task Force, which is examining opportunities and challenges for workers who have high school diplomas or two-year technical degrees and use STEM knowledge in their careers. The board will reflect on the task force’s recent listening session at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan. In closed session, the board will consider a number of facilities-related items, including the potential for using the Major Research and Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) account to fund upgrades of the CMS and ATLAS particle detectors at the Large Hadron Collider in Europe. Members will also elect the next board chair and vice chair, and selections will likley be announced by Friday.
National Academies Exploring Strategic Futures for NASA
On Tuesday, the Space Studies Board (SSB) of the National Academies is meeting in joint open session with the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board in Washington, D.C. The boards have organized a focus session on the strategic direction of NASA, inviting White House and congressional staffers to discuss their perspectives on the subject. The SSB meeting will continue through Thursday, during which it will receive status updates from the entire NASA Science Mission Directorate leadership team and representatives of selected decadal survey priority missions. The board will also discuss the National Science Foundation’s geospace research portfolio and hear agency responses to the recently released decadal survey on Earth science and applications from space. The event will not be webcast, but some presentations will be posted online.
NIST Launching Physical Measurement Lab Assessment
A committee appointed by the National Academies to review the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) is holding its first meeting this week in Boulder, Colorado. The panel is reviewing four of PML’s nine divisions: Applied Physics, Time and Frequency, Quantum Electromagnetics, and Quantum Physics. During the meeting, which will not be webcast, NIST Director Walter Copan and PML Director James Olthoff will deliver opening remarks, and the panel will hear presentations on three top lab priorities: quantum standards, “NIST-on-a-chip,” and quantum information. The National Academies assesses NIST labs on a rolling basis. The previous PML review was completed in 2016.
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In Case You Missed It
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| Flanked by the primary congressional sponsors of the “HONEST EPA Act,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced a proposed rule titled “Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science” at an April 24 press conference. (Image credit - EPA) |
EPA Science Rule Stirs Controversy
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt issued a proposed rule last week that would require certain data and models underlying the agency’s regulatory decisions to be made “publicly available in a manner sufficient for independent validation.” EPA says the proposed rule, which is now open for public comment for 30 days, is necessary to ensure the “ best available science” is being used to justify agency regulations and to enhance the “ transparency and validity” of that science. A press release describing the proposal also asserts that it is “in line with the scientific community’s moves toward increased data sharing to address the ‘replication crisis’ — a growing recognition that a significant proportion of published research may not be reproducible.”
A number of scientific societies, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Chemical Society, and the American Geophysical Union, have issued statements expressing concern that the proposed requirements would unduly limit EPA’s ability to use science and greatly increase the costs of doing so. Meanwhile, industry groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Chemistry Council have welcomed the move as an important transparency measure. Congressional reactions have split along party lines. House Science Committee Chair Lamar Smith (R-TX) praised the proposal for implementing principles of his “HONEST EPA Act,” while Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) slammed it as being part of an “insidious plan” to hamstring the agency’s ability to protect public health.
House Defense Policy Bill Continues Innovation Reforms
Last week, six subcommittees of the House Armed Services Committee approved their sections of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said she is pleased the bill maintains a focus on emerging technologies, highlighting how it would create an “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Policy and Oversight Council” and extend a special prototyping authority for directed energy weapons. Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chair Mike Rogers (R-AL) highlighted how the bill supports “broader reform efforts as manifest in the new under secretary of defense for research and engineering,” giving the position additional authorities and taskings. The text and summaries of their respective sections of the bill are available here and here. The full committee is scheduled to debate the package on May 9.
Defense Science Board Asked to Anticipate ‘Strategic Surprise’
On April 20, Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin directed the Defense Science Board to establish a “technology strategy” task force to inform the Department of Defense about opportunities and threats posed by 10 priority technology areas, ranging from hypersonic missiles and directed energy weapons to quantum science and artificial intelligence. On the same day, Griffin also tasked the board with conducting a “strategic surprise” study that assesses what emerging technical capabilities “will lead to U.S. regrets in 2028” if DOD does not adequately prepare for them. In recent congressional testimony, Griffin discussed his views on a number of these technologies, saying, for instance, that he is concerned the U.S. is not doing enough to leverage its advantage in directed energy capabilities.
