What’s Ahead

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA). (Image credit – Senate HELP Committee)

NIH and BARDA to Testify on ‘Shark Tank’ Testing Effort

The Senate Health Committee is holding a hearing on Thursday to examine a $1.5 billion COVID-19 testing innovation initiative that the National Institutes of Health announced last week. The effort aims to develop and downselect rapid testing technologies through a competitive process the agency has likened to the TV show Shark Tank, with the goal of making millions of tests available per week by the end of the summer. Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) urged NIH to pursue such an effort in an April 20 op-ed co-written with Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), who chairs the appropriations subcommittee for the agency. NIH Director Francis Collins will testify alongside Gary Disbrow, the acting director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Senators may use the hearing to probe last month’s ouster of former BARDA director Rick Bright, who has alleged he was reassigned because he resisted pressure to fund unproven treatments pushed by companies with political connections. Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) and 19 other Democratic senators wrote to the agency’s parent department last week seeking details about Bright’s removal and how it will protect whistleblowers from retaliation.

Fauci Blocked From House COVID Response Hearing

The House Appropriations Committee is proceeding with a Wednesday hearing on coronavirus response despite the White House preventing the participation of Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Fauci has become a household name through his role on the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force, and the media has often spotlighted contradictions between his statements and those by President Trump. An administration spokesperson stated it would be “counterproductive” for Fauci to appear at this time given his current focus on pandemic response. The committee will instead hear from Thomas Frieden, who directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2009 to 2017, and Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University who participated in an Obama-era working group on pandemic prediction and forecasting science and technology.

Senate Panel to Examine FCC Ligado Decision

The Senate Armed Services Committee is holding a hearing on Wednesday to examine the Federal Communications Commission’s recent decision to grant the company Ligado Networks use of radio spectrum bands adjacent to those used by global positioning systems. The chairs and ranking members of the committee and its House counterpart have united in opposition to FCC’s move, citing warnings by the Defense Department that resulting disruptions to GPS signals would impact military operations. Meteorologists have expressed a similar concern that Ligado equipment could interfere with the transmissions from geosynchronous weather satellites. However, Ligado and its defenders, including former NASA Administrator Dan Goldin, insist that testing has demonstrated the company’s systems will cause no interference and that opening the spectrum is necessary to improve national competitiveness in 5G technology development. The witnesses for the hearing are Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin, DOD Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy, retired Coast Guard Commandant and national GPS advisory board chair Adm. Thad Allen, and U.S. Space Command head Gen. John Raymond.

National Science Board Presenting 2030 Vision Study

At its virtual spring meeting this week, the National Science Board will release its “Vision 2030” report, which will guide priorities of the board and the National Science Foundation through 2030. The board states the reports’ overarching goal is to “increase support for and impact of investments in fundamental science and engineering research and a STEM-educated workforce.” This week’s meeting will also feature discussion of NSF’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including a briefing on its impacts on research infrastructure funded by the agency. Acting NSF Director Kelvin Droegemeier will address the board for the first time since his appointment to the role last month. There will also be a conversation in closed session on candidates for the role of NSF deputy director, a Senate-confirmed post that has been vacant since 2014. Among the remaining agenda items is a discussion of the U.S.’ “geopolitical role in the polar regions.”

Brookings Event to Explore US–China Tech Competition

The Brookings Institution is hosting a virtual event on Friday featuring panel discussions on China’s technological ambitions and the challenge they present to the U.S. The speakers include Michael Brown, director of the Defense Innovation Unit at the Department of Defense, who co-authored a report released last week on how the U.S. could prepare for a “superpower marathon” with China. Among its recommendations, the report calls for the U.S. to “recommit to excellence in science” through increased federal support for R&D and to make a “generational commitment” to expanding the STEM workforce. More specific proposals include partially forgiving education loans for students in STEM fields and removing obstacles to foreign students obtaining green cards, citing research that suggests graduates from advanced degree programs are inclined to stay in the U.S.

Study Launching on PreK–5 Science Education

The National Academies is holding a virtual kickoff meeting on Wednesday for a study on approaches to science and engineering instruction in prekindergarten through grade five that are effective for all students across differences in race, socioeconomic status, and learning ability, among other factors. The study committee will also examine other topics, including ways local, state, and federal policies constrain or facilitate efforts to improve STEM education. The study is chaired by Elizabeth Davis, a science education professor at the University of Michigan, and is sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Robin Hood Learning + Technology Fund.

