News
Nahid Bhadelia to Head New BU Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases
FACULTY EXPERT
Nahid Bhadelia to Head New BU Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases
The new center will connect policy with research and use lessons from Ebola and COVID to prepare lawmakers and the public for the next crisis.
ON THE CHARLES RIVER
BU Law Dean, Whose Mother Was a Child Bride in Nigeria, Shares Powerful Story of Resilience
“As a mother myself, I can only imagine the anguish that my mother felt as she left her children behind in a war-torn nation,” Angela Onwuachi-Willig tells graduates.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
As Office Work Returns, this Smart HVAC System Could Save Energy, Money, and Even Lives
With support from the U.S. Department of Energy, BU engineers have developed a system using thermal sensors and cameras to monitor occupancy in commercial building and automate cooling, heating, and ventilation.
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
Learn about the future of cybercrime with speakers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Interpol, and GE Healthcare at BU Metropolitan College's White Hat Conference today... Register for a June 24th webinar on how U.S. manufacturing can reduce its carbon footprint, hosted by the BU Institute for Sustainable Energy, theFraunhofer USA Center for Manufacturing Innovation at BU, and the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation... Playwright Kirsten Greenidge of the BU College of Fine Arts describes how White spaces embraced Black issues in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd in Politico...Christopher Robertson of the BU School of Law analyzes whether it is ethical to pay people to get vaccinated in The Conversation... Joshua Shifrinson of the BU Pardee School of Global Studies discusses the progressive foreign policy movement with Vox.
House Passes Early Career, Safe Research Environments Bills
BU IN DC
Rebecca Ray of the Global Development Policy Center testified before a U.S. - China Economic and Security Review Commission hearing on China’s involvement in Latin America and the Caribbean on May 20th.
HOUSE PASSES EARLY CAREER, SAFE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENTS BILLS
On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed several science policy bills. The Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act (H.R. 2695) directs the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to create uniform policies requiring grantees to tell research agencies when there is an investigation or finding of sexual harassment that involves a federally-funded researcher. The bill also authorizes the National Science Foundation to support additional research on harassment in science. The Supporting Early-Career Researchers Act (H.R. 144) establishes a temporary grant program at the National Science Foundation for early career researchers whose research was negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The bills are also included in the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S.1260), which is currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate.
Find out more
BUZZ BITS...
- The White House Scientific Integrity Taskforce held its first meeting on May 14th. The Biden Administration has charged the group with assessing current federal scientific integrity policies and identifying ways to fix any lapses. The group is comprised of several dozen of federal scientists and will meet over the course of several months.
- The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee advanced the nomination of Dr. Eric S. Lander to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on Thursday, sending the nomination to the full U.S. Senate for consideration. Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said she "would have loved to see a woman" lead OSTP, and that Lander agreed he would update her every six months on OSTP's work to champion diversity in research.
- The Commerce Committee also discussed the nomination of Dr. Richard Spinrad as administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Spinrad told the Senators he wants to expand the products his agency provides the American people and emphasized his commitment to scientific integrity.
GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
Have you heard the advice to reach out to a program officer when seeking federal grants, but are unsure where to start? The National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health recently published a blog post that walks researchers through the benefits of speaking with a program officer and the best ways to communicate with one. This resource provides tips on finding the right program officer for your research, what materials to provide, and the preferred method of contact (hint: cold calling isn't the best).
Read their suggestions
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey Invokes Thurgood Marshall, Pauli Murray, Ibram Kendi in Addressing LAW Convocation
As professional advocates, law grads can work to unravel policies underlying structural inequities highlighted by the pandemic.
Nahid Bhadelia to Head New BU Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases
Will connect policy with research and use lessons from Ebola and COVID to prepare lawmakers and the public for next crisis
LAW Dean, Whose Mother Was a Child Bride in Nigeria, Shares Powerful Story of Resilience with Graduates
“As a mother myself, I can only imagine the anguish that my mother felt as she left her children behind in a war-torn nation,” Angela Onwuachi-Willig tells graduates.
A BU Commencement Unlike Any in History
ON THE CHARLES RIVER
A BU Commencement Unlike Any in History
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) delivered a stirring Commencement address on May 16th, telling BU's new graduates, "There is a place in the movement for everyone -- and the movement needs you." Watch her speech
ADVOCACY RESOURCE
BU Supports the NSF for the Future Act
BU President Robert A. Brown urges Congress to support the bipartisan National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Future Act (H.R. 2225), which would invest in cutting-edge research and diversify the scientific workforce. Read his letter
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
Alcohol Consumption Spiked During the Pandemic. Could the Consequences Outlast the Coronavirus?
