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What’s Ahead
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| (Image credit - ARPA-E) |
ARPA-E Convenes Energy Innovation Summit
Energy researchers and industry experts will descend on National Harbor, Maryland this week for the eighth annual Energy Innovation Summit organized by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy. Among the many speakers are Acting ARPA-E Director Eric Rohlfing, Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), and MIT President Rafael Reif. The full agenda is available here.
ARPA-E’s mission is to accelerate the transfer of cutting-edge energy technologies from lab to market. Although ARPA-E has bipartisan support in Congress, some groups have recently proposed eliminating the near-$300 million agency as a cost-saving measure. For example, the Republican Study Committee endorsed this action in its fiscal year 2017 budget blueprint.
Cuts to Non-Defense Spending Coming in Budget Proposal
On Monday, the White House reportedly will send preliminary spending targets to federal agencies as the first major step in developing the administration’s first budget proposal. These instructions aim to boost defense spending and significantly decrease non-defense discretionary spending.
Last week, the administration said it plans to submit a budget blueprint to Congress on or near March 13. Mick Mulvaney, the recently confirmed White House budget director, will be in charge of coordinating development of these and subsequent budgets. For background on Mulvaney’s fiscal views and his voting history on science funding, see FYI #22.
House to Vote on Senate-Passed NASA Transition Bill?
Last week, House leadership indicated the House would vote Monday on the “NASA Transition Authorization Act,” a measure that aims to ensure programmatic stability through the change in administration and would set funding targets for each of NASA’s mission directorates for fiscal year 2017. However, the bill is no longer listed on the House’s schedule for Monday. The Senate approved the bill by unanimous consent on Feb. 17. The White House has not yet indicated its position on the legislation.
Senate Votes on Commerce, Interior, and Energy Secretaries Imminent
On Monday, the Senate will vote on the nomination of Wilbur Ross to be secretary of commerce and proceed to consideration of the nomination of Ryan Zinke to be secretary of the interior. The Senate may also vote this week on the nomination of Rick Perry to be secretary of energy. All three nominees are expected to be confirmed.
Science Appropriations Subcommittees to Hear Members’ Priorities
Various House Appropriations Subcommittees are meeting this week to hear testimony from members of Congress on their priorities for the year. Three subcommittees that have considerable influence over federal R&D funding are meeting this week. Selected agencies within their jurisdictions are listed in parentheses.
- 10:30 am Tuesday: Commerce-Justice-Science (NASA, NSF, NOAA, NIST)
- 1:30 pm Tuesday: Interior-Environment (USGS)
- 10:00 am Wednesday: Labor-HHS-Education (NIH)
The subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Department of Energy is holding its “Members’ Day” meeting on March 8. The full list of these meetings is available here.
National Academies Hosts Forum on ‘Mistrust of Science’
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Government–University–Industry Research Roundtable of the National Academies is convening a meeting to “consider the trends in public opinion of science, and examine potential sources of mistrust both internal and external to the science community.” Several prominent science communicators and policy scholars are among the speakers.
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In Case You Missed It National Science Board Holds First Meeting of New Administration
The governing board of the National Science Foundation, the 24-member National Science Board, held its first meeting of the Trump administration last week. Videos of the event’s open sessions are available here and the presentations are posted here. Among the many subjects discussed were implementation of the recently enacted American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, outreach with Congress and the new administration, a potential new initiative focused on assessing the “blue collar STEM” workforce, and an update on two of NSF’s ten “big ideas.” Commenting on the big ideas in the context of the new administration, NSB Chair Maria Zuber remarked,
DOE and Basic Energy Sciences Committee in Transition
On Feb. 24 and 25, the Department of Energy’s Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee met in Rockville, Md. The meeting was the last under the chairmanship of chemist John Hemminger, who has led the committee since 2003. Physicist Persis Drell is slated to take over committee leadership in April. At the meeting, Steve Binkley, acting director of the DOE Office of Science, reported the department has been in a “holding pattern,” awaiting Rick Perry’s confirmation as secretary of energy. Presentations from the meeting will be posted here.
Science Committee Chair Outlines Oversight Priorities for NSF
In a Feb. 22 op-ed in USA Today, House Science Committee Chair Lamar Smith (R-TX) argued that further reforms of the National Science Foundation’s grantmaking process are needed to maintain U.S. leadership in science. Smith said that despite the recent enactment of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, NSF must do more to focus funding on research relevant to national priorities and to increase public trust in science given the growing concerns about research reproducibility. He concludes,
Several Science Organizations Endorse Science March
On Feb. 23, the planners of the April 22 “March for Science” announced an initial set of organizations that are formally supporting the march. Among the scientific societies identified as partners are the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Sigma Xi, the Entomological Society of America, the American Geophysical Union, and the Consortium of Social Science Associations.
‘Future Postponed 2.0’ Report Released
At a Feb. 22 event, the MIT Washington Office unveiled a new report that aims to articulate the value of investment in basic research by spotlighting various promising research areas. Maria Zuber, chair of the National Science Board and a vice president for research at MIT, spoke at the launch event and highlighted the report in an op-ed in The Hill. Among the sections focused on the physical sciences are case studies on research opportunities in the areas of dark matter detection, cosmic microwave background radiation characterization, neutrino searches, Arctic observation systems, and next-generation adaptive optics.
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Events This Week
Monday, Feb. 27 ARPA-E: Energy Innovation Summit (continues through Wednesday)
Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center (National Harbor, MD)
House: Members’ Day
10:30 am, Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee (H-309 Capitol Building)
House: Members’ Day
1:30 pm, Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee (2007 Rayburn Office Building)
National Academies: “Examining the Mistrust of Science” (continues Wednesday)
Tue., 4:00 – 8:30 pm; Wed., 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
National Academy of Sciences (2101 Constitution Ave. NW, DC)
Congress: President Trump Addresses Joint Session of Congress
9:00 pm
House: Members’ Day
10:30 am, Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations Subcommittee (2358-C Rayburn Office Building)
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Opportunities NASA Seeking Nominations for Science Advisory Committees
NASA has issued its annual invitation to nominate U.S. citizens to serve on its science advisory committees. The four committees advise NASA’s astrophysics, earth science, heliophysics, and planetary science divisions, respectively. Nominations are due by March 8 and self-nominations are permitted.
Nominations Requested for USGCRP Advisory Committee
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are seeking nominations for individuals to serve on the Committee to Advise the U.S. Global Change Research Program. Committee members typically serve three-year terms, and participate in semiannual meetings, provide strategic advice and reviews, and support climate communication activities across the Academies. Nominations are due by March 15.
APS Forum on Physics and Society Welcomes Contributions
Physics and Society, a quarterly newsletter of the American Physical Society’s Forum on Physics and Society, welcomes contributions on “the relations of physics and the physics community to government and society.” Submissions must be received by mid-March to be included in the April edition.
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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