What’s Ahead

(Image credit – CERN)

Panel to Forge Plan for European Particle Physics

A panel of senior scientists is meeting in Germany this week to hammer out a draft of the European Particle Physics Strategy Update. Due for release in May, the strategy will set a course for European efforts in the field through the mid-2020s and beyond. Given the current centrality of CERN and other major European facilities in particle physics, the update will also bear heavily on other nations’ plans, including those of the U.S. As it prepares the update, the panel will draw from a briefing book summarizing the discussions held at a major symposium last year in Spain. One of the weightiest issues to be dealt with is whether CERN should begin preparations to build the Future Circular Collider, an enormous facility that would succeed the Large Hadron Collider. Last month, a group of 50 particle physicists that includes two former directors of CERN posted a paper arguing the project should be chosen over a competing but somewhat-less-ambitious linear collider concept. According to the conceptual design report for the circular collider, planning and R&D would have to begin soon for it to start operations nearly two decades from now.

NASA Bids Goodbye to Spitzer Space Telescope

NASA is holding an event on Wednesday to mark the upcoming end of mission for the Spitzer Space Telescope, an infrared observatory that launched in 2003. One of the four telescopes in NASA’s Great Observatories program, Spitzer was supposed to cost more than $2 billion when it was first recommended in 1991 (about $4 billion in today’s dollars). However, using a pathbreaking program management approach that integrated the project design and contractor engineering teams, the telescope was radically redesigned and its price reduced by about two-thirds. Since its launch, Spitzer has been highly productive and remains functional, but the benefits of operating it have diminished in view of next year’s anticipated launch of the flagship James Webb Space Telescope, which is also an infrared observatory. Although NASA sought a private operator to take over Spitzer two years ago, that effort was unsuccessful and the agency ultimately decided it would switch the telescope off on Jan. 30 of this year.

Astronomy Panel to Discuss Satellite Interference Impacts

At its biannual in-person meeting this week, the interagency Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee will discuss efforts to mitigate optical interference from satellite “megaconstellations,” such as the in-progress SpaceX Starlink network, which aims to provide global internet service. SpaceX and astronomers have recently remarked on their surprise at the brightness of the satellites the company has already launched. The committee will hear from Pat Seitzer, an astronomy professor at the University of Michigan who is a member of a working group the American Astronomical Society has set up to discuss mitigation options with SpaceX, such as using satellites with a less reflective coating. The science team for the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (formerly the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope) has estimated that without mitigation the optical interference of the full Starlink constellation could significantly degrade observations conducted during twilight hours, which is a particularly important time for surveys of near-Earth asteroids.

EPA Science Board to Discuss Transparency Rule Review

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board is holding teleconferences this week to discuss its draft reviews of three controversial rules proposed by the agency, including one that would restrict it from using research lacking publicly available data when making regulatory decisions. The board’s review of that rule criticizes its “lack of clarity” and argues it could undermine the integrity of environmental laws by enabling selective exclusion of research. Various scientific societies and journals have likewise criticized the proposal, arguing the categorical exclusion of research papers from consideration would mean the agency would not be using the “best available scientific information” in its work. One journal, Science magazine, recently pointed to the teleconferences as “an excellent opportunity for the scientific community to mobilize.”

In Case You Missed It

US Losing Ground in Global S&E Leadership

The National Science Board released a report on the “State of U.S. Science and Engineering” last week, the centerpiece of its revamped biennial S&E Indicators. The summary observes, “Increasingly, the United States is seen globally as an important leader [in S&E] rather than the uncontested leader.” The report indicates that China’s R&D spending continued to close the gap with the U.S. through 2017, the most recent year for which figures are available. At a press briefing on Jan. 14, NSB member Julia Phillips said the board’s latest projection suggests China may have surpassed the U.S. “at some point in 2019.” She noted, though, that China’s focus has been heavily on technology development and that, in terms of spending on fundamental research, the U.S. “maintains a significant advantage.” The report also shows that most of the recent growth in U.S. R&D continues to stem from private sector expenditures on technology development, in spite of some recent growth in federal research spending.

DOE Looks for Balance in Facilities Projects and Research Security

Appearing before the House Science Committee last week, Department of Energy Office of Science Director Chris Fall stressed the importance of supporting facility renovations in parallel with its burgeoning portfolio of projects to build cutting-edge research facilities. He indicated DOE will be seeking resources in its next budget request to renew physical infrastructure across the 10 labs his office oversees, adding, “It simply would be irresponsible to build something like a new accelerator or light source on a foundation of crumbling and unreliable electricity, water, and other critical infrastructure.” He also noted the department wants to strike a balance as it implements policies that aim to prevent foreign governments from misappropriating research tied to economic or national security. He noted DOE has developed a “risk matrix” of sensitive countries and research areas to guide its decisions about whether to permit certain international collaborations. He said the matrix is “now a part of our laboratory structure” but that DOE has not yet moved to extend the framework to extramural grantees and has paused its efforts to ensure they are coordinated with those at other science agencies.

Science Committee Splits on Climate Strategy

Although climate change has become a less contentious subject on the House Science Committee in the past year, a hearing last week on potential strategies underscored the divide that remains. Committee Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) noted in her opening statement that she has focused on advancing bills that would authorize what she called “strategic increases in funding for clean energy research and development where it is most needed.” Meanwhile, Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) argued the committee has focused too much on “applied research in industries like wind and solar that are already thriving” rather than prioritizing “basic research that will lead to the next generation of technologies that are needed to reduce global emissions, like carbon capture, nuclear power, and fusion energy.” The Republican-invited witness, Environmental Progress resident Michael Shellenberger, advocated for the federal government to embrace nuclear power as a centerpiece of emissions reduction efforts and to avoid ceding leadership in nuclear technology to Russia and China. Democratic-invited witnesses identified opportunities for expanding research and mitigation efforts involving land and the oceans.

