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What’s Ahead
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| A drilling rig for a geothermal energy well. (Image credit – Piyush Bakane, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) |
Senate Energy Innovation Hearings Turn to Geothermal Energy
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing on geothermal energy on Thursday, continuing its ongoing look at energy sector innovation. The heads of the Department of Energy’s renewable energy office and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s geothermal program will testify alongside representatives from industry and the New Mexico state director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. At the end of May, DOE released a report on geothermal energy that finds U.S. electricity production using geothermal sources could reach 60 gigawatts by 2050, a more than 26-fold increase over current installed capacity. It notes that such growth would require improvements in “tools, technologies, and methodologies used to explore, discover, access, and manage geothermal resources.”
Science Committee Focuses In on Fossil Energy R&D
Following hearings earlier this year on nuclear and renewable energy, the House Science Committee is turning its attention to fossil energy at a subcommittee hearing on Wednesday. Officials from the Carbon Utilization Research Council, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Carbon180, and Environmental Defense Fund will testify along with Erik Webb, senior manager for geoscience research and applications at Sandia National Laboratories. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee already examined the subject earlier this year and introduced bipartisan bills to expand research in coal and natural gas R&D, including carbon capture, as well as extraction of rare earth metals from coal.
Harassment and Diversity Bills Set for Science Committee Vote
The House Science Committee is meeting Thursday to consider four bipartisan bills, including the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act and the STEM Opportunities Act. Sponsored by Committee Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK), the bills would require science agencies to identify and disseminate best practices for addressing harassment and underrepresentation of women and minorities in STEM fields. The bills would also direct science agencies to develop a uniform approach to, respectively, handling harassment investigations and collecting demographic data on grant applicants. The committee will also vote on a bill to name the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope after dark matter pioneer Vera Rubin and a bill that would direct the National Science Foundation to support research on opioid addiction.
NDAA Reaches Full Senate as House Advances Its Counterpart
The Senate’s version of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is arriving on the floor this week, with more than 300 amendments vying for inclusion in the must-pass legislation, many based on other bills introduced earlier this year. Meanwhile, the House Armed Services Committee approved its version of the bill last week by a vote of 33 to 24. Among the many changes it adopted prior to advancing the bill, the committee incorporated the Securing American Science and Technology Act via an amendment and added two other measures focused on protecting sensitive research from exploitation by foreign governments. The Senate bill currently includes no counterparts to these provisions, but they could be incorporated via amendments or in final negotiations with the House.
House Continues Consideration of Science Spending Bills
The House is scheduled to vote this week on a spending package that incorporates proposals for the National Institutes of Health and the Departments of Energy, Defense, and Education, among other agencies. Once approved, attention will turn to the Senate, which is expected to begin advancing its own versions of the spending bills this month. Meanwhile, Congress and the White House have not yet come to an agreement for raising caps on discretionary spending and apportioning the budget between defense and non-defense programs. The White House has objected to various increases for non-defense R&D programs included in the House bill, while arguing it underfunds defense research and engineering. Later in the week, the House will begin considering a separate package that includes funding for NASA, the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Institutes of Standard and Technology, U.S. Geological Survey, and Environmental Protection Agency.
NSF Officials to Discuss New Overseas Outreach Program
This week’s meeting of the National Science Foundation’s advisory committee for international programs will feature an extended discussion of the agency’s new approach to seeding partnerships with other countries. Called MULTIPLIER, the program sends scientists to particular countries for short periods to identify collaboration opportunities in specific research areas. NSF created the program after closing its three international offices in 2018 on the grounds that a more “nimble” approach to collaboration was needed. The meeting will spotlight MULTIPLIER missions dedicated to synthetic biology and quantum research. A discussion of “science and security” led by the head of NSF’s international programs office is also on the agenda.
Draft NOAA R&D Strategy Up for Review
The Science Advisory Board of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is providing feedback on the agency’s draft R&D plan at a meeting this Tuesday. Covering the period from 2020 to 2026, the plan outlines three “vision areas” for NOAA: “reducing societal impacts from severe weather and other environmental phenomena, sustainable use and stewardship of ocean and coastal resources, and a robust and effective R&D and transition enterprise.” The draft identifies objectives for the agency spanning climate science, space weather, ocean exploration, and earth observations, among other areas.
