News
Biden Transition Begins
BIDEN TRANSITION BEGINS
As President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris prepare to transition into their new roles, they have identified COVID-19, economic recovery, racial equity, and climate as top priorities. On Wednesday, Biden announced that Ron Klain, who spearheaded the Obama Administration's successful response to the Ebola epidemic, will be White House Chief of Staff. On Tuesday, the Biden-Harris transition identified the members of the review teams who will oversee the hand-off at specific federal agencies. Education scholar Linda Darling-Hammond will oversee the Department of Education transition team and Obama Administration alumna Cristin Dorgelo will oversee the transition at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
SENATE NUDGES BUDGET PROCESS ALONG
The fiscal year 2021 budget process inched forward this week as the Senate Appropriations Committee released proposed spending bills for each federal agency. The Senate bills recommend a significant increase for the National Institutes of Health (4.2%), modest increases for the National Science Foundation (2.4%) and Pell Grant awards (2.4%), and flat funding for the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities. The package does not include COVID-19 relief funds. To avoid a government shutdown, Congressional negotiators need to reach agreement on funding levels for the entire federal government before the current continuing resolution expires on December 12.
GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
The Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) Directorate of the National Science Foundation recently released a Dear Colleague Letter inviting proposals that address challenging infrastructure contexts that require a human and social centered approach. The Strengthening American Infrastructure program invites both Conference and Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals that incorporate scientific insights about human behavior and social dynamics to better develop, design, build, rehabilitate, and maintain strong and effective American infrastructure. Conference proposals are due by the end of the month, and outlines for EAGER proposals are due no later than December 11.
Results of Presidential Election Expected Soon
BU IN DC
Pardee School of Global Studies Dean Adil Najam spoke on a panel celebrating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations along with Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) on October 21.
The BU School of Public Health's Department of Environmental Health hosted a forum on the intersection of medical research and climate change policy with staff from the offices of Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) on October 22.
Danielle Citron of the School of Law participated in a panel discussion on internet privacy laws featuring Reps.Yvette Clark (D-NY) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) on October 23.
RESULTS OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION EXPECTED SOON
With several states still counting ballots from Tuesday’s elections, Vice President Joe Biden is confident he will receive the more than the 270 electoral votes needed to become President of the United States on January 20, 2021. However, President Donald J. Trump has filed legal challenges to the ballot counting process in several states and indicated he will request recounts in others. Electoral vote results must be certified by December 14, 2020. Should Biden emerge victorious, his plans to focus on economic recovery, climate science, and reversing recent changes to immigration policy may be stymied by a closely divided Congress.
Find out more about the electoral college
SENATE CONTROL UNCLEAR; DEMOCRATS RETAIN HOUSE
At least four Senate races remain too close to call following Tuesday's Congressional elections, leaving control of the chamber for next year up in the air. One prominent science advocate, Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), lost his seat, while another, Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), retained his. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) will return to Congress as its only New England Republican after a hard-fought race.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrats will return in 2021 with a smaller majority following the loss of several incumbents. The Massachusetts Congressional delegation will have one new member: Democrat Representative-elect Jake Auchincloss won the vacant 4th Congressional District seat and will represent BU's Fenway Campus and WBUR CitySpace.
It remains to be seen how a closely divided Congress may address issues such as COVID-19 relief for students and research and the renewal of the Higher Education Act.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
Join the Office of Research on November 18th at 4 pm for a virtual Research on Tap about "Diverse Approaches to Understanding and Controlling COVID-19." Hosted by Professor Ron Corley of BU's National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, the session will feature microtalks by BU scientists and engineers working to understand the virus, identify therapies, develop disease models, and detect and inactivate the virus. Following the talks, members of the BU community can connect with peer researchers working to combat COVID-19.
Going Big: Strategies for Securing Large-Scale Federal Awards
Federal Relations and the Office of Research held a workshop on strategies for securing large-scale federal awards on November 2, 2020.
Are you interested in building towards a center-scale research award but unsure how to get started? Lewis-Burke Associates LLC, a federal lobbying and consulting firm in Washington, DC, discussed strategies for researchers to ramp up from an individual federal grant to a center grant. Center grants support multi-researcher, multi-disciplinary, and sometimes multi-institutional research collaborations.
