BUzz Bits
- President Joe Biden appointed 30 members to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) on Wednesday. In keeping with the Administration’s goal of expanding participation in science, half of the PCAST appointees are women and more than one-third are people of color and immigrants.
- The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Thursday, a bill that would set next year’s priorities for the Department of Defense. Among other provisions, the House-passed bill would require personnel on Defense-funded research grants to complete research security training. The U.S. Senate has not debated its version of the NDAA yet.
- On Tuesday, the House passed a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government operating at current funding levels through December 3rd. The CR is needed because Congress will not complete work on its annual spending bills before the expiration of the federal fiscal year on September 30th. Senate Republicans have expressed opposition to the bill due to a provision that would raise the national debt ceiling. If the standoff remains unresolved by October 1st, the federal government would shut down.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
Whether you are a new faculty member building a research team for the first time or a current faculty member expanding your work across disciplines or institutions, creating an effective team environment requires intention and skill. Join Assistant Provost Sarah Hokanson of BU Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs for a BU Research workshop on “Building and Supervising a Research Team” on September 29th. Dr. Hokanson will address how to recruit and bring onboard diverse team members, strategies to build trust and sustain productive interactions within teams, and approaches to keep projects and team members on task and on time.
TIPS FOR TESTIFYING ON CAPITOL HILL
Testifying before Congress is an excellent way to share your expertise with policymakers and participate in the legislative process. But navigating a Congressional hearing may seem daunting. BU Federal Relations has produced a resource for members of the BU community who accept an invitation to testify on Capitol Hill. Our guide walks you through preparing separate written and oral statements, understanding the setup of a typical Congressional hearing room, and following up with lawmakers when the hearing concludes. We look forward to working with faculty, staff, and students as you engage with Congress.