News
Karen Antman Stepping Down as BU’s Medical School Dean and Medical Campus Provost
Transformational leader oversaw new facilities and faculty, and a new school name.
BU Celebrates 7,600 Graduates at Buoyant 151st Commencement
Ceremony includes small student walkout over war in Gaza and a farewell to President ad interim Kenneth Freeman.
AI Roadmap; NIH Reforms; Transformative Education Research
BU IN DC
Keith Brownof the College of Engineering moderated a panel discussion as part of the release of the National Academies Artificial Intelligence for Scientific Discovery workshop proceedings on May 13th. Brown is a member of the workshop committee.
Nathan Brewer and Ashley Slay of the Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Center met with White House officials to discuss sexual misconduct in scientific settings on May 14th.
Elizabeth Leary of Government & Community Affairs attended the New England Council Washington Leaders' Conference on May 15th and 16th.
SENATE GROUP RELEASES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ROADMAP
On Tuesday, the Bipartisan Senate Artificial Intelligence (AI) Working Group released a roadmap describing the bills the Senators believe Congress should consider to appropriately govern the use of AI. Among other proposals, the working group urges "funding for a cross-government AI research and development (R&D) effort, including relevant infrastructure that spans the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Commerce (DOC), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), National Institutes of Health (NIH), [and] National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)." The roadmap also recommends robust funding for the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource, which allows scientists to experiment with AI, and for AI-themed grand challenge competitions. The working group consists of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM). The roadmap's recommendations are not binding, but they are designed to guide Congressional involvement in AI going forward.
SENATOR OFFERS IDEAS FOR MODERNIZING NIH
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the senior Republican on the Senate's health policy committee, released a report last week offering suggestions for modernizing the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Cassidy suggests updating NIH the peer review process to encourage scientists to submit innovative proposals that move beyond "incremental science," rethinking how biomedical workforce training is funded, and providing more transparency about how NIH operates. While his proposals are unlikely to move forward during this session of Congress, they may gather more traction should Cassidy become chairman of the committee in the future.
GRANT NEWS YOU CAN USE
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is inviting applications for its fiscal year 2025 Transformative Research in the Education Sciences Grants Program. The agency is seeking proposals that have the potential to accelerate learning and reduce education inequities by combining principles from the learning sciences with advanced technology to create scalable technology solutions. The funding notice indicates that proposals should note the “transformative potential” of the submission and the innovation of the proposed research approach. IES estimates that awards will range from $300,0000 to $1.25 million per year for a project period of up to three years; a cost-sharing partner with experience developing technology products is required. The agency encourages applicants to submit a letter of intent by June 6th and discuss the proposal with a program officer.
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Anthony Hollenberg Named New President of Boston Medical Center
The BU endocrinologist and department of medicine chair will remain on the medical school faculty.
BU’s Commencement Student Speaker Is Proud of Being a Change Maker
Michael Arellano reflects on their activism, their identity, and their role in opening the LGBTQ+ Student Resource Center.
Biden-Trump, Climate Policies, Rethinking Old Age
FACULTY EXPERT
Does The Biden-Trump Rematch Mark the End of an Era?
BU historian Bruce J. Schulman asserts that “Presidential rematches have signaled momentous political upheavals by revealing instabilities in the electoral system."
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
How High-Level Lawsuits Are Disrupting Climate Change Policies
BU researchers are pushing for changes to international treaties to better protect the planet after finding fossil fuel companies are increasingly suing countries for billions over climate policies.
FACULTY EXPERT
Rethinking Our Idea of “Old Age”
With baby boomers hitting their golden years, older adults are everywhere -- including reality TV’s The Golden Bachelor. Here’s what we all need to know about our aging society.
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
Killers of the Flower Moon author David Grann (GRS '94) will deliver BU's Commencement address... Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA, Hon '21) spoke with students in a Business, Justice, and Responsibility class at the BU Questrom School of Business... Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) discussed who should pay for life sciences innovation at WBUR CitySpace... Maxwell Palmer of the BU College of Arts & Sciences tells NBC News that winning a Senate election increases the probability of later serving on a corporate board by about 30%... Cutler Cleveland of the BU Institute for Global Sustainability talks about the goals of divestment movements with Vox.
Life Science Innovation: Who Should Pay?
The panel discussion “Life Science Innovation: Who Should Pay?” was held May 9, 2024 at WBUR’s CitySpace.
Pressley & Auchincloss; Pathogen Research; Large Federal Awards
BU IN DC
Sabrina Assoumou of the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine attended the Global Young Academy's 2024 International Conference of Young Scientists at the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine on May 8th and 9th.
Vivek Pandit of Industry Engagement and Christina Polyzos of the College of Engineering hosted a booth at the AI Expo for National Competitiveness on May 7th and 8th.
Fallou Ngom and Daivi Rodima-Taylor of the Pardee School of Global Studies presented at the International Research and Studies Program Project Directors Meeting at the U.S. Department of Education on April 12th.
QUESTROM HOSTS REPS. PRESSLEY, AUCHINCLOSS
The Questrom School of Business recently hosted two Members of Congress on the Charles River Campus. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-Dorchester) spoke to students in Questrom's Business, Justice and Responsibility class on April 23rd. Pressley discussed how she collaborates with local businesses, the importance of equity for all in federal policy, and the power of young people to advocate for change. Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-Brookline) joined a panel discussion sponsored by Questrom's Mehotra Institute for Business, Markets & Society entitled "Life Science Innovation: Who Should Pay?" on May 9th.
WHITE HOUSE RELEASES NEW RULES FOR PATHOGEN RESEARCH
On Monday, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released a new policy governing research with pathogens that are dangerous or have the potential to cause pandemics. The "Dual Use Research of Concern" oversight protocols were first enacted after anthrax attacks in the U.S. in 2001, while the rules for research that could be reasonably anticipated to lead to an enhanced potential pandemic pathogen were last updated seven years ago. Stakeholders had the opportunity to provide feedback on the new rules last year, following a report issued by the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity. The new policy will take effect in May of 2025.
GRANT NEWS YOU CAN USE
A compendium of large-scale federal funding opportunities from Lewis-Burke Associates is now available on the Federal Relations website. The document provides information on center-level funding opportunities across federal agencies, including expected timelines to help teams prepare. The opportunities include currently available competitions, future opportunities currently under development, and potential programs contingent on future funding. A Kerberos password is required to access the document.