What’s Ahead

The Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River in Arizona. Water behind the dam has neared critically low levels, threatening its ability to generate electricity. (Image credit – U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)

Senate Hearing Looks to Future of US Hydropower

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is holding its first hearing of the new year on Tuesday, examining the present and future of U.S. hydropower capacity and opportunities to expand pumped-storage hydropower. The witness panel will feature the acting head of the Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office and three representatives of hydropower producers, including the new head of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. DOE has asked Congress to more than double the budget for its hydropower technologies program in the current fiscal year, in part to demonstrate technologies for retrofitting non-powered dams to generate power and to “dramatically” expand analysis of hydrologic and climate change impacts on hydropower. This past year, U.S. hydropower production declined primarily due to drought conditions in the West, but long-term changes in precipitation trends due to climate change are apt to be variable over time and across regions. The SECURE Water Act of 2009 requires DOE to report to Congress every five years on the past and potential effects of climate change on water availability for hydropower generation; the last such report was submitted five years ago this month.

National Climate Assessment Begins Public Workshop Series

On Tuesday, the interagency group responsible for coordinating the quadrennial National Climate Assessment is beginning a series of 31 public engagement workshops organized around chapter topics for the fifth NCA, due for publication in 2023. The series spans two months, and the five workshops this week will respectively focus on human social systems, ecosystems, energy resources, the built environment, and Alaska. The NCA team is also accepting input on annotated outlines for each of the 31 chapters. In a press release on the series, NCA Director Allison Crimmins emphasized the importance of public feedback, stating, “By incorporating input from diverse voices across the country, we can develop a National Climate Assessment that is accessible and relevant to everyone.”

OSTP Gathering Perspectives on Addressing Orbital Debris

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is holding a listening session on Thursday to gather public input on orbital debris remediation, with a separate session on debris mitigation to follow next week. The events will inform efforts to develop an interagency implementation plan for the National Orbital Debris R&D Plan released last January. This week’s session is primarily intended for companies interested in developing debris remediation services, their potential customers, and researchers performing pre-competitive R&D on debris remediation. OSTP hopes to obtain viewpoints on what the expected costs and timelines for developing such services are, what the government can do to incentivize the development of remediation capabilities, and what roles the government, private sector, and academia should play in general. Separately, on Wednesday and Thursday a conference on space disposal and debris mitigation will be convened by the LRA Institute, a training company that serves the aerospace sector. NASA Chief Scientist for Orbital Debris Jer-Chyi Liou will deliver a keynote address.

Decadal Survey on Space-Borne Research Shifts Into Gear

The physical sciences panel of the National Academies’ decadal survey committee for biological and physical sciences in space is holding its first meeting on Wednesday. The decadal survey kicked off last year and will primarily focus on recommending priorities for research conducted in microgravity environments, such as aboard the International Space Station. Last month, the Academies announced the members of the survey’s panel on biological sciences and panel on physical sciences, the latter of which is chaired by Caltech aeronautics professor Beverley McKeon and Arizona State University materials science professor Alexandra Navrotsky. A panel on the “engineering and science interface,” whose members have not yet been announced, will assess the “technical needs, risks, and costs of large research projects and campaigns” proposed by the other two panels.

Former NOAA Leaders to Pitch Weather-Sector Partnerships

On Wednesday, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute is hosting an event on how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration could further employ public-private partnerships to advance weather forecasting innovation. Among the speakers is Kathryn Sullivan, a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and former NOAA administrator; Tim Gallaudet, former NOAA deputy administrator and former chief oceanographer of the Navy; and Marshall Shepherd, director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program at the University of Georgia. The three published an article last month calling for a “doubling down on efforts to improve forecasts and early warnings” in the face of increasing extreme weather events. They also recommended legislative changes to expand private-sector involvement in the weather enterprise, including by expanding NOAA’s use of commercial weather data and flexible procurement authorities.

