Associate Provost for Computing & Data Sciences Azer Bestavros<\/strong> attended a virtual meeting<\/a> of the National Science Foundation\u2019s Computer & Information Science & Engineering Advisory Committee, of which he is a member, on December 6th and 7th.<\/p>\n Nahid Bhadelia<\/strong> of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Policy & Research<\/strong> participated in a telephone town hall<\/a> meeting hosted by Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL) (CAS ’70) on December 7th.<\/p>\n Jorge Heine<\/strong> of the Pardee School of Global Studies<\/strong> spoke on a panel<\/a> addressing governance challenges in Haiti hosted by The Wilson Center on December 8th.<\/p>\n The U.S. House of Representatives\u00a0passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act\u00a0(NDAA) on Tuesday, a bill that would set next year\u2019s priorities for the Department of Defense (DOD). The bill authorizes additional support for biotechnology for challenging environments, artificial intelligence and digital technology, a second iteration of the electronics resurgence initiative, and a national network for microelectronics research and development. The measure would also bolster DOD’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Programs and its Minerva Initiative, which funds social science research. Prior to House passage, legislators removed provisions related to malign foreign influence in research, such as a proposal to require research security training for all personnel funded by Defense grants.\u00a0The U.S. Senate is expected to pass the bill and send it to President Joe Biden for approval before the end of the year.<\/p>\n
\nBUZZ BITS…<\/h2>\n
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\nHOUSE APPROVES DEFENSE POLICY BILL<\/h2>\n