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What’s Ahead
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| Image courtesy of the Black in Physics Week organizers. |
Week of Events Spotlighting Careers of Black Physicists
Through Saturday, a new initiative called Black In Physics Week is celebrating the work of Black physicists and working to create “a more inclusive picture of what a physicist looks like.” Inspired by similar weeks held for other scientific fields this summer, the organizers hope the effort will help build connections among Black scientists and strengthen the push for more inclusive environments. The week’s events include a three minute thesis competition for PhD students, professional development webinars for various career stages, a virtual job fair, an “ask-a-scientist” session, and social mixers. To support the week, Physics Today has published interviews with 14 Black physicists discussing ways to make the field more welcoming, and will publish an article written by a Black physicist each day this week.
American Meteorological Society Convenes Policy Forum
Leading officials from the weather and climate research enterprise are assembling virtually over three days this week for the American Meteorological Society’s annual Washington Forum. Neil Jacobs, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is delivering a keynote address Monday alongside White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Kelvin Droegemeier, whose background is in severe storm research. Top NOAA political appointees will also address the forum on Tuesday. Other sessions will cover the status of scientific integrity policies across federal agencies, competing demands for electromagnetic spectrum bands, frontiers in seasonal to subseasonal forecasting, financial risk management strategies for extreme weather, and climate adaptation initiatives, among other topics. The forum follows a tense year at NOAA, which has seen investigations and internal divisions over Jacobs’ conduct during the 2019 Hurricane Dorian scandal and now controversy surrounding the appointment to agency leadership positions of two scientists who advocate views antagonistic to consensus climate science. (AMS is an AIP Member Society.)
NOAA Science Advisory Board to Meet
At its meeting this week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Science Advisory Board will decide on topics to include in its biennial work plan, considering proposed efforts in areas such as coastal resilience, Earth system prediction, and data and technology for next-generation Earth system modeling. The board will also vote to approve a report on NOAA’s Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program that argues the agency must urgently address “structural and financial limitations” for the program to meet its goals. In addition, the board will discuss the outcomes of a recent community workshop on uncrewed systems, which is one of NOAA’s current science and technology focus areas. Other agenda items include a discussion on diversity and inclusion and a presentation on the UN Decade of Ocean Science, which begins in 2021.
‘Virtual’ Biotechnology Lab Highlighting COVID Challenges
The Department of Energy is holding a symposium on Wednesday to highlight the contributions of its National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory to the U.S. pandemic response. DOE established the virtual lab construct in April to facilitate and coordinate access to relevant experts and equipment across the department’s 17 national labs for researchers addressing the pandemic. Sessions will address science and technology initiatives and challenges related to COVID-19 testing, epidemiological modeling, molecular design of therapeutics, vaccine development, and supply chain management.
Quantum Advisory Panel Holding First Meeting
The 23 member advisory committee for the National Quantum Initiative is holding its inaugural meeting on Tuesday. The event will review the overarching strategy for the initiative and the new array of quantum information science research centers established this summer in accord with the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018. Federal agency officials will also provide updates on “core” research programs and initiatives such as the Q–12 Education Partnership and the Quantum Economic Development Consortium. The committee is co-chaired by Kathryn Ann Moler, dean of research at Stanford University, and Charles Tahan, director of the National Quantum Coordination Office. Of the other members, there are 10 from universities, eight from industry, and three from federal labs.
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In Case You Missed It
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| From left, ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent In Charge Andre Watson, ICE Senior Official Performing the Duties of Director Tony Pham, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Senior Official Performing the Duties of Director Ken Cuccinelli on Oct. 21 announcing enforcement actions targeting rule violations in the Optional Practical Training program. (Image credit – ICE) |
Immigration Authorities Tighten Scrutiny of Post-Degree Work Program
On Oct. 21, the Department of Homeland Security announced actions resulting from the first phase of a law enforcement initiative it calls “Operation OPTical Illusion,” targeting rule violations in the Optional Practical Training program. OPT allows student visa holders, many in STEM fields, to further build their skills by taking jobs in the U.S. during or after their degree. According to recent data, more than 200,000 people participate in the program in a given year. Senior DHS official Ken Cuccinelli said Immigration and Customs Enforcement had flagged 3,300 participants as possibly violating program rules by working in jobs outside their field, and ultimately concluded 1,100 were in fact “out of status.” Of these, 400 are within a few months of completing their term of participation and will be ineligible for renewal. The remaining 700 have been notified their right to work has been revoked and that they must leave the country. In addition, ICE has arrested 15 OPT participants for fraud, most from India, alleging they claimed to work for companies that do not exist. Cuccinelli said DHS also plans to deauthorize a “fair number” of university officials designated to help students join the program, asserting they had demonstrated negligence or “willful ignorance.” DHS did not offer details about the violations uncovered, but Cuccinelli said OPT rule enforcement has become a higher priority due to elevated unemployment rates and a concomitant need to ensure noncompliant individuals do not take jobs that could go to Americans. Citing a similar rationale, this summer President Trump temporarily suspended the issuance of new H-1B visas, which are intended for high-skilled workers, but he did not suspend the OPT program despite calls from some Republicans to do so.