ITIF Presses Case for Tailored Industrial Policy

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation is hosting an event on Tuesday to explore possibilities for a “national strategic-industry policy.” In a new report, ITIF President Robert Atkinson argues that for the U.S. to remain globally competitive, it should tailor its economic policies to ensure adequate production and innovation capacity in strategically important industries, especially “technologically sophisticated dual-use industries” such as advanced materials, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, and aerospace. Atkinson will moderate the event on Tuesday, which will include a keynote address by Sree Ramaswamy, a senior policy advisor at the Department of Commerce. There will also be a discussion panel featuring Defense Innovation Unit Director Michael Brown, Carnegie Mellon University professor Erica Fuchs, and Brad Markell, executive director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council.

In Case You Missed It

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Eric Lander speaks in November at an event held by the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. (Image credit – NSCAI)

White House Issues Guidance on Scientist Disclosure Policy

The White House released long-anticipated guidance for federal agencies last week that aims to standardize their implementation of research security policies, including what categories of information scientists will be required to report when applying for grants. The guidance document focuses on harmonizing disclosure policies and enforcement procedures, promoting the use of digital persistent identifiers to simplify disclosure, and outlining protocols for sharing information across agencies concerning known and suspected violators. It also elaborates on an impending requirement that research organizations receiving more than $50 million annually in federal R&D funds must maintain a “research security program” covering subjects such as cybersecurity, export controls, and insider threat awareness.

The guidance was developed at the direction of White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Eric Lander, who called for it to address risks posed by researchers’ connections to certain foreign governments while also ensuring such efforts do not stoke discrimination and xenophobia. In a foreword to the document, Lander states that he has instructed agencies to develop “model grant application forms” within 120 days and that OSTP will produce follow-on guidance for agencies on how to use information that is disclosed to them. Reacting to the document, Association of American Universities President Barbara Snyder stated it “strikes an encouraging tone.” The Council on Governmental Relations, an association that represents universities, has published a detailed analysis of the guidance and how it differs from current agency practices.

Interagency Group Weighs In on Low-Dose Radiation Research

The White House released a report last week that suggests new directions for research on the health effects of low doses of ionizing radiation. The report identifies opportunities to employ larger data sets in epidemiological studies of cancer risk and to develop enhanced models of radiation effects, which it notes would have implications for radiation-protection regulations. It also suggests federal agencies work to establish a shared repository for radiation-biology datasets. The report was produced by the Physical Sciences Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council, an interagency coordination body, in response to a 2017 law. The subcommittee recommends that NSTC consider establishing an interagency group dedicated to radiation research, citing the past example of the Committee on Interagency Radiation Research and Policy Coordination created in 1984. Through separate legislation, Congress has directed the Department of Energy to reestablish a low-dose radiation research program, but so far DOE has been reluctant to move ahead decisively. A congressionally mandated strategy for federally supported research in the field is currently under development by the National Academies.

Webb Team Completes Deployment, Eyes 20 Years of Science

The James Webb Space Telescope completed its deployment on Jan. 8 when the unfolded wings of its primary mirror were latched into place. There are still about two weeks remaining before the telescope reaches its final orbit, during which time the mission team will begin moving individual segments of the primary mirror in anticipation of the telescope’s five-month commissioning process. After the deployment milestone, the team’s mission systems engineer, Mike Menzel, said that the amount of fuel remaining following the telescope’s launch may be enough to support up to 20 years of science operations, twice what a conservative pre-launch estimate anticipated. Congratulating the mission team, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson reflected that severe setbacks surrounding the flagship telescope’s cost and schedule a decade ago had put the project in danger of cancellation by Congress, and he credited former Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) for her advocacy in favor of seeing the effort through.

Events This Week

All times are Eastern Standard Time, unless otherwise noted. Listings do not imply endorsement.

Monday, January 10

FDP: Federal Demonstration Partnership meeting
(continues through Thursday)

NASA: Exoplanet Exploration Program Advisory Group meeting
(continues through Wednesday)

National Academies: Board on Science Education meeting
(continues Tuesday)

Atlantic Council: “A Conversation with Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger”
10:00 - 10:45 am

National Academies: “Technical Assessment of the Capital Facility Needs of NIST,” kickoff meeting
Closed to the public

Tuesday, January 11

USGCRP: Public engagement workshops for the 5th National Climate Assessment
(continues through Feb. 15)

National Academies: “Carbon Utilization Infrastructure, Markets, Research and Development,” kickoff meeting
(continues Wednesday)