The speakers discussed the different types of center funding available across federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Energy, and the steps needed to build towards federal support of larger, team-based research. They were joined by BU faculty who shared lessons learned in successfully obtaining large center funding.
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What Are States Doing About COVID-19?
FACULTY EXPERT
What Are States Doing About COVID-19?
Journalists and scholars weighing what works in the battle against COVID-19 are turning to a database of state policies created by BU School of Public Health Professor Julia Raifman. Find out what works
COMMUNITY RESOURCE
On a Mission to Help Those Who Stutter
The BU Center for Stuttering Therapy, which helps clients struggling with speech, sees an opportunity to educate the public as Vice President Joe Biden draws renewed attention to stuttering.
Learn from them
ON THE CHARLES RIVER
Meet the Team Behind BU's COVID-19 Testing Lab
The engineers who make BU's 6,000 test-per-day system possible describe how they built it from scratch.
See how it was done
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...
Ibram X. Kendi of the BU Center for Antiracist Research writes about the concept of voter subtraction in The Atlantic... Danielle Citron of the BU School of Law describes the damage wrought by "deepfake" nudes in The Washington Post... Gabriel Kaptchuk of the BU College of Arts & Sciences explains how data privacy technology works in The Conversation... Ashley Mears of the College of Arts & Sciences shares the hidden stories behind fashion and VIP parties with BBC... Donna Pincus of the BU Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders comments on Zoom social anxiety in The Boston Globe.
International Scholars Face New Visa Hurdles
BU IN DC
Kevin Outterson of the School of Law spoke at a Congressional briefing on antimicrobial resistance hosted by the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease on October 8.
Nahid Bhadelia addressed a Chamber of Commerce Foundation briefing on the importance of flu shots on October 22.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS FACE NEW VISA HURDLES
On October 8, the Trump Administration released two new regulations that significantly impact the ability of universities to sponsor international faculty, postdoctoral associates, and staff utilizing H-1B visas. The U.S. Department of Labor issued a rule that would immediately increase the salary that visa holders must be paid, some by as much as $60,000. The second rule, from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, narrows what occupations qualify for a visa. Numerous businesses and universities quickly filed suit to stop the rules, arguing that the government did not provide a good reason for bypassing the normal comment period in the rulemaking process.
BUZZ BITS...
- On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would tighten its oversight of how universities report foreign gifts under federal law after releasing a report alleging that institutions were purposely under reporting. The announcement comes months after Congress had scolded the Department for its lax oversight and colleges had repeatedly requested guidance on how best to report gifts.
- The National Science Foundation has selected Dr. Sean Johnson to be the next associate director of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate. He began his tenure in September. Dr. Johnson has worked at NSF since 2009, and previously served in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
- Federal Relations has updated the compendium of federal funding opportunities in the behavioral and social sciences, arts, and humanities available on our website. The primer provides detailed information about grant programs at the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Institutes of Health, and other agencies.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
Are you interested in building towards a large-scale research award but unsure how to get started? Join the Office of Research and BU Federal Relations for a webinar on "Going Big: Strategies for Securing Large-Scale Federal Awards" on November 2 at 3 pm. Hear from Lewis-Burke Associates, a federal lobbying and consulting firm in Washington, DC, who will discuss strategies for researchers to ramp up from an individual federal grant to a center grant. BU Professors David Bishop and Merav Opher will also share lessons they have learned in successfully obtaining large center funding.
A Note to Our Readers: Due to the Congressional District Work Period, Beltway BUzz will pause regular publishing until there is Washington news to share. Please continue to visit our web site and follow us on Twitter in the meantime.
Is The True U.S. Pandemic Death Toll Higher than 200,000?
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
Is The True U.S. Pandemic Death Toll Higher than 200,000?
An analysis from the BU School of Pubic Health finds that the number of pandemic-related deaths is actually 36 percent higher than reported, with disadvantaged communities hit even harder than previously thought. Read their findings
NOTABLE ALUMNI
Bringing NBA "Bubble Games" To Life
Carlton Myers (COM '94), vice president of live production and entertainment at NBA Entertainment, is the person behind professional basketball's high-tech cheers, chants, and chatter. It's a slam dunk
STUDENT LIFE
What is Campus Social Life Looking Like This Semester?