Top Scientists Urge ‘Restoration of Science-Based Policy’
On the eve of the National Academy of Sciences’ annual meeting, over 300 of its members from a wide range of disciplines signed onto a statement calling for a “ restoration of science-based policy in government.” They warn of harms posed by human-induced climate change and argue that President Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement is “symptomatic” of the administration’s broader “denigration of scientific expertise and harassment of scientists.” Beyond calling on the administration to rejoin the Paris Agreement, they urge the federal government to “maintain scientific content on publicly accessible websites, to appoint qualified personnel to positions requiring scientific expertise, [and] to cease censorship and intimidation of government scientists.” The Academy itself has not endorsed or promoted the statement. NAS President Marcia McNutt did not discuss it during her annual address to members delivered this morning, but she did address the administration’s pace of appointments to science leadership positions. She said that although the administration got off to an historically slow start in making scientific appointments, the pace has since picked up and she is “even hopeful that we can have an announcement of the president’s science advisor within the coming weeks.”
AMS Washington Forum Highlights Innovation in US Weather Enterprise
The American Meteorological Society’s Washington Forum, held last week in downtown D.C., brought together leaders from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, academia, and industry to highlight collaboration across the three sectors of the U.S. weather enterprise. Acting NOAA Administrator Timothy Gallaudet spoke about innovations in science and technology that are helping NOAA better achieve its mission to protect lives and property in the face of severe weather. He celebrated that NOAA made the most accurate forecasts of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season in the agency’s history and that the National Hurricane Center successfully debuted its storm surge watch and warning system last year. Over the next few years, he said, NOAA will utilize private-public partnerships as it invests in alternative approaches to observing the oceans and atmosphere, such as CubeSats and unmanned vehicles. Neil Jacobs, the head of NOAA’s environmental prediction and observations programs, outlined his plan for the U.S. to regain the world lead in weather forecasting overall. Also at the forum, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research President Tony Busalacchi discussed research efforts underway to enable accurate weather prediction beyond two weeks and into subseasonal-to-seasonal timescales.
NOAA Unmanned Observing Systems Bill Clears Commerce Committee
Last week, the Senate Commerce Committee approved the bipartisan “Commercial Engagement Through Ocean Technology Act of 2018,” which seeks to advance the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s use of unmanned oceans observing systems. The bill would direct NOAA to establish a program to coordinate assessment, acquisition, and use of unmanned maritime systems across the federal, academic, and private sectors. It would also direct NOAA to make data collected by unmanned maritime systems publicly available through existing infrastructure, such as the Integrated Ocean Observing System. A companion bill has also been introduced in the House. NOAA is already partnering with the private company Saildrone to deploy a fleet of unmanned sailing drones to measure oceanic and atmospheric variables over the open ocean.
Space Weather ‘Swim Lanes’ a Focus of House Hearing
Better delineating the respective roles of federal agencies, academia, and the private sector in space weather observations and forecasting was a focus of a hearing held by the House Science Committee on April 26. Kent Tobiska, president of a space weather technology company, argued that a process to determine “swim lanes” should be implemented, “rather than we all being in a swimming pool right now splashing each other.” He suggested that the American Meteorological Society, an AIP Member Society, could serve as a neutral arbiter, as it has done during previous times of tension between the sectors. Republican committee leaders stressed the need to better leverage private sector capabilities, while Democratic leaders stressed the need for more basic research and called for the House to take up the “Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act,” which the Senate has passed. Neil Jacobs, the top observation and forecasting official at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric and Administration, said the recently released request for input on an update to the National Space Weather Strategy will help the agency better understand current private sector capabilities and identify opportunities to expand collaboration.
