BU on the Hill, ARPA-H, EPA Research
BU IN DC
Kevin Outterson of the School of Law and CARB-X joined Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA) for a virtual panel discussion on antibiotic resistance on May 24th.
Sarah Hokanson of Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs presented at the 2022 Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Summit on June 2nd.
Mary Churchill and Ryan Lovell of Wheelock College of Education & Human Development attended the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education’s annual advocacy meeting from June 5th through the 8th.
BU URBAN HOSTS CAPITOL HILL BRIEFING
On Thursday, the BU Graduate Program in Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health (URBAN) hosted a virtual briefing for Congressional offices on how to build and diversify a future climate workforce. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) provided opening remarks, highlighting the actions Congress has already taken to support climate mitigation and support federal research. Professor Pamela Templer and doctoral student Yasmin Romitti described how BU URBAN, a National Science Foundation-supported program, prepares graduate students across disciplines for a range of careers that can address the impacts of climate change. Dr. Pam Padilla of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) highlighted the society’s educational tools. Shawn Jones of BlueWave Solar discussed how programs like URBAN help train the leaders who can guide the industry in achieving carbon-reduction goals.
ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES ARPA-H
On May 25th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) formally established the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health (ARPA-H), a new federal agency to support high-risk, high-reward biomedical breakthroughs, as an entity within the National Institutes of Health. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra named Dr. Adam Russell as the acting deputy director for ARPA-H. Dr. Russell currently serves as chief scientist at the University of Maryland’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security and previously served as a program manager for both the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Congress is still considering legislative proposals that may alter the agency’s trajectory.
BUZZ BITS…
- The U.S. Senate recently confirmed Dr. Christopher Frey as assistant administrator for research and development at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Dr. Frey is a mechanical engineer who served on the faculty of North Carolina State University before joining the EPA. His confirmation fills a position that has lacked a permanent director since 2012.
- The Partnership for Public Service is seeking applicants for its federal fellowship for racial equity, which allows academic professionals with expertise in racial equity to serve at a federal government agency for up to two years. The fellowship was created in response to President Joe Biden’s executive order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities, issued his first day in office.
- A Congressionally-mandated advisory panel recently presented its recommendations for how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) can better integrate behavioral and social sciences research. The panel recommended identifying strategies to increase behavioral research applications at certain institutes and centers and ensuring that NIH advisory councils follow the agency’s policy that they have at least two members with behavioral or public health expertise.