BU student Joshua Pei documents how he is interacting with friends and participating in campus activities during the COVID-19 pandemic on his vlog. Watch his experience
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...
Join the BU Global Development Policy Center for a conversation with Joseph Stiglitz on the IMF's COVID-19 response on October 15... Read about the Boston Public School graduates who receive scholarships to BU... Jonathan Levy of the BU School of Public Health offers five environmental policy questions to ask at the presidential debates in The Hill... Saida Grundy of the BU College of Arts & Sciences explains Cam Newton's impact as the first Black quarterback for the New England Patriots in The New York Times... Joshua Goodman of the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development discusses his research on how hotter days are impeding student success and compounding educational inequities in Scientific American.
DHS Proposes Shorter Visa Duration for Students
BU IN DC
Dwayne Minier of Metropolitan College taught a virtual cooking class for the Massachusetts Society, a Washington-based organization for Massachusetts enthusiasts, on September 23.
Robert Pinsky of the College of Arts & Sciences spoke at the 2020 National Book Festival on September 27.
DHS PROPOSES SHORTER VISA DURATION FOR STUDENTS
Last week, the Trump Administration proposed new regulations that would place a four year time limit on the visas used by students and postdoctoral associates. The proposed rule issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would replace the current "duration of status" policy which allows international scholars to remain in the United States for the entirety of their course of study. Under the proposed regulation, students would be required to apply for additional time in the United States if they take longer than four years to complete their studies. Universities quickly expressed significant opposition to the proposal, and thousands of letters urging the Administration to reverse course have already been submitted to the rulemaking portal. Public comments are due by October 26.
BUZZ BITS...
- Last night, House Democrats passed an updated version of a pandemic relief bill first passed in May. However, Senate Republicans have declined to consider the legislation, which would provide $7 billion for private universities and their students, $4.7 billion for the National Institutes of Health, $2.9 billion for the National Science Foundation, and $135 million each for the National Endowments for the Humanities and the Arts.
- Republican members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee sent letters to the National Institutes of Health and the Federal Bureau of Investigation asking how the agencies are combating foreign influence in federal biomedical research. The letters highlight the importance of international scientific collaboration, but express concern about the potential theft of U.S. research.
- In a report released Tuesday, the House Armed Services Committee's Future of Defense Task Force recommends the U.S. Department of Defense invest at least one percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product in basic research in order to ensure the nation's readiness to combat emerging global threats.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
The Office of Research is hosting its annual open house on October 8 at 10 am. This year's virtual event will focus on "Advancing Research in Times of Change." Professors Hyeouk Chris Hahm (SSW), Julia Raifman (SPH), and Christopher Schmitt (CAS) will discuss how they are conducting research, finding funding, and managing teams during uncertain times. Next, attendees will meet with the University's research support offices via Zoom office hours. Researchers can speak with the staff who help investigators secure and manage awards, conduct research ethically, and bring research to the attention of the public, industry partners, and policymakers.
A Note to Our Readers: Due to the Congressional District Work Period, Beltway BUzz will pause regular publishing until there is Washington news to share. Please continue to visit our web site and follow us on Twitter in the meantime.
A Rallying Cry for More Women and Candidates of Color in Politics
ON THE CHARLES RIVER
A Rallying Cry for More Women and Candidates of Color in Politics
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, State Representative Nika Elugardo, and Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell discussed challenging the political status quo with the BU Initiative on Cities and WBUR CitySpace. Hear their cry
COMMUNITY RESOURCE
"We Will Get Through This."
Boston Medical Center doctors and staff reflect on their experiences after more than six months on the COVID-19 front lines.
Be inspired
FACULTY EXPERT
The Increasing Dangers of Antimicrobial Resistance
BU biomedical engineer Muhammad Zuman warns of "a public health crisis of unimaginable proportions" if the world does not address the growing crisis of drug-resistant infections. Heed his warning
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...
BU School of Law Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig explains the importance of critical race theory in The Boston Globe... Brooke Nichols of the BU School of Public Health will guide the Boston Athletics Association on how to hold the Boston Marathon in the midst of the cornavirus pandemic... Ibram X. Kendi of the BU Center for Antiracist Research was selected as one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people of 2020... Sarah Polaski and Kevin Gallagher of the BU Global Development Policy Center call for a global trade policy that supports U.S. workers in The Hill... Marco Gaboardi, Mark Bun, and Adam Smith of the BU College of Arts & Sciences will help safeguard sensitive datasets at the U.S. Census Bureau... Nahid Bhadelia of the BU School of Medicine explains the need for better care for COVID-19 survivors with long-term symptoms in Nature.
