Candidates Tackle Student Loan Debt
BU IN DC
Michael Dietze of the College of Arts & Sciences hosted a workshop on ecological forecasting at the American Association for the Advancement of Science from May 13 through 15.
CANDIDATES TACKLE STUDENT LOAN DEBT
The pernicious impact of student loan debt is a dominant theme among the nearly two dozen contenders for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) unveiled a detailed campaign proposal to eliminate up to $50,000 in student loans for households making $100,000 a year or less, and to provide partial loan forgiveness for households earning between $100,000 and $250,000. Warren would also implement universal free public college to help students avoid borrowing, significantly increase the size of Pell grants for low-income students, and invest in minority-serving institutions. Her plan is more specific than her rivals, but many Democratic candidates have come out in favor of debt-free or tuition-free plans.
BUZZ BITS…
- The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has selected Dr. Barton Halpern as director of the Army Research Office. Dr. Halpern previously served in technology and program management for the DOD and in private industry.
- The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research is seeking public input as it develops a list of impactful behavioral and social science research accomplishments in public health and health care. Submissions are due prior to July 31.
- President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate Daniel Reed to the National Science Board, which oversees the National Science Foundation. Dr. Reed is a computer scientist and senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Utah.
GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) applied energy offices have recently released three solicitations worth over $200 million in funding The first is the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) program for high-priority research with biofuel technologies. The Advanced Building Construction with Energy Efficient Technologies and Practices program is seeking research for buildings that will reduce energy consumption and relieve stress on the electrical grid. Lastly, the Advanced Manufacturing Office is looking to fund high-impact, early-to mid-stage research in integrated building retrofits, new construction technologies, and advanced technology integration.