BU researchers say the answer may be to make alcohol "less attractive, less affordable, and less available." See what they recommend
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
Patrick Kinney of the BU School of Public Health and Mark Friedl and Richard Primack of the BU College of Arts & Sciences were ranked among the world's top climate scientists by Reuters... Rebecca Ray of the BU Global Development Policy Center will testify before the U.S. - China Economic and Security Review Commission hearing on China's involvement in Latin America and the Caribbean on May 20th... Kimberly A.S. Howard of the BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development explains how working from home during the pandemic changed children's perceptions of work in The Washington Post... Emily Rothman of the BU School of Public Health provides guidance on how to support survivors of domestic violence in The Lily.
Congress Debates the Future of NSF
BU IN DC
Kevin Outterson of CARB-X and the School of Law addressed a webinar on combating microbial resistance, featuring Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), on May 12th.
CONGRESS DEBATES THE FUTURE OF NSF
On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee passed the Endless Frontier Act (S. 1260), a bill that would create a new National Science Foundation (NSF) directorate for commercializing technologies and dramatically increase the portion of NSF funds reserved for institutions in states without significant research capacity. Senators advanced the bill, which would pair the NSF changes with new rules governing the security of research, as part of a package designed to improve American competition with China. On the other side of Capitol Hill, a subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee approved the NSF for the Future Act (H.R. 2225) on Thursday. The House bill would be the first comprehensive renewal of the agency in over a decade; it would create a scientific solutions directorate at NSF, increase support for trainees, and direct specific funding to Minority Serving Institutions. Both bills are expected to advance in their respective chambers this summer, and Congress will need to resolve their considerable differences before a final measure could be sent to the President.
BUZZ BITS...
- On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced the availability of funds for colleges and students impacted by COVID-19 via the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III). In a change from previous HEERF distributions, the Biden Administration has determined that undocumented and international students with significant financial need are eligible for the funds.
- Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Catherine Lhamon to lead the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Right (OCR), which oversees colleges' compliance with federal anti-discrimination and anti-harassment rules. Ms. Lhamon previously led OCR between 2013 and 2016, and was known for her strict enforcement of the Obama Administration's rules on campus sexual misconduct.
- The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) at the National Institutes of Health has released its strategic plan for 2021-2025. The strategic plan outlines the research goals and priorities that NIGMS plans to pursue over the next five years, and includes cross-cutting themes of equity and inclusion, optimizing programs through data, and transparent communication with stakeholders.
- CORRECTION: Last week, Beltway BUzz erroneously stated that National Aeronautics and Space Administration Administrator Bill Nelson had flown to the moon, but he did not. He flew on the Space Shuttle while he was a U.S. Senator. We apologize for our error.
GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
The Department of Defense released a new funding opportunity announcement for its signature university-led social science research program, the Minerva Research Initiative. The agency is interested in research touching upon the following nine topics:
- Social Implications of Environmental Change
- Resource Competition, Social Cohesion, and Strategic Climate Resilience
- Security Risks in Ungoverned, Semi-Governed, and Differently-Governed Spaces
- Analysis of Foreign Influence Operations in Cross-Cultural Perspective
- Community Studies on Online and Offline Influence
- Computational Social Science Research on Difficult-to-Access Environments
- Social and Cultural Implications of Artificial Intelligence
- Humans and Outer Space
- Management and Information in the Defense Environment
White papers are strongly encouraged and must be submitted no later than June 23rd.
BUzz Bits
BU IN DC
Thea James of the School of Medicine testified at a Congressional hearing on ending hunger in America on April 28th.
Associate Provost for Computing & Data Sciences Azer Bestavros attended a virtual meeting of the National Science Foundation’s Computer & Information Science & Engineering Advisory Committee, of which he is a member, on May 5th and 6th.
BUZZ BITS...
- President Robert A. Brown urged Congress to support the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Future Act (H.R. 2225) in a letter sent to Capitol Hill yesterday. The bill would be the first comprehensive reauthorization of the NSF in more than a decade, expanding support for graduate education and creating a new directorate focused on bringing scientific and engineering solutions to the public.
- The U.S. Department of Education announced on Monday that Richard Cordray would be the next chief operating officer of Federal Student Aid. Cordray led the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau during the Obama Administration, and is expected to enact strict oversight of both the student lending industry and for-profit colleges.
- Former Senator Bill Nelson was sworn in as administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Monday. Nelson represented the state of Florida in the U.S. Senate for 17 years and traveled to the moon during his tenure in Congress.
NIH RELEASES MINORITY HEALTH RESEARCH PLAN
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently released its Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan for 2021-2025, in conjunction with the NIH UNITE diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative. It will drive many of the new research opportunities NIH plans to release on health disparities, minority health, and health equity. The plan contains several future initiatives that the NIH describes as its “Leap Forward” priorities, including reducing new HIV infections in minority communities by 75 percent and increasing the number of underrepresented biomedical scientists by 25 percent by 2030.
