News
Defense Research; Genesis Mission; Financial Aid
BU in DC
The CARB-X Joint Oversight Board met in Washington, DC, on December 11th.
HOUSE PASSES DEFENSE POLICY BILL
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual bill that establishes defense policy. The legislation emphasizes artificial intelligence, quantum, and biotechnology as defense research priorities, establishing a Biotechnology Management Office and directing the Department of Defense to create a strategy for emerging biotechnology matters. Notably, the bill does not include measures previously approved by the House that would have significantly limited collaborations between American and international scientists. The U.S. Senate is expected to approve the bill and send it to the President for his signature next week.
HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE REVIEWS GENESIS MISSION
The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing titled "The Genesis Mission: Prioritizing American Science and Technology Leadership Power" on Wednesday. Department of Energy Under Secretary Dario Gil testified about on the Administration's Genesis Mission proposal to invest in artificial intelligence infrastructure as a tool to accelerate scientific progress and U.S. competitiveness. Under Secretary Gil praised the partnership between universities and the federal government, stating that "the university ecosystem that funds and supports science and engineering and educates our students in science and engineering and mathematics is indispensable."
HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES FINANCIAL AID BILLS
The House Education and Workforce Committee approved legislation to increase transparency around college costs on Thursday. The Student Financial Clarity Act, coauthored by Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA), would create a Universal Net Price Calculator; it was approved by a vote of 27 to 6. The College Financial Aid Clarity Act, which would require universities to use a standard financial aid offer developed by the U.S. Department of Education, was approved by a 23 to 10 vote. The Committee's approval clears the way for the bills to be considered by the full U.S. House of Representatives next year.
A Note to Our Readers: As Congress approaches its District Work Period, Beltway BUzz will temporarily pause publication. Be sure to visit our website, follow us on LinkedIn, or check the University's Federal Actions page for updates. Happy holidays!
BU’s Legacy of Values, as Told Through Voices from Our Shared History
At a time when people are yearning for closer community, greater inclusion, integrity, and messages of hope, we turn to powerful words from Lucy Wheelock, Elie Wiesel, Martin Luther King, Jr., Howard Thurman, Barbara Jordan, and others who have helped to shape today's Boston University.
How BU Research Is Helping Infants with Down Syndrome Take Steps Toward Independence
Jana Iverson is using a mobility aid to support children's early development.
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.
BU School of Theology Receives $1 Million to Build a Support Network of New England Churches
Lilly Endowment Grant will help combat loneliness among church leaders and provide seminarians with contextual education opportunities.
Is There Life on Other Planets? BU Astronomer Helping Lead New Mission Seeking Hints of Life in Space
Chuanfei Dong, a CAS assistant professor, is helping lead Mauve satellite’s study of stars’ bursts of plasma and magnetic fields.
Sen. Warnock, Cancer Research, Semiconductor Production
ON THE CHARLES RIVER
Senator and Reverend Raphael Warnock Preaches Against Inequality at Marsh Chapel's 75th Anniversary Service
Warnock, a Baptist pastor, condemned economic inequality, saying, “We live in a political moment when the poor have been maligned.”
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
With New Technology and Innovative Treatments, BU Cancer Research Is Saving Lives
Thanks to federal investment in science, Boston University researchers are leading the fight against cancer with tests that detect the disease earlier, effective medicines that extend patients’ lives, and other breakthroughs that help more people get lifesaving care.
Learn how federal support saves lives
FACULTY EXPERTS
BU Engineers Are Helping to Bring Semiconductor Production Back to the US
BU engineer Ayse Coskun explains how the University is helping the nation stay on top of chip technology.
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
BU Federal Relations is hiring a Director of Federal Relations...Professor Joshua Goodman of the BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development joins Plain English with Derek Thompson to talk about America's math crisis... Maria Glymour of the BU School of Public Health (SPH) shares how to stop or slow Alzheimer's disease... Sarah Hanselman of the BU College of Arts & Sciences dives into our Frankenstein fascination and Mary Shelley's timeless story... CBS News interviewed BU SPH Professor Jonathan Buonocore about the human health risks from fossil fuel infrastructure... Mark T. Williams of the BU Questrom School of Business discusses the best credit cards for beginners with Wallet Hub... The National Institutes of Health highlighted BU pathologist Jonathan Cherry's research on the effects of repeated head trauma in young athletes.
The Loss of a Rural Hospital Is Devastating for a Local Community
As rural-area hospitals continue to shutter their doors at a concerning rate across America, SPH professors discuss what is driving these closures and how public health can help affected communities receive the care they deserve.
ED Restructuring; Government Reopening; Defense Research
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES STRUCTURAL CHANGES
As part of its plan to "dismantle" the Department of Education (ED), the Trump Administration announced on Tuesday it would use interagency agreements to move oversight of certain ED activities to other federal agencies. Among other changes, the Department of Labor (DOL) would assume responsibility for college preparatory programs like TRIO and GEAR UP, and the Department of State would oversee work currently performed by ED's International and Foreign Language Education office. Federal law prohibits the elimination of the Department of Education; however, interagency agreements may allow the Administration to functionally reduce the size of the agency without eradicating its programs. Earlier this year, the Administration used an interagency agreement to move career and technical education programs from ED to DOL.
BUZZ BITS...
- Following the reopening of the federal government last week, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation shared their plans to resume operations, reschedule peer review activities, and revise submission deadlines.
- On Monday, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering announced the Department of Defense will prioritize six critical technology areas: Applied Artificial Intelligence, Biomanufacturing, Contested Logistics Technologies, Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance, Scaled Directed Energy, and Scaled Hypersonics.
- The House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing this week on "The Future of College: Harnessing Innovation to Improve Outcomes and Lower Costs." Lawmakers and witnesses discussed the role of artificial intelligence, the flexibility offered by online programs, the importance of partnering with employers to meet workforce needs, the value of research investments at the Institute of Education Sciences, efforts to address students' basic needs, and the issue of college affordability.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
Slides and a recording are now available from the “Strategies for Pursuing Department of Defense (DOD) Funding” webinar hosted by the Office of Research and Federal Relations earlier this month. Lewis-Burke Associates LLC, a Washington, DC-based consulting firm, provided an overview of key DOD funding opportunities, guidance on building relationships with program managers, strategies for demonstrating the national security relevance of your research, and practical steps for successfully pursuing DOD funding. Faculty Alexander Green of the College of Engineering, Maria Kamenetska of the College of Arts & Sciences, and Jennifer Schlezinger of the School of Public Health shared insights learned from their experiences successfully securing DOD research grants.
A Note to Our Readers: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, Beltway BUzz will temporarily pause publication. We wish you a joyous holiday! Be sure to visit our website, follow us on LinkedIn, or check the University's Federal Actions page for updates.