Lawsuit Challenges Latest H-1B Restrictions
A group of universities and business associations sued the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security last week over new rules announced on Oct. 6 that tighten eligibility requirements for H-1B visas, including by significantly increasing the salaries that must be paid to visa holders. The lawsuit argues, “These rules are extraordinary: if left unchecked, they would sever the employment relationship of hundreds of thousands of existing employees in the United States, and they would virtually foreclose the hiring of new individuals via the H-1B program.” The administration cited increases in unemployment due to COVID-19 as justification for implementing the new policies with a curtailed public comment period, but the lawsuit asserts that unemployment in categories commonly used by H-1B holders remains “exceedingly low” and notes that a large fraction of such workers fill essential roles in fields such as healthcare, research, and education. President Trump has already suspended issuance of H-1B visas through the end of the year, though a federal judge partially blocked the policy on Oct. 1.
Education Department Sums Up Criticisms of Universities’ Foreign Ties
The Department of Education released a report last week summarizing findings of its ongoing investigation of compliance with section 117 of the Higher Education Act, which requires universities to disclose foreign gifts and contracts valued at $250,000 or greater. The department states its efforts have “catalyzed disclosure” of $6.5 billion in unreported funds and suggests universities have not put in place adequate procedures to “meaningfully measure the risk and manage the threat posed by a given relationship, donor, or foreign venture.” While noting the department does not police universities’ international partnerships or allege if criminal activity has occurred, it characterizes certain partnerships with entities in countries such as China and Russia as inherently problematic due to national security concerns. As one example among a variety described, the report states the telecommunications company Huawei had focused its gifts and partnerships on “sensitive” research areas. Several universities have already acknowledged deficiencies in their reporting, though university associations have also argued the disclosure requirements have long been unclear and that the department has taken a “punitive” and opaque approach with its investigations.
Trump Seeks to Make Senior Civil Servants Easier to Fire
President Trump issued an executive order on Oct. 21 to create a new category of permanent employee in the federal government’s civil service called “Schedule F,” comprising individuals “in positions of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character.” Under the order, presidential appointees at federal agencies will have greater leeway to hire and fire individuals holding these positions. “Faithful execution of the law requires that the president have appropriate management oversight regarding this select cadre of professionals,” the order states. According to numerous reports, the Trump administration has been aggressively seeking to root out appointees disloyal to Trump under the leadership of John McEntee, who was picked to lead the Presidential Personnel Office early this year. However, the administration has lacked the authority to fire agency leaders who are civil servants, a few of whom have been openly at odds with Trump, such as National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci. Some estimates suggest that tens or even hundreds of thousands of employees could be reclassified under the order, which sets a 210 day time limit for determining which positions will be listed as Schedule F. Given that timeline and the likelihood of legal challenges, the order will not have immediate effect and would certainly be reversed should Joe Biden defeat Trump in the Nov. 3 election.
Probe Opened Into Political Interference With Pandemic Response
Battles over the integrity of the Trump administration’s pandemic response continued last week as the Government Accountability Office agreed to open an investigation of political interference with work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Gary Peters (D-MI) had called for the investigation on Oct. 9, citing reports of attempts to influence FDA’s vaccine approval process and to control the content of CDC public health guidelines. They and other Democratic senators have also requested an investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general and introduced legislation that would establish a special investigatory task force. Meanwhile, Politico reported last week that Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar has considered seeking White House permission to fire FDA head Stephen Hahn after Hahn successfully resisted pressure from the administration to implement a less stringent process for approving COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorizations.
Trump Signs Space Weather Legislation Into Law
President Trump signed the PROSWIFT (Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow) Act on Oct. 21, enshrining in law the responsibilities that different federal agencies have for researching, monitoring, and forecasting solar disturbances and associated space weather events. Congress passed the bill on Sept. 16 following about five years of legislative work. In a signing statement, Trump indicated that while provisions stipulating cooperation with foreign partners are “generally unobjectionable as a matter of policy,” his administration would treat them as non-binding to preserve the president’s discretion in foreign policy. The statement also observes the bill does not address the resilience of national security assets and critical infrastructure against space weather events, adding that the administration is prepared to work further with Congress on the issue. Senate staff member Alicia Brown noted in a tweet that the Senate version of the bill did contain resilience provisions but that they would have caused jurisdictional complications as the bill moved through committee in the House.