Find out more
GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
Are you struggling with the Broader Impacts statement in your National Science Foundation (NSF) grant applications? NSF recently shared advice for applicants who need help navigating this crucial section of the agency's merit review process. The post details the difference between "broadening participation" in science and "broader impacts," points to online resources for advancing research in society, explains the five criteria grant reviewers will measure your Broader Impacts statement against, and shares a recent Dear Colleague from the agency's social science directorate on how to use a structured framework as you develop your Broader Impacts statement.
Commencement Speakers
ON THE CHARLES RIVER
Commencement Speakers
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) will deliver Boston University's 148th Commencement Address on May 17th. Dr. Noubar Afeyan, co-founder and chairman of Moderna Therapeutics, will address the Advanced Degrees Commencement, and Greater Boston Food Bank CEO and President Catherine D'Amato will deliver the Baccalaureate Address.
STUDENT LIFE
"This Is My Stepping Stone"
Six first-generation students share their stories as they are inducted into BU's inaugural class of the Alpha Alpha Alpha honor society for first-gen students. Read their stories
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
How Testosterone Changes the Voices of Trans Men
In a first of-its-kind study, led by a former BU undergraduate, trans men undergoing "T therapy" reported that a masculine voice is of utmost importance to their identity. Hear their voices
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
Eleanor Murray of the BU School of Public Health assesses what epidemiologists like herself got wrong about COVID in The Washington Post... Joshua Shifrinson of the BU Pardee School of Global Studies discusses why Russia should be viewed as a problem, but not a threat, in Newsweek... Jonathan Jay of the BU School of Public Health writes about how the lessons from the COVID pandemic can apply to spiking gun violence in The Hill... Yes, some people really do prefer Zoom meetings, says Stefan Hofmann of the BU College of Arts & Sciences in The Atlantic... Emily Rothman of the BU School of Public Health talks about how to have safe and open communication about sexual boundaries in Medium.
Biden Sends Higher Ed Priorities to Congress
BU IN DC
Nazli Kibria and Deborah Carr of the College of Arts & Sciences spoke with Congressional staff about the importance of social science research as part of the Consortium of Social Science Associations Advocacy Day on April 27th.
Gina Ortiz Jones (CAS’03, GRS’03) was nominated by President Joe Biden as undersecretary for the U.S. Air Force on April 27th.
BIDEN SENDS HIGHER ED PRIORITIES TO CONGRESS
On Wednesday evening, President Joe Biden addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time in his presidency. He touted the details of his American Families Plan, a $1.8 trillion proposal to increase access to medical care and education. The proposal includes:
- Making two years of community college free for all Americans, including Dreamer students who were brought to the United States without documentation as children.
- Increasing the maximum Pell Grant award for low-income students by $1,400 and expanding eligibility to Dreamers.
- Directing significant funds to Minority Serving Institutions, including for students pursuing health and teaching careers.
- Doubling the TEACH Grant financial aid award to students pursuing teaching degrees.
Biden also touted his previously-released American Jobs Plan, saying he proposed "the biggest increase in non-defense research and development on record." The spending proposals face an uphill climb in a closely-divided Congress.
SENATORS QUESTION OSTP NOMINEE LANDER
On Thursday, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing on the nomination of Dr. Eric Lander as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Presidential Science Adviser. Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren (D) and Edward Markey (D) enthusiastically introduced Dr. Lander, the founder of the Broad Institute in Cambridge, and emphasized his commitment to broadening participation in science. Members of the Committee praised Lander's scientific accomplishments, while expressing concern about his previous interactions with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his perceived downplaying of the role of women scientists in developing gene-editing technology. They also asked about the Biden Administration's proposal for an Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health, building public trust in science, and pandemic preparedness. Lander is the final Biden Cabinet nominee awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
BUZZ BITS...
- Dr. Geraldine Richmond as undersecretary for science at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Dr. Richmond is a chemist at the University of Oregon, and will be in charge of all science and research programs at DOE.
- Roberto Rodriguez as assistant secretary of planning, evaluation and policy development at the U.S. Department of Education. Mr. Rodriguez held education policy positions in the Obama Administration and for the late Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA).
- Heidi Shyu as undersecretary for research and engineering at the U.S. Department of Defense. Ms. Shyu, who has had an extensive career in the defense public and private sectors, will oversee extramural research funding at the Department if confirmed.
- Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon as assistant secretary for mental health and substance use at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, overseeing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Dr. Delphin-Rittmon is currently the commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
- Dr. Robert Hampshire as the chief science officer at the Department of Transportation. Dr. Hampshire is currently acting as the agency's assistant Secretary for research and technology, and was previously an associate professor of public policy at the University of Michigan.