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In Case You Missed It
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| From left: John Neumann, director of GAO’s Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics team; Paula Johnson, president of Wellesley College; Jean Morrison, provost at Boston University; and Philip Kass, vice provost for academic affairs at the University of California, Davis. (Image credit – National Academies) |
Science Committee Reviews Reports on Sexual Harassment
The Government Accountability Office released preliminary findings last week from its ongoing study on sexual harassment policies at five federal science agencies and the prevalence of harassment complaints by their university grantees. Testifying before the House Science Committee at a June 12 hearing, GAO science team lead John Neumann reported that the National Science Foundation received 14 complaints of harassment over the last four years, while NASA received three and the Department of Energy received two. Neumann noted that NSF has seen an increase in the number of reports after the agency adopted a policy requiring institutions to disclose findings of harassment, and that NASA plans to implement a similar policy. The hearing coincided with the one-year anniversary of the release of a landmark National Academies report on sexual harassment, which noted research suggests that less than 7% of graduate students and faculty who are sexually harassed formally report the incident to their institution. House Science Committee Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) called this rate “shockingly low,” attributing it to a research culture that discourages reporting.
Trump Puts Agency Advisory Committees on Chopping Block
President Trump issued an executive order last Friday afternoon mandating that federal agencies eliminate “at least one-third” of their non-statutory advisory committees by October 2019. The order applies to committees created under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), though agencies can petition the White House for waivers. The order also includes an exemption for committees that review research grant proposals or whose primary function is to “provide scientific expertise to support agencies making decisions related to the safety or efficacy of products to be marketed to American consumers.” Grant review panels aside, several science agencies make extensive use of FACA committees to perform strategic planning exercises and to explain key decisions to the research community. For instance, the Department of Energy’s advisory committees for high energy physics and fusion energy sciences are currently gearing up to produce long-range strategic plans for the department. A database of FACA committees is available here.
DOE Researchers Barred from Rival Nations’ Talent Programs
The Department of Energy implemented a new policy last week that prohibits employees and most contractor personnel from participating in talent recruitment programs operated by certain foreign countries. Although the directive does not name specific countries, officials have said it is currently limited to China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The directive charges DOE’s counterintelligence office with maintaining a list of specific programs of concern. The FBI and some lawmakers have warned that foreign governments use such programs as an avenue for misappropriating U.S.-backed research and advancing their rival interests. DOE regards them as not only a threat to the security of research but also as a conflict of interest for researchers who may be receiving funding from them without reporting it. The department is planning to implement a separate policy, potentially later this year, that will apply to university-based recipients of DOE grant funding.
NIH Director Shuns ‘Manels’
National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins announced last week he would actively work to decrease the prevalence of all-male speaking panels, also known as “manels,” at scientific conferences and meetings. Citing recent calls for science community leaders to address cultural factors that limit women’s advancement in the sciences, Collins said he will decline speaking invitations if “attention to inclusiveness is not evident in the agenda.” Collins himself was recently chided by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) for the lack of gender representation among the NIH witnesses at an April hearing, to which Collins replied, “Yes, look at our panel. Just take a snapshot here — this is a good example of what we need to change.”
Science Committee Wary Moon Program May Siphon Science Funds
At a hearing on June 11, House Science Committee Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) aired concerns that the Trump administration’s goal of returning Americans to the Moon by 2024 could end up “starving” NASA’s science programs, citing remarks by an agency official indicating that internal cuts may be required to support an accelerated lunar return. Several witnesses at the hearing also urged that NASA commit to implementing the priorities of the science communities’ decadal surveys, criticizing the administration’s proposed cancellation of flagship missions recommended in previous surveys. Thomas Zurbuchen, the head of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, declined to offer an estimate of the new moon program’s total cost, but assured the committee he has not been directed to plan for major cuts to science programs. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has repeatedly insisted the agency will not “cannibalize” science programs or other agency activities to fund the venture, named Artemis after the sister of Apollo. Bridenstine offered the first official cost estimate for Artemis on June 14, putting it in the range of $20 to $30 billion over the next five years.
FCC Chair Dismisses Spectrum Interference Concerns
At a Senate Commerce Committee oversight hearing last week, Federal Communications Commission Chair Ajit Pai defended his agency’s plans to open a 24 GHz spectrum band for 5G telecommunications providers, rejecting concerns raised by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA. A joint NOAA-NASA study found that interference from new uses of the band could severely degrade satellite observations critical for weather forecasting and research, but Pai asserted the FCC’s proposed protection limits “have been and will continue to be appropriate for the protection of passive weather sensors.” The two Democratic-appointed commissioners declined to weigh in on the matter, citing a lack of familiarity with the details of the dispute, but lamented that it was not resolved before the auction took place. Committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced the committee will hold a separate hearing dedicated to the matter.