DOE Signs Nuclear Cooperation Agreement During France State Visit
Energy Secretary Rick Perry signed two statements of intent with the head of France’s Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) last week to enhance R&D collaboration on fast neutron sodium-cooled nuclear reactor technologies and artificial intelligence. Perry said the agreement “demonstrates the shared commitment of France and the United States to nuclear power as an affordable, safe, and secure source of clean energy.” The signing occurred during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit with President Trump. In a speech to a joint session of Congress, Macron said that despite “short-term disagreements” between the U.S. and France on environmental issues, the countries must work together to “make our planet great again” as there is “no planet B,” predicting that the U.S. would eventually re-enter the Paris Climate Agreement.
House Democrats Call for Doubling Science Spending
Science features prominently in an economic policy agenda released last week by House Democrats. Among the platform planks are doubling public spending on “scientific achievement” and pre-K- through 12 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education over five years, expanding the R&D tax credit, and resurrecting the Office of Technology Assessment to advise Congress on S&T issues. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said the document represents a vision for how to “secure America’s position as the unrivaled technological superpower of the future, while investing in our workers to ensure that all share in the benefits of our national progress.”
Foster Introduces Energy Storage Bill, Resolution to Revive Office of Technology Assessment
On April 25, Reps. Bill Foster (D-IL) and Steven Knight (R-CA) introduced a bill that aims to support Department of Energy research on energy storage technologies capable of transforming the national electric grid. Modeled off of DOE’s Sunshot Initiative, which set aggressive targets to lower the cost of solar energy, the “Better Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act” would authorize $45 million to support three public-private demonstration projects to assess the commercial viability of energy storage technologies. It would also direct DOE to establish “moonshot” goals for improved capacity and decreased costs for grid-scale storage. Foster also reintroduced a resolution on April 26 to reestablish the Office of Technology Assessment, a legislative support agency that provided policy advice to Congress on S&T issues from 1974 to 1995. His efforts follow in the footsteps of another physicist-turned-politician, former Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), who repeatedly tried to revive OTA.
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Events This Week
Monday, April 30 National Academy of Sciences: 155th Annual Meeting (continues Tuesday)
National Academy of Sciences (2101 Constitution Ave. NW, DC)
Webcast available for some sessions
Consortium of Social Science Associations: Science Policy Conference (continues Tuesday)
20 F Street NW Conference Center (Washington, DC)
National Academies: Space Studies Board meeting (continues through Thursday)
Open sessions: 9:15 am - 5:30 pm, Tue; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Wed; 8:00 - 11:10 am, Thu
Keck Center (500 5th St. NW, DC)
Wednesday, May 2 NSF: National Science Board meeting (continues Thursday)
Open sessions: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm, Wed; 8:30 - 10:00 am and 1:00 - 1:45 pm, Thu
NSF Headquarters (Alexandria, VA)
Webcast available
Engaging Scientists and Engineers in Policy: Science Policy Happy Hour
5:30 - 7:30 pm, Elephant and Castle (900 19th St. NW, DC)
Acoustical Society of America: 175th Annual Meeting (continues through Friday)
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis (Minneapolis, MN)
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Opportunities Science Committee Democrats Seeking Energy Staffer
The House Science Committee Democratic minority is accepting applications for a professional staff position focused on Department of Energy R&D. Position duties include researching and drafting legislation, conducting outreach to stakeholder groups, preparing briefing materials for committee members, among other responsibilities. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree and experience with DOE energy R&D activities or energy policy are encouraged to apply by email to SciResumes@mail.house.gov.
National Weather Service Seeking Input on Space Weather Strategy Update
The National Weather Service, on behalf of the National Science and Technology Council, is seeking public input for an update to the National Space Weather Strategy in development. First issued in 2015, the plan identifies goals and guiding principles for enhancing interagency coordination of space weather research, forecasting, and preparedness efforts. Specific feedback is requested on a number of topics, including priorities for federal investments needed to advance the transition of space weather models and observations from research to operations as well as opportunities to enhance private sector involvement. Submissions are due by May 16.
Know of an upcoming science policy opportunity? Email us at fyi@aip.org.Know of an upcoming science policy event? Email us at fyi@aip.org.
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