NASA and DOE Formalize Expanded Research Partnership
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette signed a memorandum of understanding on Oct. 20 that outlines areas in which NASA and the Department of Energy plan to pursue research and technology collaborations. These include applied energy R&D, space technology, space science, Earth science, space life and physical sciences, computing and modeling, commercial technology development, and STEM education. DOE and NASA have long partnered in matters such as the development of radioisotope power systems and astrophysics research, but with NASA now increasing its focus on lunar and deep space exploration, they have begun to intensify planning for technologies such as nuclear fission-based propulsion and power systems. They are also exploring collaborations in areas such as photoelectric power generation and the detection of near-Earth objects. To coordinate efforts, this summer NASA and DOE established three working groups respectively dedicated to nuclear power and propulsion, lunar surface technology, and space safety issues that include satellite collision avoidance, space weather, and planetary defense. The MOU formalizes this working group framework and lays the foundation for starting up additional coordinated efforts in the future.
Panel Seeks Greater Stability for NNSA With Personnel Reforms
An independent panel tracking management and governance reforms at the National Nuclear Security Administration released its final report last week, recommending actions for the agency and Congress to ensure the long-term stability and vitality of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex. To reduce gaps in leadership at the agency, it proposes Congress remove the Senate confirmation requirement for three top positions and permit the NNSA administrator to serve a fixed term and remain in office until a successor is confirmed. The panel also notes various challenges facing the agency’s scientific workforce, such as a large influx of new staff, a “severe shortage of administrative support for scientists and engineers,” and a reliance on Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) funds to sustain core capabilities. It recommends leaders of NNSA’s three national laboratories do more to understand stresses felt by lab staff, better acclimate new hires, and consider creating programs that complement LDRD.
OSIRIS-REx Grabs Surfeit of Asteroid Material, Sets Sights on Earth
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| An image of asteroid material escaping from the sample collection system of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. (Image credit – NASA) |
When NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft descended to the asteroid Bennu on Oct. 20, its sample collection system burrowed unexpectedly deep into the surface and captured such an abundance of rocks and dust that the apparatus was wedged open. In general, mission leaders were pleased with the result, estimating they may have obtained up to two kilograms of material, well exceeding their goal of 60 grams. However, they were dismayed to observe some of the sample escaping into space. To avoid jostling more loose, they abandoned plans to conduct maneuvers that would allow a more definitive measurement of the sample’s mass to be made. They also decided not to arrest the spacecraft’s ascent from Bennu, prematurely ending the billion-dollar mission’s work there. Mission personnel will now move quickly to stow the sample for its journey back to Earth, which is scheduled to begin in March, and it will remain unknown exactly how much material was obtained until after the spacecraft arrives in 2023.
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Events This Week Monday, October 26
Tuesday, October 27
Wednesday, October 28
Thursday, October 29
Friday, October 30
Monday, November 2
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Opportunities NSF Hiring Chief Officer for Research Facilities
The National Science Foundation is accepting applications for the position of chief officer for research facilities, which oversees the agency’s portfolio of major and mid-scale infrastructure. NSF created the role in early 2018 and it is currently performed by James Ulvestad. Applications are due Dec. 21.
National Academies Seeking STEM Workforce Study Director
The National Academies is hiring a program director in its Policy and Global Affairs Division to oversee studies focused on workforce development across the sciences, engineering, and medicine. Recent topics explored by the division include mentoring, sexual harassment, graduate education, and increasing participation of underrepresented groups in STEM fields. Applicants must have at least 12 years of relevant professional experience.
Neuroscience Society Hiring Advocacy Director
The Society for Neuroscience is hiring a director of policy and advocacy to oversee the society’s work to promote neuroscience research in the U.S. and abroad. The director will work to increase federal support for biomedical research and lead engagement on policy matters such as responsible use of animals in research. Applicants must have a background in health or science policy and at least three years of supervisory experience. 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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Around the Web
News and views currently in circulation. Links do not imply endorsement.
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- University associations request at least $120 billion in pandemic aid for higher education (AAU)
- Prosecutors say they’re spies, but charges tell a different story (Bloomberg)
- 300 foreign exchange students ‘interrogated’ as they left America, Beijing says (South China Morning Post)
- New visa limits would be a self-inflicted wound for the US (New York Times, editorial)
- How a proposed student visa rule would discourage top talent from coming to the US (Forbes, perspective by Peter McPherson)
- How to get more women and people of color into graduate school — and keep them there (Nature, book review)
- How LGBT+ scientists would like to be included and welcomed in STEM workplaces (Nature, perspective by Kendall Powell, et al.)
- Scoundrels, saints, and the fiction of individual genius (Undark, perspective by Joshua Roebke)
- Roster of physics departments with enrollment and degree data, 2019 (AIP, report)
- Roster of astronomy departments with enrollment and degree data, 2019 (AIP, report)
- Seven reasons why I chose to do science in the government (Quantum Frontiers, perspective by Nicole Yunger Halpern)
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