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<title>AIBS Public Policy Report</title>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:blue">AIBS Public Policy Report</span><span style="font-size:22.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="line-height:150%"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">AIBS Public Policy Report, Volume 15, Issue 15, July 28, 2014</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">White House Outlines R&D Budget Priorities for 2016<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Report Calls for More Business Acumen at Field Stations, Marine Labs<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">USDA Announces New Nonprofit Corporation Focused on Agricultural Research<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">House Passes Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Reform Management of National Labs<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">White House Releases Plan to Better Coordinate Interagency Earth Observation Data<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">House Passes Bills to Streamline Research Regulations, Improve International Science Partnerships<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Long Time NSF Leader to Retire<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Short Takes
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Applications Sought for Digitization Hackathon<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l10 level2 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">New I-Corps for Learning Teams to Accelerate STEM Improvements<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l10 level2 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">NSF Seeks Input on Website<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l10 level2 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Former EPPLA Contributes to Mangrove Conservation<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">From the Federal Register<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Become an Advocate for Science: Join the AIBS Legislative Action Center<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
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<p style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">The AIBS Public Policy Report is distributed broadly by email every two weeks to the AIBS membership. Any interested party may self-subscribe
to receive these free reports by email or RSS news feed, by going to <a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=7845972763&e=6708ed45cf">
www.aibs.org/public-policy-reports</a>.<br>
<br>
With proper attribution to AIBS, all material from these reports may be reproduced or forwarded. AIBS staff appreciates receiving copies of materials used. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact the AIBS Director of Public Policy, Robert
Gropp, at 202-628-1500 x 250.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="line-height:150%"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">White House Outlines R&D Budget Priorities for 2016</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333"><br>
<br>
The White House released a memorandum on 18 July 2014 detailing budget priorities for science and technology in the fiscal year (FY) 2016 federal budget. The annual memo from the Office of Management and Budget and Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
directs departments and agencies to prioritize certain areas of research in their budget submissions.<br>
<br>
“In the FY 2016 Budget, agencies should balance priorities to ensure resources are adequately allocated for agency-specific, mission-driven research, including fundamental research, while focusing resources, where appropriate, on the following multi-agency
research activities that cannot be addressed effectively by a single agency.”<br>
<br>
Among the multi-agency priorities are climate change, earth observation, high-performance computing, and research and development for informed policy-making and management.<br>
<br>
Notably, innovation in life sciences, biology, and neuroscience continues to be a priority.<br>
<br>
“Agencies should give priority to programs that support fundamental biological discovery research that could generate unexpected, high-impact scientific and technological advances in health, energy, and food security,” stated the memo.<br>
<br>
The Administration’s BRAIN Initiative and “National Bioeconomy Blueprint” are listed as sources for ideas for research initiatives in biology. Additionally, the White House would like to see addressing antibiotic resistance as a priority.<br>
<br>
Consistent with the White House budget memos released in recent years, the preservation of and access to scientific collections continues to be prioritized. OSTP released a memo in March 2014 on the management of federal scientific collections.<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Report Calls for More Business Acumen at Field Stations, Marine Labs</span></strong><br>
<br>
A new report from the National Research Council on the future of field stations and marine labs highlights the value of field observations and offers ways to improve the management of these institutions.<br>
<br>
“Often out of sight, field stations are quietly providing essential insights to ecosystems that support life on earth,” said Mark Stromberg, who served on the committee that authored the report. Stromberg is retired from the University of California, Berkeley
Hastings Reserve and University of California Natural Reserve System. Despite their importance, everyone is not aware of the value of these institutions. “Field stations must step forward to explain their value to society and in understanding our natural world.”<br>
<br>
“We are excited to see the National Academy of Sciences articulate the critical role that field stations, marine laboratories, and nature reserves play in understanding our changing natural world and for creating a scientifically literate workforce capable
of competing globally,” said Sarah Oktay, president of the Organization of Biological Field Stations and director of the University of Massachusetts Nantucket Field Station. “Given the large investment in these institutions the report provides useful recommendations
in how to best utilize these facilities for the greatest benefit to society. The Organization of Biological Field Stations appreciates the hard work that went into the report and is enthusiastic to explore the mechanisms proposed to ensure we are realizing
the full value of these institutions during this period of rapid environmental change.”<br>
<br>
Among the report’s recommendations are improved financial management of field stations and better planning for future costs, like equipment replacement. Field stations should also assess cyber-infrastructure needs to facilitate broader networking.<br>
<br>
The role of field stations and marine labs in science education was noted, especially given that about three-quarters of U.S. institutions are affiliated with a university. Citizen science programs were recommended as a way to engage the public.<br>
<br>
“Enhancing the Value and Sustainability of Field Stations and Marine Laboratories in the 21st Century” is available for free at
<a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=7c2b43a8b1&e=6708ed45cf" target="_blank">
http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Enhancing-Value-Sustainability/18806</a>.<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">USDA Announces New Nonprofit Corporation Focused on Agricultural Research
