Research, Student Aid Slated for Huge Boost
BU IN DC
Provost Jean Morrison and Rachel Lapal and Barbara Moran of Marketing & Communications addressed the Public Affairs Network of the Association of American Universities on March 18 and 19. Senior Vice President for External Affairs Stephen Burgay and Vice President for Marketing & Creative Services Amy Hook also attended the meeting.
Jacob Bor of the School of Public Health delivered the National Institutes of Health Office of Disease Prevention’s Early-Stage Investigator Lecture on March 19.
Peter Fox-Penner of the Institute for Sustainable Energy headlined an alumnievent about “New Horizons in Clean Electric Power” on March 19.
Graduate students from the College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Medicine participated in the American Association for the Advancement of Science Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering workshop and met with legislators between March 18 and 21.
RESEARCH, STUDENT AID SLATED FOR HUGE BOOST
Congress sent a large spending bill to the President this week which will significantly increase funding for federal research agencies and student aid for the remainder of fiscal year 2018. When the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 1625) is signed into law it will be nearly six months after the start of the fiscal year. As a result, federal agencies will rush to spend the money before the fiscal year concludes on September 30. The bill provides the following:
- National Institutes of Health: $37.0 billion, a 8.75% increase
- National Science Foundation: $7.77 billion, a 3.95% increase
- NASA Science: $6.22 billion, a 7.94% increase
- Department of Energy Office of Science: $6.26 billion, a 16.1% increase
- Department of Defense basic research: $2.34 billion, a 2.81% increase
- National Endowment for the Humanities: $153 million, a 1.87% increase
- Pell Grant: $6095 maximum grant, a 2.96% increase
- Federal Work Study: $1.13 billion, a 14.1% increase
The President is expected to sign the measure today.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
BU Research will present “Welcome to Federal Relations: How to Connect with Policymakers and Funding Agencies to Get Your Message Heard and Deliver Impact” on Wednesday, April 4 at 3:30 pm. Presenters from BU Federal Relations and Lewis-Burke Associates LLC will discuss effective communication practices that can engage elected officials and federal funders. Faculty respondents will also share their personal experiences. Space is limited, and registration is encouraged.
EVEN MORE EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
Join BU Research for two upcoming “Research on Tap” events designed to help you meet potential research collaborators. Spencer Piston of Political Science will host “Inequality in the United States” on March 29, and Associate Provost for Diversity & Inclusion Crystal Williams will host “Broadening Participation in STEM” on April 3. Both events will feature a curated set of micro-talks by BU faculty. Advance registration is encouraged.
A NOTE TO OUR READERS… With Congress headed home for a spring district work period, Beltway BUzz will not publish next week. We will keep an eye out for cherry blossoms and return in April.