Defense Policy; McMahon on Higher Ed; Global Security
BU IN DC
President Melissa Gilliam met with Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) on Capitol Hill on September 9th. They discussed the partnership between universities and the federal government, the future of the life sciences, and the University’s Living Our Values Initiative.
Provost Gloria Waters attended the Association of American Universities Chief Academic Officers meeting from September 7th to September 9th.
Leslie Dietiker of Wheelock College of Education & Human Development discussed Department of Education-funded research with policymakers, including Representative Susan Bonamici (D-OR), with the LEARN Coalition on September 9th and 10th.
HOUSE APPROVES DEFENSE POLICY BILL
The U.S. House of Representatives passed its annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a defense policy bill, on Wednesday. The House-passed bill would prohibit federal funding from going to universities that partner with “foreign entities of concern,” even for fundamental research, and would require researchers to disclose more information about their interactions with foreign entities. The bill also directs the Department of Defense to continue prioritizing biotechnology research and workforce development, citing the importance of point-of-need synthetic blood and biomanufacturing in supporting warfighters on the battlefield. The U.S. Senate is currently considering its version of the NDAA, which will need to be reconciled with the House version before a final defense policy bill is sent to the President.
BUZZ BITS…
- Last week, Republicans on the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party released a report about research security risks. The report asserts that China “exploits U.S. universities – and gains access to U.S. government-funded research – to fuel its military and technological risk.” It calls for the end of federal funding to entities that collaborate with “foreign adversaries,” even for fundamental research.
- Secretary of Education Linda McMahon called higher education “broken” during a speech on Monday, saying schools have too many administrators and not enough “true leaders.” McMahon urged colleges to “prioritize personal growth, seek and serve the truth, preserve and defend civilization, [and] model intellectual leadership and produce future thinkers and leaders.”
- During a Senate hearing on the Trump Administration’s Artificial Intelligence Action Plan on Wednesday, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios stated that the Administration will soon seek public input on “regulations that may be hindering the progress of AI.” Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) discussed his SANDBOX Act, which would create a regulatory “sandbox” for AI developers to test new technologies with fewer federal rules. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Ed Markey (D-MA) raised environmental and energy concerns around AI data centers.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
The Office of Research will host a Research on Tap focused on “Global Security in an Interconnected World” on Tuesday, September 16th, at 4 p.m. in the Kilachand Center. Professors Sanne Verschuren, Muhammad Zaman, and Rosella Cappella Zielinski will co-host a curated set of microtalks from BU scholars who are exploring new questions about the nature of security today. For example, how do climate change, migration, and global health intersect with traditional security concerns? What can we learn by examining these issues across disciplines or through new forms of collaboration? RSVP today and find your next research collaborator while enjoying refreshments.