Senators Showcase New ‘Industries of the Future’ Legislation

Leaders of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unveiled bipartisan legislation last week that would require the White House to sketch out a plan for increasing R&D investments in “Industries of the Future,” including the five areas the White House has specifically prioritized: artificial intelligence, quantum information science (QIS), biotechnology, next-generation telecommunications, advanced manufacturing, and synthetic biology. The plan would chart a path for doubling current federal investments in AI and QIS by fiscal year 2022 and for increasing annual spending across research areas tied to industries of the future to $10 billion by fiscal year 2025. Speaking at a hearing held in conjunction with the bill’s introduction, U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios said he was “pleased” by the move. He also noted the Trump administration has “identified four key pillars” underpinning its efforts in the industries: “fundamental research and development, workforce development, light-touch regulation, and international engagement.” Despite the broad focus of the legislation, much of the hearing discussion centered on ways to support U.S. leadership in 5G technologies, improve spectrum sharing, and expand broadband access in rural areas.

Open Access Publishers Support Rumored Executive Order

A group of eight open access publishing organizations and two scientific societies sent a letter to the White House on Jan. 17 expressing support for a potential executive order that would mandate immediate public access to publications resulting from federally funded research projects. They take particular issue with a letter opposing the order signed by more than 100 publishing companies and scientific societies late last year. While that letter argued such a mandate would “undermine” the scholarly communication marketplace, the open access publishers maintain, “There is nothing about the immediate availability of research that precludes publishing companies — commercial or nonprofit — from continuing to do business if they work hard, innovate, and collaborate.” They added, “The federal government, as a funder and participant in the American research community, is an integral partner in this marketplace and is free to state its priorities.”

Events This Week

All times are Eastern Standard Time and all congressional hearings are webcast, unless otherwise noted. Listings do not imply endorsement.

Monday, January 20

AAPT: Winter meeting (continues Tuesday) Orlando, FL CERN: European Particle Physics Strategy drafting session (continues Friday) Bad Honnef, Germany

Tuesday, January 21

National Academies: “Sustaining Ocean Observations Phase Two: Workshop” (continues Wednesday) National Academy of Sciences Building (2101 Constitution Ave. NW, DC) NASA: Symposium on Earth Science and Applications from Space 8:00 am - 7:30 pm, National Academy of Sciences Building (2101 Constitution Ave. NW, DC) Webcast available EPA: Science Advisory Board teleconference 1:00 - 5:00 pm Carnegie Endowment: “Machine Learning and AI: A Transatlantic Conversation” 2:00 - 3:00 pm, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, DC) Webcast available Florida House of Representatives: Select Committee on the Integrity of Research Institutions meeting 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Wednesday, January 22

DOE: “Powering the U.S. through Nuclear Capabilities of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory” 8:45 - 9:30 am, 2043 Rayburn House Office Building DOEd: “STEAM: Art Supporting STEM” 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, Webcast available NASA: Tribute event for the Spitzer Space Telescope 1:00 pm, Webcast available EPA: Science Advisory Board teleconference 1:00 - 5:00 pm

Thursday, January 23

National Academies: “Astro2020 Panel on State of the Profession and Societal Impacts,” meeting two (continues Friday) Keck Center (500 5th St. NW, DC) NIH: National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity meeting (continues Friday) Hyatt Regency (Bethesda, MD) Webcast available NSF: Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee meeting (continues Friday) NSF headquarters (Alexandria, VA) National Academies: “Town Hall on Advancing STEM Equity at Minority Serving Institutions” 8:00 am - 5:00 pm MST, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) Day One Project: “State of Innovation 2020: Bold New Ideas for the Future” 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Webcast available Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: “2020 Doomsday Clock Announcement” 10:00 am, National Press Club (529 14th St. NW, DC) Webcast available CSIS: “Deep Decarbonization Pathways” 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, Center for Strategic and International Studies headquarters (1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW, DC) Webcast available

Friday, January 24

CSIS: “Global Security Forum: Emerging Technologies Governance” 9:00 - 11:00 am, Center for Strategic and International Studies headquarters (1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW, DC) Webcast available Center for American Progress: “Tackling the Climate Crisis and Greening Our Economies” 10:00 - 11:00 am, Center for American Progress headquarters (1333 H St. NW, DC) Webcast available EPA: Science Advisory Board teleconference 1:00 - 5:00 pm Wilson Center: “The 2020 Journalists’ Guide to Energy and the Environment” 3:00 - 5:00 pm, National Geographic Society (1600 M St. NW, DC)

Opportunities

OSTP Seeking Input on Data Repository Characteristics

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is seeking comments on a draft set of “desirable characteristics” for data repositories that are used to “locate, manage, share, and use data resulting from federally funded research.” The list includes features that are desirable for all types of repositories, such as support for persistent unique identifiers, as well as characteristics specific to repositories for human data. Comments are due March 6.

Science Lobbying Firm Hiring Research Assistant

Lewis-Burke Associates, a DC-based lobbying firm that represents universities and science organizations, is hiring a legislative research assistant. Applicants must have a college degree in a related field.

New North Carolina S&T Fellowship Accepting Applications

The North Carolina Sea Grant is accepting applications for a new fellowship that will place two graduate students into state government offices as S&T fellows for one year. The fellowship is open to recent graduates in STEM fields or related disciplines from an accredited institution in North Carolina. Applications are due March 2.

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.