In Case You Missed It

NIH Director Francis Collins testifying before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in 2017. (Image credit – Senate HELP Committee)

Under Pressure, NIH Terminates Grant Linked to Wuhan Lab

On April 24, the National Institutes of Health terminated funding of a research project on bat-borne coronaviruses after President Trump and a number of Republican lawmakers targeted the grant for criticism because it supported collaborative work with the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Over the last three weeks, critics of the Chinese government have become increasingly insistent that the virus underlying the COVID-19 pandemic likely escaped from the institute or another lab nearby. The institute, though, has denied that possibility and disease researchers maintain it is much more likely that animals passed SARS-CoV-2 to humans in an uncontrolled environment. Nevertheless, the critics moved quickly to draw attention to the NIH grant, casting it as a scandalous use of federal funds. While President Trump said he would terminate the grant at an April 17 media briefing, NIH initially only informed the grant holder, New York-based EcoHealth Alliance, that it should cease payments to the Wuhan institute pending a review of “allegations” implicating it in the pandemic. Within days, though, the agency decided to withdraw the entire grant, explaining in a letter, “At this time, NIH does not believe that the current project outcomes align with the program goals and agency priorities.”

Universities and NIH Pressed on Researchers’ China Ties

As the Trump administration ramps up efforts to focus blame on China for the COVID-19 pandemic, simmering concerns about Chinese government efforts to surreptitiously influence and exploit the U.S. research system are returning to the fore. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the Department of Education has asked at least eight academic institutions, including the University of Texas System, Harvard University, and Yale University, to document any ties they may have with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the Chinese Communist Party, and an array of Chinese universities and businesses. While the Journal did not indicate who alerted it to the letters, it reported they are part of the department’s ongoing probe into unreported funding universities have received from foreign entities.

Clarification: The Wall Street Journal’s reference to letters the Department of Education has sent to various institutions appears to refer to all letters that have been sent since the beginning of the probe, which are posted on the department’s website. Only the most recent letter, to the University of Texas System on April 24, asks specifically about connections to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Separately, Reps. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI) sent a letter to National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins on April 30 that asserts the agency has been insufficiently aggressive in rooting out inappropriate associations between researchers and Chinese institutions. The letter was made public by the Washington Free Beacon, a conservative news site, which quotes an unidentified congressional aide as saying, “This pandemic has raised significant questions about Francis Collins’s leadership at NIH.” The aide added, “We are finding more and more instances of American taxpayer dollars improperly going to foreign entities. … Clearly, we need additional congressional oversight to make sure our tax dollars are being spent wisely over there.”

DHS May Propose Clamp Down on Non-Immigrant Visas

In response to an April 22 executive order temporarily restricting immigration to the U.S., the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor have begun a 30 day review of non-immigrant visa programs that will recommend measures to “ensure the prioritization, hiring, and employment of United States workers.” In an interview last week, Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said the agency may propose modifications to the Optional Practical Training program, which enables foreign STEM students to work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduating. The program has faced legal challenges and the administration has previously expressed interest in overhauling it. Asked to specifically comment on a proposal by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) suggesting the U.S. restrict visas to Chinese students in technical fields, Wolf said his department is “very concerned regarding the number of visa programs that Chinese students can use to come into the country and study and stay and eventually work.” Meanwhile, a group of higher education associations has written to Wolf offering to provide examples of how international students contribute to the U.S. economy. “In critical emerging industries like artificial intelligence, the U.S. maintains a decisive edge over China and other countries because of our higher education system. And many of the most talented international students who study here wish to remain to use the knowledge they learned to support domestic companies,” they wrote.

GAO Charts Cost Growth on NASA Projects

Last week, the Government Accountability Office released its annual review of NASA projects with life cycle costs exceeding $250 million. The report observes that cost growth across these projects has grown for a third straight year and is now 31% above baseline commitments. Meanwhile, schedule delays have declined slightly to an average of 12 months. The report notes that cost and schedule performance indicators are both likely to deteriorate next year once the agency updates expectations for its Space Launch System and Orion programs. It also points out that GAO will soon begin tracking several projects associated with NASA’s pursuit of its “aggressive” 2024 target date for a crewed lunar landing. Among science missions, the report finds few serious new issues, though it observes that last year the Mars 2020 flagship mission exceeded a cost growth threshold requiring congressional notification due to problems with its instruments. In addition, it states that cost reserves for the Europa Clipper flagship are currently “unacceptably low,” and that a number of the Clipper’s instruments have exceeded or are nearing cost thresholds that trigger cost control reviews. Because the report only covers the period through January 2020, it makes no comments concerning the anticipated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Musk Addresses Astronomers on Starlink Brightness Mitigation

Speaking to the steering committee for the Astro2020 decadal survey last week, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk outlined how the company is working to address the astronomy community’s concern that its Starlink satellite constellations will interfere with telescope observations. He said SpaceX plans to test new methods for reducing the brightness of the satellites, such as altering their orientation and deploying an experimental “VisorSat” that will block sunlight from reflecting off the satellites’ antennas. He said the company aims to “make the satellites invisible to the naked eye within a week of launch and to minimize the impact on astronomy, especially so that we do not saturate observatory detectors and inhibit discoveries.” Among the telescopes most at risk of interference is the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which has estimated that if the Starlink constellation brightness is not sufficiently mitigated, its planned 10 year survey of the southern sky may have to be extended by four years.