Congress Poised to Avert Government Shutdown
BU IN DC
Kevin Gallagher of the Global Development Policy Center participated in a Center for Strategic & International Studies panel on COVID-19's impact on Latin America on September 23.
Roscoe Giles of the College of Engineering gave a presentation to the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Scientific Computing Advisory Committee on September 24.
Rena Conti of the Questrom School of Business spoke at a webinar sponsored by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Department of Justice on "Promoting Innovation in the Life Science Sector and Supporting Pro-Competitive Collaboration: the Role of Intellectual Property" on September 23.
CONGRESS POISED TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution (H.R. 8337) to keep federal programs operating at their current funding levels through December 11. The U.S. Senate is expected to pass the measure next week, with the President planning to sign it before the current fiscal year expires on September 30. The bill will allow the National Institutes of Health to provide no-cost extensions to grantees with expiring multiyear grants whose research was interrupted by COVID-19. However, the legislation does not include any additional funding to address the research impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Investigators should expect that federal agencies operating under a continuing resolution will reduce existing grant awards until a final budget deal has been reached.
BUZZ BITS...
- The National Institutes of Health has selected Dr. Lindsey Criswell to be the next director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Dr. Criswell is a rheumatologist who currently serves as the vice chancellor of research at the University of California, San Francisco. She will join NIAMS in 2021.
- The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published its final endowment excise tax regulations on September 18. The rules ease the impact of the 1.4% tax on certain private university endowments, which was enacted by Congress in 2017, but the higher education community continues to oppose the tax.
- On Tuesday, the President issued an executive order that directs federal agencies to consider prohibiting the use of grant funds for training that promotes "race and sex stereotyping." The impact on grantees of the worrisome provisions is unclear: agencies have 60 days to review their programs, the order contains no instructions for implementing regulations, and the order is likely to be challenged in court.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
Join the Office of Research for a webinar on September 30 at 4 pm to learn about emerging research in cloud computing, secure/private computation, and artificial intelligence at the Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering. Faculty from the Hariri Institute will discuss how they are working to spark convergence and collaboration with investigators inside and outside of BU in order to reshape the landscape around computational and data-driven research.
Congress Considers Research Relief
BU IN DC
On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump nominated alumnus Michael Rigas (CAS ’94, GRS ’94) to be deputy director for management at the White House Office of Management and Budget.
CONGRESS CONSIDERS RESEARCH RELIEF
While Congress has yet to advance a new coronavirus relief bill, two Congressional committees have recently drawn attention to the pandemic's impact on the conduct of research and the careers of the next generation of scientists. On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved the Research Investment to Spark the Economy (RISE) Act, a bill that authorizes robust funding for scientific research in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The bipartisan bill was introduced by Senator Edward Markey (D-MA). The Senate activity follows a hearing last week of the House Subcommittee on Research and Technology to examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on university research. Witnesses urged Congress to help universities recover from pandemic-related research delays and support graduate students and postdoctoral associates.
BUZZ BITS...
- The U.S. Department of Defense announced that Dr. Victoria Coleman will be the next director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Dr. Coleman is a computer scientist who has worked in both academia and industry.
- The U.S. Department of Education issued final rules governing free speech on college campuses. The regulations will require private colleges to abide by their stated freedom of speech policies as a condition of receiving grants from the U.S. Department of Education.
- Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) survived a challenge from Rep. Joseph Kennedy III (D-MA) in the Democratic primary on September 1, and is expected to easily win reelection in November. Democrat Jake Auchincloss narrowly won a crowded primary in the race to fill Kennedy's vacant seat and is expected to represent the Fenway Campus in the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
Join BU Technology Development and BU ARROWS on September 24th at 12:00 pm to examine the barriers women face in innovation and the patent system. The event will feature a keynote from Laura Peter, Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. A panel discussion on how to mitigate the "leaky pipeline" to inventorship, address gender parity in patenting, and identify resources for female innovators will follow.