Genesis Mission; Education Roundtable; NSF Broader Impacts
BU in DC
Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) joined the BU Wheelock Center for Future Readiness for their webinar announcing a new partnership with the American Veterans Arts Collective on December 2nd.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ANNOUNCES REORGANIZATION, GENESIS MISSION
Last week, the White House and the Department of Energy (DOE) launched the Genesis Mission to “unleash a new age of AI-accelerated innovation and discovery.” Its core objectives include doubling the productivity and impact of U.S. science within a decade, advancing energy dominance — including fusion, nuclear, and grid modernization — and strengthening national security through AI-enabled research. DOE Under Secretary for Science Dario Gil issued an open letter to the research community outlining the Genesis plan. The launch followed a recent reorganization of the agency that includes the closure of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the creation of new science offices. Under the auspices of the Under Secretary of Science, DOE established offices of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum and Fusion alongside the existing Office of Science.
BUZZ BITS…
- On Wednesday, the White House hosted a roundtable titled “Biased Professors, Woke Administrators, and the End of Free Inquiry on U.S. Campuses,” featuring Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and several college students and administrators. McMahon called on university leaders “to join me in a golden age of academe — committed to reason, not racial preferences.” The meeting was the second installment in a planned three-event series on higher education at the White House.
- The Senate Appropriations Committee released its proposed spending bill for the Department of Energy (DOE) last week. The Committee-released bill proposes to fund the Office of Science at $8.25 billion in fiscal year 2026, a slight increase over its current funding level and a rejection of the President’s proposed $1.15 billion reduction in science activities. The Senate has not yet scheduled a vote on the bill.
- The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee voted to advance the nomination of Mary Anne Carter as the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) by a 14 to 9 vote on Wednesday. Carter served as NEA Chair during the first Trump Administration.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
On Thursday, December 11th, the Office of Research will host “National Science Foundation (NSF) Broader Impacts in a Different Climate” via Zoom at 12:00 pm. The interactive panel discussion will focus on how NSF reviewers are approaching broader impacts in today’s shifting funding climate. BU colleagues who have recently served as NSF reviewers will share what they’ve learned from the review process and offer concrete, actionable tips for crafting compelling broader impacts sections — particularly in light of evolving expectations and priorities. Participants will also learn how Research Development can support you in developing broader impact strategies for large, complex, and center-scale proposals.