Senate: Hearing on opportunities and challenges for hydropower
10:00 am, Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Senate: “Addressing New Variants: A Federal Perspective on the COVID-19 Response”
10:00 am, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

ITIF: “What a National Strategic-Industry Policy Should Look Like”
10:00 - 11:30 am

Resource for the Future: “Exploring Big Decisions in Climate, Energy, and the Environment in 2022”
10:30 am - 12:00 pm

National Academies: “Workshop on Technology Developments to Advance Antarctic Research”
2:00 - 3:00 pm

American Astronomical Society: NASA Astrophysics Division Town Hall
2:45 pm

Wednesday, January 12

LRA Institute: 2022 Space Disposal and Debris Mitigation Conference
(continues Thursday)

DOE: “Workshop on Semiconductor R&D for Energy Manufacturing”
(continues Thursday)

Senate: Meeting to advance the nomination of Robert Califf to be FDA commissioner
10:00 am, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

American Astronomical Society: NSF Astronomical Sciences Division Town Hall
11:00 am

National Academies: “Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences Research in Space,” kickoff meeting for Physical and Biological Sciences Panels
11:00 am - 5:30 pm

EESI: “Innovation as Climate Action: Advances in Weather Forecasting”
11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Hudson Institute: “China’s Coercive Missile Strategy and the U.S. Response”
12:00 - 1:00 pm

NASA: Cosmic Origins Program Analysis Group meeting
12:00 - 1:30 pm

CSIS: “Emerging Technologies and Long-Range Strike: A Conversation with LTG Neil Thurgood”
2:00 - 3:15 pm

Senate: Meeting to readvance the nomination of Christopher Frey to lead EPA’s Office of Research and Development
2:45 pm, Environment and Public Works Committee

National Academies: “Safe Passage for Scientists: Exiting Afghanistan”
4:00 - 5:00 pm

Thursday, January 13

Senate: Hearing on the nomination of John Plumb to be assistant secretary of defense for space policy
9:30 am, Armed Services Committee

ITIF: “Rejuvenating Global Energy Innovation to Deliver on Glasgow”
10:00 - 11:00 am

UC San Diego: “Twists and Turns of the DOJ’s China Initiative”
1:00 pm PST

OSTP: “Orbital Debris R&D Interagency Working Group Listening Session”
1:00 - 3:00 pm

Wilson Center: “Walking the Walk After the New U.S.-China Climate Declaration”
3:30 - 4:00 pm

MITRE: “Monitoring Water, Air, and Earth — Remote Sensing in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”
4:00 - 5:30 pm

National Academies: “Review of FCC Order 20-48 Authorizing Operation of a Terrestrial Radio Network Near the GPS Frequency Bands”
5:15 - 6:45 pm

Friday, January 14

Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies: “Maneuver Warfare in Space: The Strategic Mandate for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion”
9:00 am

Atlantic Council: “Designing an Outbound Investment Screening Mechanism”
11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Opportunities

Society of Physics Students Hiring Science Policy Interns

The Society of Physics Students is seeking applications from undergraduate physics and astronomy students for its summer science policy internship program sponsored by AIP. The Mather Public Policy Internship places one student at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and works to place two students in congressional offices. SPS also places a student with FYI to assist with science policy reporting. Applications are due Jan. 17.

Research!America Seeking Science Communication Intern

Research!America, a biomedical science advocacy organization, is accepting applications for its paid science communication internship program. Preferred candidates are graduate students or postdoctoral scientists in a science, health, or related degree field. Applications are due Jan. 14.

Rutgers Science Policy Fellowship Application Open

The Eagleton Science and Politics Initiative at Rutgers University is accepting applications for its one-year policy fellowship that places scientists and engineers in legislative and executive branch offices in New Jersey. The aim of the program is to provide participating offices with “ready access to trusted in-house science advisors,” while building the fellows’ understanding of state government. Candidates must have a doctoral-level degree in a STEM field, and applications are due Feb. 18.

For additional opportunities, please visit www.aip.org/fyi/opportunities. Know of an opportunity for scientists to engage in science policy? Email us at fyi@aip.org.

Know of an upcoming science policy event either inside or outside the Beltway? Email us at fyi@aip.org.