</span></strong><br>
<br>
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the creation of a nonprofit corporation that will fund agricultural research. Congress authorized the formation of the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR) in the 2014 Farm Bill. The federal
government provided $200 million for FFAR, which must be matched by non-federal funds.<br>
<br>
In his announcement, Secretary Vilsack stated, “every dollar invested in agricultural research creates $20 in economic activity.” In a press release, the Department of Agriculture said, “in a time of federal budgetary restraints, the new foundation is another
innovative way to continue and expand investment in agricultural research.”<br>
<br>
The foundation’s research will focus on “plant and animal health; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources, and the environment; agricultural and food security; and agriculture systems and technology.” The organization’s 15 voting
board members were selected to represent a diverse range of agricultural interests. The board is mostly comprised of university administrators and professors, along with a few nonprofit and industry representatives.<br>
<br>
FFAR is modeled on similar organizations that benefit the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<br>
<br>
Karl Anderson, the Director of Government Relations for the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, called FFAR “the biggest win for us in the farm bill.”<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">House Passes Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Reform Management of National Labs
</span></strong><br>
<br>
A bipartisan effort to reform management of national labs is underway in the House of Representatives and Senate. The House has passed a bill that aims to streamline oversight of labs within the Department of Energy, ease technology transfer to the market,
and pave the way for more public-private partnerships. Sponsored by Representative Randy Hultgren (R-IL), the legislation is cosponsored by the chairs and ranking members of the Science, Space and Technology Committee and the Energy Subcommittee, along with
three other members.<br>
<br>
The bill commissions the Secretary of Energy to submit a report recommending changes to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 “to improve the Department’s ability to successfully transfer new energy technologies to the private sector.” It also directs the Secretary
and directors of the National Labs to implement a pilot program to improve cross-sector partnerships with the private sector and other non-federal entities. The program gives contractors at national labs “increased authority to negotiate contract terms, such
as intellectual property rights, indemnification, payment structures, performance guarantees, and multiparty collaborations.”<br>
<br>
In a statement, Rep. Hultgren said this bill will “improve the labs’ capacity to partner with private enterprise and convert their cutting edge research into marketplace innovation.”<br>
<br>
Attention now turns to the Senate, where Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) have introduced similar legislation.<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">White House Releases Plan to Better Coordinate Interagency Earth Observation Data
</span></strong><br>
<br>
The White House last week released the <em><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">National Plan for Civil Earth Observations</span></em>, which aims to increase the value of federal agency observations of Earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere. The
federal government spends roughly $3.5 billion per year on earth observations across several agencies, which provide an estimated $30 billion in economic benefit per year. Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director Dr. John Holdren writes that
the data provided by these observations “are critical to our understanding of all Earth-system phenomena, including weather and climate, natural hazards, land-use change, ecosystem health, and natural-resource availability.”<br>
<br>
The plan is the result of 2010 legislation directing OSTP to establish a mechanism for better coordination and access to observations data across the government. OSTP created the National Earth Observations Task Force in 2011, which informed the new report.<br>
<br>
The resulting plan describes federal priorities for managing observation systems through “routine assessments, improved data management, interagency planning, and international collaboration.” Principles of the plan align with the White House’s Big Earth Data
Initiative. The U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO) will take center stage in implementation of the plan. USGEO was re-chartered in 2013 with missions “to coordinate, plan, and assess Federal Earth observation activities; to foster improved Earth system
data management and interoperability throughout the Federal Government; and to engage international partners through the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations.”<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">House Passes Bills to Streamline Research Regulations, Improve International Science Partnerships
</span></strong><br>
<br>
Seeking to lower the amount of time federal research grant recipients spend on administrative work, the House of Representatives recently passed legislation that would establish a working group to make recommendations on streamlining federal regulations and
minimizing regulatory requirements on universities conducting federally funded research. Sponsored by Representative Larry Bucshon (R-IN), H.R. 5056 seeks ways to cut the estimated 42 percent of time grant recipients spend on administrative tasks. The working
group would submit their recommendations to Congress within one year of the legislation’s enactment.<br>
<br>
The House also passed H.R. 5029 aimed at improving international cooperation on science and technology endeavors. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science
and Technology Council to seek out and coordinate partnerships that “can strengthen the United States science and technology enterprise, improve economic and national security, and support United States foreign policy goals.”<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Long Time NSF Leader to Retire
</span></strong><br>
<br>
Dr. Cora Marrett, the deputy director of the National Science Foundation, has announced her retirement effective 24 August. Marrett first joined the agency in 1992 as head of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Directorate. Since 2007, she has served as deputy
director and two turns as acting director. Dr. Marrett plans to return to Wisconsin, where her family lives.<br>
<br>
“I cannot think of anyone who’s done a better job of protecting the integrity of the agency and retaining the trust of the scientific community. And that trust is essential for the NSF to do its job,” said Neal Lane, former director of the National Science
Foundation.<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Short Takes </span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">A hackathon to improve digitization of biocollections will be held in Gainesville, Florida on 3-5 December 2014. Financial support is available to assist with travel, lodging,
and meals. For more information, contact Austin Mast (<a href="mailto:amast@bio.fsu.edu" target="_blank">amast@bio.fsu.edu</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The National Science Foundation has released a dear colleague letter on stimulating innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. New I-Corps for