Science Board Critiques Revised EPA Science Transparency Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board published a report on April 24 assessing the agency’s proposal to limit its use of scientific studies that lack accessible data. While recognizing the merit of EPA’s stated goal of strengthening scientific transparency, the board finds the proposal fails to adequately define the scope of key terms or address scientific and technical challenges to implementing the rule. The board also expresses concern about the EPA administrator’s ability to grant case-by-case waivers to the requirements, arguing that granting exceptions without clearly defined criteria could “create public concerns about inappropriate exclusion of scientifically important studies.” The report strikes a more measured tone than a draft version produced by a board work group in October, which stated the proposal could be viewed as a “license to politicize” the agency’s scientific evaluations. In a statement last week, EPA Administrator Wheeler thanked the board for “recognizing the importance of the rulemaking and their support in the agency’s efforts to increase transparency,” while arguing that revisions released by the agency in March address many of the report’s concerns. While the revisions were issued as the board was finalizing its review, it did consider aspects of them, stating they did not fully alleviate the board’s concerns.

Events This Week

Monday, May 4

National Academies: Astro2020 Decadal Survey Steering Committee, meeting four (continues through Wednesday) National Academies: “Chemical Engineering: Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century,” meeting two 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Brookings Institution: “A Conversation with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper” 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Tuesday, May 5

NSF: National Science Board meeting (continues Wednesday) National Academies: “Review of Effectiveness and Efficiency of Defense Environmental Cleanup Activities of DOE’s Office of Environmental Management,” meeting two (continues Wednesday) CSIS: “NASA’s Moon to Mars Plan with Administrator Jim Bridenstine” 11:00 am - 12:00 pm WRI: “Limiting Temperature Rise to 1.5 Degrees: Roles for Investors, Companies, and Policymakers” 12:00 - 1:00 pm Hudson Global Alliance: “International Students and Fall 2020: Options and Opportunities” 2:00 pm

Wednesday, May 6

House: “COVID-19 Response” 10:00 am, Appropriations Committee (2359 Rayburn Office Building) National Academies: “Enhancing Science in Prekindergarten through Fifth Grade: Committing,” kickoff meeting 11:30 am - 4:15 pm Senate: “DOD Spectrum Policy and the Impact of the Federal Communications Commission’s Ligado Decision on National Security” 3:00 pm, Armed Services Committee (SD-G50 Dirksen Office Building)

Thursday, May 7

National Academies: Committee on Radio Frequencies Spring Meeting (continues Friday) Senate: “Shark Tank: New Tests for COVID-19” 10:00 am, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (106 Dirksen Office Building) NSF: Geoscience Advisory Committee meeting 1:00 - 2:00 pm National Academies: “Writing White Papers for the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey: Overview and Perspectives from the Experts” 1:30 - 3:30 pm AIP: “Hubble Space Telescope Images and the Astronomical Sublime” 3:30 pm ESEP: Science Policy Happy Hour 5:30 - 7:00 pm

Friday, May 8

Brookings: “Global China — Assessing China’s Technological Reach in the World” 9:30 am - 12:00 pm AAAS: “Inclusive Practice and Public Science Events” 12:00 - 1:00 pm NSF: “Spectrum Innovation Initiative: National Center for Wireless Spectrum Research” 1:00 - 2:00 pm OSA: “Optics and Photonics: Critical Tools in the Fight Against COVID-19" 1:00 - 2:00 pm

Monday, May 11

OSA: CLEO virtual conference (continues through Friday)

Opportunities

NSF Hiring Director for International Office

The National Science Foundation is seeking a new head for its Office of International Science and Engineering, which oversees the agency’s international programs and coordinates engagements with countries around the world. The current director is departing the position to become NSF’s first Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy. Applications are due June 19.

Earth Systems Study Panel Seeking Members

The National Academies is accepting nominations for individuals to serve on a committee that will offer a vision for a “systems approach” to researching the Earth. The study will consider “all major components of the Earth system,” including physical and human processes, and will offer recommendations on how the National Science Foundation can support the research community in this domain. Nominations are due May 13.

Comments Sought on Arctic Research Plan

The Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee is seeking public input as it develops its next five year research plan, covering 2022 through 2026. Comments are particularly sought on “critical issues where federally-funded science and engineering research can provide knowledge to promote good decision-making at all levels related to the Arctic” as well as on how the structure of the plan could be updated to “better meet and communicate the science needs and plans for the Arctic.” Submissions are due August 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.