Biden Budget; Research Security; Cities, Safety, & Health
BU IN DC
Ambassador Mark Storella of the Pardee School of Global Studies spoke on a panel on U.S. foreign policy and the war in Ukraine at the Principles First Summit on March 4th.
Vice President and Associate Provost for Research Gloria Waters attended the Association of American Universities Senior Research Officers meeting between March 5th and 7th.
Dean Scott Taylor and Cory Diamond of the Pardee School of Global Studies attended a reception hosted by Pardee School Dean’s Advisory Board member Paul Nathanson (Pardee ’85) for alumni and students on March 6th.
Yannis Paschalidis of the Rafik Hariri Institute of Computing and Computational Science & Engineering participated in a National Science Foundation workshop on harnessing artificial intelligence for scientific advancement on March 8th and 9th.
BIDEN ASKS CONGRESS FOR LARGE NSF, ENERGY, PELL INCREASES
On Thursday, President Joe Biden released his budget request for fiscal year 2024, revealing the Administration’s education and research priorities for the year ahead. Building on the vision laid out in last year’s CHIPS + Science Act (Public Law 117-167), the President proposed an 18% increase in the National Science Foundation budget ($11.3 billion) and a 9% increase for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science ($8.8 billion). The President also requested an additional $1 billion for the new Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health and just shy of a 2% increase for the National Institutes of Health. The White House requested an $820 increase in the maximum Pell Grant award amount ($8,215), continuing the President’s goal of eventually doubling the award. Congress will hold hearings on the President’s proposals this spring and then begin to formulate the spending bills that will determine agency budgets for fiscal year 2024.
BUZZ BITS…
- The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is seeking input on a draft standard requirement for research institutions to establish and operate a research security program. The proposal builds on the research security goals outlined in National Security Presidential Memorandum 33, released during the Trump Administration. OSTP is soliciting comments on the proposed guidance through June 5th.
- The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing on Wednesday examining the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) position in the federal research ecosystem and how the agency might better collaborate with other agencies. Witnesses from DOE and several science agencies spoke about the value that DOE’s research apparatus brings to their own research missions and how they partner with the agency to benefit the U.S.
- DOE is seeking feedback from universities on the best practices for preparing students for careers in quantum information sciences, including how the DOE national lab system can contribute. Responses are due by April 20th.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
The Office of Research and the Initiative on Cities are cosponsoring “Safety, Justice, and Health in U.S. Cities” as the next Research on Tap on March 15th at 4 p.m. in the Kilachand Center. Hosted by Professors Jonathan Jay and Jessica Simes, the event will feature microtalks on multidisciplinary research at BU examining the links between community violence, the criminal justice system, and health in U.S. cities and will explore solutions through community-based and policy-engaged work. Participants will have an opportunity to connect with potential collaborators at a reception following the event.