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What’s Ahead
Science Committee to Look at Climate Science Methodology
On Wednesday, the House Science Committee will convene a full committee hearing titled “Climate Science: Assumptions, Policy Implications, and the Scientific Method.” The witnesses are four scientists who over the past 15 years have been embroiled in controversies surrounding climate science: Judith Curry, John Christy, Roger Pielke Jr., and Michael Mann. Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) has often alleged that climate science is ideologically tainted and overrepresented in the federal government’s research portfolio.
AAAS Holding Science and Technology Policy Forum
The annual AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy begins Monday in Washington, D.C., bringing together scientists to discuss current policy issues in science, engineering, and education. Among the discussion topics are R&D in the administration’s 2018 budget request, ensuring scientific integrity in federal agencies, and the role of scientists in producing and defending evidence. National Science Foundation Director France Córdova and National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins will headline a session on federal agency priorities, and Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) will deliver the forum’s keynote lecture, which is open to the public. The full program is available here.
National Academies Hosting Annual Space Science Week
On Tuesday through Thursday, the National Academies is holding its annual Space Science Week. During the plenary session on Tuesday, NASA Associate Administrator for Science Thomas Zurbuchen will speak on NASA’s science budget, programs, and priorities, and representatives from the Russian, Chinese, and European space programs will offer a comparative perspective on space science around the world. The week’s sessions will also include updates on the broad range of the U.S.’s current and proposed science missions in space, including the James Webb Space Telescope, the Department of Energy’s Cosmic Frontiers Program, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s commercial weather data pilot. NASA’s Advisory Council will also meet on Thursday and Friday at NASA headquarters.
House to Vote on Earthquake and EPA Science Bills
On Monday, the House is set to vote on the “Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act.” The bill would direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop a plan for installing an earthquake early warning system for the Cascadia Subduction Zone and would establish an Earthquake and Tsunami Task Force that would work in partnership with the National Academies to develop a strategy to advance scientific understanding of earthquakes and tsunami preparedness in the region. A vote on the bill scheduled earlier this March was postponed.
On Wednesday or Thursday, the House is expected to vote on the “Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment (HONEST) Act.” The bill would require EPA to base regulatory decisions on the “best available science” and make the underlying data, models, methods, and other materials “publicly available online in a manner that is sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction of research results.” The House Science Committee approved the bill on a party-line vote on March 8.
DOE Workshop to Address Basic Science Priorities
This week, the Department of Energy will host an invitation-only workshop to examine basic research needs relating to electrical energy storage. The workshop is part of an ongoing series that the DOE Basic Energy Sciences (BES) program organizes to determine what long-term research programs could have transformational consequences for different technology sectors. The results of the workshops are collected into reports, which have a strong influence on BES funding priorities.
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In Case You Missed It Trump Signs NASA Bill, Will Reestablish Space Council
On March 21, at an Oval Office ceremony, President Trump signed the NASA Transition Authorization Act into law. The law is designed to maintain strategic stability at NASA and does not entail any major changes at the agency. However, shortly after the signing, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who chairs the Senate’s Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness, said he would like to pursue another authorization bill in the near future. At the end of the signing ceremony, Vice President Mike Pence said that the White House will soon officially announce the reestablishment of the National Space Council, and that he will serve as chairman. The council last existed from 1989 to 1993, when it was chaired by Vice President Dan Quayle.
Science Committee Holds Second NSF Hearing
On March 21, the House Science Committee held the second of two subcommittee hearings dedicated to the National Science Foundation. At this second hearing, the committee concentrated on how the agency’s directorate structure bears on its grant funding, and on how transparency and reproducibility bear on the quality and credibility of scientific research. The committee is currently planning a comprehensive authorization bill for the agency. However, the key architect of that effort, Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX), was absent from the hearing.
Senate Committee Outlines its Science Policy Priorities
Earlier in March, the Republicans and Democrats of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee each submitted letters to the Budget Committee outlining their respective policy priorities for the upcoming year. The majority letter reiterates the committee’s support of the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) entrepreneurship and research commercialization education program as well as the BRAIN Initiative. It also expresses support for NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System and dedicated funding for research-to-operations activities at NOAA. And it backs NIST’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which President Trump’s budget blueprint proposes eliminating. While the majority’s letter is not available online, the minority’s letter is available here.
Advanced Reactor Licensing Bill Advances in Senate
On March 22, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee easily approved the bipartisan “Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act,” which would direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to develop a licensing program for advanced reactors, thereby facilitating their commercialization. The bill would also revisit federal fees and requirements for uranium mining, milling, and transfers, and require the Department of Energy to develop a long-term inventory management plan for excess uranium.
Science Committee Weighs Long-Term ISS Support
On March 22, the House Science Committee held a subcommittee hearing to consider issues entailed in extending U.S. support for the International Space Station beyond the year 2024. Among the points discussed was the space station’s value as a convenient platform for space-based instrumentation and as a laboratory for testing the biological effects of the space environment. The committee also considered the costs of directing funding away from other, potentially more strategically important objectives in order to maintain ISS. Among the witnesses was University of Florida professor Robert Ferl, who co-chairs the National Academies Committee on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space.
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Events This Week
Monday, March 27 AAAS: Forum on Science and Technology Policy (continues Tuesday)
8:30 am – 7:00 pm, Mon.; 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Tue.
Reagan International Trade Center (1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC)
DOE: Basic Research Needs Workshop for Next Generation Electrical Energy Storage (continues through Wednesday)
Invitation only
Tuesday, March 28 National Academies: Space Science Week (continues through Thursday)
National Academies Building (2101 Constitution Ave. NW, DC)
Newseum: “The Future of Truth”
1:30 – 5:00 pm, Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC)
Includes a panel on science
AAAS: Science Diplomacy Conference
8:00 am – 8:00 pm, AAAS Headquarters (1200 New York Ave. NW, DC)
Conference is full, but some sessions will be livestreamed
CBSA/Booz Allen Hamilton: 2017 Directed Energy Summit (continues Thursday)
Reagan International Trade Center (1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC)
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), and Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mary Miller are among the speakers
NASA: NASA Advisory Council Meeting (continues Friday)
1:00 – 5:30 pm, Thur.; 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, Fri.
NASA Headquarters (300 E St. NW, DC)
Webcast available
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Opportunities House Science Committee Accepting Internship Applications
The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology majority and minority staffs are currently accepting applications for interns. The internship provides an opportunity to experience the legislative process through helping staff prepare for committee hearings and markups as well as assisting in the daily operations of the office.
Deadline Approaching for AAS Public Policy Fellowship
The deadline to apply for the American Astronomical Society’s 2017 John N. Bahcall Public Policy Fellowship is March 31. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in the astronomical sciences or a related field, as well as be a current AAS member.
Space Studies Board Accepting Fall Internship Applications
The National Academies Space Studies Board is accepting fall internship applications from undergraduate and graduate students starting April 1. Among other responsibilities, the interns will conduct short-term research projects that contribute to the board’s ongoing study projects. The application deadline is June 2.
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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