News
BU Launches Next Phase of You Are Why Initiative Focused on Student Experience
You Are Why: Students in Action will help BU build new partnerships and philanthropy to fund undergraduate scholarships, internships, and research.
Boston’s University, Antimicrobial Resistance, Dating Advice
ON THE CHARLES RIVER
Being Boston's University
BU is more than a hub of learning, teaching, and research. It’s firmly rooted in—and engaged with—the city of Boston, partnering with its government, schools, nonprofits, and neighborhoods in so many ways.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
WHO Joins Forces with BU to Help Vulnerable Populations at Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance
World Health Organization's collaboration with the BU Center for Forced Displacement will study the link between environmental pollution and drug-resistant infections among refugees and asylum seekers.
See how we're helping
STUDENT LIFE
Dating Advice from a Boomer, 2,500 Miles Away
A payphone on BU campus connects Gen Z to seniors in Nevada.
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
BU College of Arts & Sciences Professor Evimaria Terzi uses computer science to explain why your basketball team won or lost... Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Biological Technologies Office Director Michael Koeris (ENG '10) visited the BU Biological Design Center... CBS News highlights BU Questrom School of Business Professor Jay Zagorsky's take on the economic impacts of the Iran war... Makarand Mody of the BU School of Hospitality Administration talks to Newsweek about why staycations are becoming popular with Gen Z... Science features BU College of Arts and Science Professor Richard Primack's research on Japan's fading cherry blossoms.
President’s Budget; NIJ; Geospatial Symposium
BU IN DC
Molly Heald (SSW'26) of the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health attended the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy's Social Work Day on the Hill and Student Advocacy Day on March 25th and 26th.
TRUMP'S PROPOSED BUDGET SUPPORTS PELL GRANTS, CUTS RESEARCH FUNDING
On Friday, the White House released the President's Budget Request to Congress for fiscal year 2027. For the second consecutive year, President Donald J. Trump is recommending reductions in funding for scientific research and student aid, despite lawmakers rejecting similar cuts last year. The Request asks Congress to make these funding changes:
- National Institutes of Health: 12% cut and the elimination of the National Institute on Minority Health and Disparities, the Fogarty International Center, and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
- National Science Foundation: 54% cut and the elimination of the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate.
- Pell Grant: Maintain the maximum Pell Grant award at $7,395.
- Federal Work-Study: 90% cut.
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Science Mission Directorate: 46% cut.
- Department of Energy: 15% cut.
- Institute of Education Sciences: 67% cut.
- National Endowments for the Humanities and Arts: Closing the agencies.
Congress will respond to the President's Budget Request with its own spending bills this summer.
Read the budget proposal
GRANT NEWS YOU CAN USE
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) released three funding opportunities, the first solicitations posted by the office since January 2025. The agency requests proposals related to Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women; Research on the Abuse, Neglect, and Financial Exploitation of Older Adults; and the Graduate Research Fellowship. Letters of intent are encouraged for some of the opportunities, and all have May deadlines. More NIJ funding notices are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
Join BU colleagues at the University's first Geospatial Data & Technologies Symposium on April 22nd between 12 and 4 p.m. at the Wightman Mansion at 43 Hawes Street. This event is for anyone at BU who uses geospatial data and technologies in their work or is interested in learning more about how geospatial data and technology are applied at BU. Panel discussions, poster sessions, presentations, and discussion groups will facilitate the exchange of ideas about geospatial use at BU and create a community of practice in this space.
A Note To Our Readers:Beltway BUzz will temporarily pause publication and resume later this month. Be sure to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn.
BU’s Initiative on Cities Latest Menino Survey of Mayors Focuses on Housing Affordability Crisis
Survey finds more mayors understand the problem, but roadblocks to change remain.
Two Boston University Researchers Elected AAAS Fellows
Prestigious honor given to neuroscientist who studies diseases of aging and physicist whose work spans medicine to AI.
Campus Espionage; PCAST; DARPA Biological Technologies
BU IN DC
Maxwell Palmer and Thomas Larsen ('26) of the College of Arts & Sciences discussed the importance of federal investment in social science research with Congressional offices as part of the Consortium of Social Science Associations 2026 Advocacy Day on March 24th.
Catherine Fazio of the Questrom School of Business spoke at the Mpact Conference on Understanding Regional Opportunities and Partnerships to Drive American Competitiveness on March 25th. Kathleen Shannon of the College of Arts & Sciences attended the conference.
Danielle Mulligan of the Initiative on Cities attended the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy's Federal Policy Retreat between March 22nd and March 25th.
HOUSE COMMITTEE PRESSES ON RESEARCH SECURITY CONCERNS
The House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing on Thursday titled "U.S. Universities Under Siege: Foreign Espionage, Stolen Innovation, and the National Security Threat." Witnesses from the University of Michigan and University of Florida detailed their policies to promote research security, and a Stanford University student described her experience being "personally targeted by a suspected agent of the Chinese Communist Party while conducting research." Committee Republicans advocated for the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act, which would add to the existing foreign gift disclosures required of colleges. Democrats warned against discrimination based on country of origin and called attention to the impact of Department of Education staffing reductions on student loan servicing and civil rights oversight.
BUZZ BITS...
- On Thursday, President Donald J. Trump announced his appointees to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). The appointees include Michael Dell of Dell Technologies, Larry Ellison and Safra Catz of Oracle, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, and John Martinis of the University of California, Santa Barbara. The body is cochaired by White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Michael Kratsios.
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Jared Isaacman announced several National Space Policy initiatives on Tuesday, including building a base on the moon, maintaining American presence in low Earth orbit, and reaffirming existing and planned science missions. Along with the announcement, NASA will seek feedback from commercial and academic partners on its space science plans.
- The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing on Thursday titled "Don't Fumble Their Future: Positioning Student-Athletes for Success in School and Beyond." Witnesses representing colleges and student athletes expressed concerns about the current model of college athletics, but disagreed on issues such as athlete compensation and Name, Image, and Likeness rights.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
A recording is now available from the “DARPA Biological Technologies Office: Insights from Director Michael Koeris” webinar hosted by the Office of Research and Federal Relations earlier this month. Dr. Koeris provided an overview of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), its research priorities in the Biological Technologies Office, and best practices for sharing research ideas with DARPA program managers. The BU Federal Relations team is available to work with investigators who would like to discuss strategies for partnering with DARPA.
A Note To Our Readers: Due to the Congressional District Work Period, Beltway BUzz will temporarily pause publication. Be sure to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn
DARPA BTO Director Michael Koeris Visits BU
Michael Koeris (ENG’10), director of the Biological Technologies Office (BTO) at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), met with Kenneth Lutchen, vice president and associate provost for research, Chris Chen, biomedical engineering professor and director of BU’s Biological Design Center, and Delaney Gray-Scherr (ENG’23,’25) on Friday, March 20, 2026.