National R&D Infrastructure Strategy Under Consideration
At a National Science and Technology Council conference last week, National Science Foundation Chief Officer for Research Facilities Jim Ulvestad spoke about the council’s nascent plans to develop a “strategic overview” of federal R&D infrastructure. He explained that, while no effort to assemble a complete “inventory” is imminent, the council is looking to assemble “guidance” on how such an effort could be undertaken. He went on to say that defining “infrastructure” is essential to developing a strategic plan, given the wide variety of scientific materials that are considered infrastructure, ranging from collections of biological specimens to major telescopes. Ulvestad highlighted the UK’s Research and Innovation Infrastructure Roadmap as an approach NSTC has looked at in contemplating a U.S. analogue.
NIST-Led Technology Transfer Initiative Turns Toward Congress
At the same conference, National Institute of Standards and Technology Director Walter Copan discussed an ongoing initiative to update policies related to commercializing technology developed by federally funded researchers. NIST released a “green paper” this year identifying 15 policy options for improving the federal technology transfer system, many of which would require legislative or regulatory action. Copan reported that NIST is now leading an interagency effort to develop a “legislative and regulatory reform package” that it aims to release this fall. Copan told FYI the agency plans to work with the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the House Science Committee to initiate congressional action.
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Events This Week Monday, June 17
Tuesday, June 18
NSF: International Science and Engineering Advisory Committee meeting (continues Wednesday) NSF headquarters (Alexandria, VA) National Academies: “Women in the Innovation Ecosystem: A Workshop on Women and Entrepreneurship” 9:00 am - 5:00 pm PDT, Beckman Center (Irvine, CA) AT&T: “Emerging Technologies Symposium: Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and 5G” 10:00 - 12:00 pm, Webcast available Commerce Department: American Workforce Policy Advisory Board meeting 11:15 am - 2:00 pm, Foundation for the Carolinas (Charlotte, NC) Teleconference available ASME: Congressional briefing on large-scale energy storage 12:00 - 1:30 pm, 2044 Rayburn House Office Building NOAA: Science Advisory Board teleconference 1:00 - 4:00 pm CSIS: “Implementing Innovation: The Army’s IP Strategy” 1:30 - 2:30 pm, CSIS headquarters (1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW, DC) Webcast available
Wednesday, June 19
DOE: Electricity Advisory Committee meeting (continues Thursday) Arlington, VA CRES: “Real Clean Energy and Climate Change Solutions” 8:30 am - 12:00 pm, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (First St. NE, DC) Hudson Institute: “Fostering American Innovation: A Conversation with USPTO Director Andrei Iancu” 12:00 - 1:30 pm, Hudson Institute headquarters (1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC) AAAS: Webinar on S&T policy fellowship application 1:00 - 2:00 pm House: “Fossil Energy Research: Enabling our Clean Energy Future” 2:00 pm, Science Committee (2318 Rayburn Office Building) CHLI: “Energy Transition and its Implications in Today’s Workforce,” congressional briefing 3:00 - 5:00 pm, 2045 Rayburn House Office Building Congressional Chemistry Caucus: Annual Exposition and Reception 5:00 - 7:00 pm, Rayburn House Office Building Foyer Smithsonian: “The Future of Lunar Exploration” 8:00 pm, National Air and Space Museum (Independence Ave at 6th St. SW, DC) Webcast available
Thursday, June 20
Friday, June 21
No events start today.
Monday, June 24
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Opportunities NSF Seeking Judges for ‘Big Idea’ Competition
The National Science Foundation has narrowed down the more than 800 entries to its “Idea Machine” to 33 and is now requesting input on which submissions should advance to the next round of judging. The winning entries will inform NSF’s development of future programs within the “Big Ideas” framework adopted in 2017. Comments are due June 26.
Geosciences Congressional Visit Day Seeking Participants
The American Geophysical Union is accepting applications for its Congressional Visit Day to be held on September 10 and 11. After attending a workshop on communicating with policymakers, participants will meet with congressional staffers the following day on Capitol Hill. Financial support is available for students, community college faculty, and underrepresented candidates. Applications are due July 24.
Nature Surveying Doctoral Students
Nature is seeking STEM doctoral students to participate in its fifth biennial survey of graduate students. The latest survey examines topics related to career development, quality of life, and relationships with advisors, among other areas, and is available in five languages. Submissions are due July 9.
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.
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