Learning teams will receive funding and mentoring to accelerate innovation in learning that can be successfully scaled in a sustainable manner. Read the letter at
<a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=a1424f43e9&e=6708ed45cf" target="_blank">
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14095/nsf14095.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The National Science Foundation is collecting input on the design of its website. The public can take a 10-15 minute long survey at
<a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=d7014066d3&e=6708ed45cf" target="_blank">
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/nsfwebsitesurvey</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Former AIBS EPPLA recipient Dr. Heidi Weiskel participated in an effort to generate an English and Spanish database on scientific studies of mangroves. The database, a project
of the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide, is intended to provide scientific information that can be used to inform mangrove conservation initiatives. For more information on this effort see
<a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=53e0bd56dd&e=6708ed45cf" target="_blank">
http://www.elaw.org/node/8377</a><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">From the Federal Register</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333"><br>
<br>
The following items appeared in the Federal Register from 14 to 25 July 2014. For more information on these or other recent items, please visit the AIBS Federal Register Resource at
<a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=532522fff6&e=6708ed45cf">
www.aibs.org/federal-register-resource/index.html</a>.<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Week Ending 25 July 2014</span></strong><br>
<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Agriculture</span></strong>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Notice of Reopening of Public Comment Period--Proposed Directives for National Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Water Quality Protection on National Forest System (NFS) Lands<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">Environmental Protection Agency</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l7 level1 lfo4">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Good Neighbor Environmental Board<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">Health and Human Services</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo5">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Advancing the Use of Biomarkers and Pharmacogenomics; Notice of Public Meeting; Request for Comments<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo5">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Announcement of Requirements and Registration for "Stories of Basic Science to Medical Advances'' Challenge<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo5">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Public Meeting of the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">National Science Foundation</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l9 level1 lfo6">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Sunshine Act Meetings; National Science Board<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">Office of Science and Technology Policy</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">National Nanotechnology Coordination Office<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">Week Ending 18 July 2014</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333"><br>
<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Agriculture</span></strong>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo8">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Draft Guidance for Applicants for Competitive and Capacity Grants Administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture; Availability<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo8">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo8">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding Centers of Excellence, Implementation<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">Environmental Protection Agency</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo9">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Request for Nominations of Experts To Augment the Science Advisory Board Ecological Process and Effects Committee for the Consultation and Review of Lake Erie Phosphorous Objectives<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">Health and Human Services</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l8 level1 lfo10">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Interagency Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (ITFAR) Public Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333"><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Become an Advocate for Science: Join the AIBS Legislative Action Center</span></strong><br>
<br>
Quick, free, easy, effective, impactful! Join the <a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=7b9a880daf&e=6708ed45cf">
AIBS Legislative Action Center</a>.<br>
<br>
The Legislative Action Center is a one-stop shop for learning about and influencing science policy. Through the website, users can contact elected officials and sign-up to interact with lawmakers.<br>
<br>
The website offers tools and resources to inform researchers about recent policy developments. The site also announces opportunities to serve on federal advisory boards and to comment on federal regulations.<br>
<br>
This new tool is made possible through contributions from the Society for the Study of Evolution, Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, and the Botanical Society of America.<br>
<br>
AIBS and our partner organizations invite scientists and science educators to become policy advocates today. Simply go to
<a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=0396f64210&e=6708ed45cf">
policy.aibs.org</a> to get started.<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:150%">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">
<hr size="2" width="100%" align="center">
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Give your society or organization a voice in public policy. See
<a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=d3f2aff8ea&e=6708ed45cf">
http://www.aibs.org/public-policy/funding_contributors.html</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Become an AIBS Individual Member and lend your voice to a national effort to advance the biological sciences through public policy, education, and science programs. Visit
<a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=a22300324d&e=6708ed45cf">
http://www.access.aibs.org/?page=IndMem</a> to join AIBS.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo11">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Become an advocate for science, visit the AIBS Legislative Action Center at
<a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=032b5f315d&e=6708ed45cf">
http://policy.aibs.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:150%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo11">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Know the news as it happens, sign-up to receive AIBS press releases and policy statements (<a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=24ba78e5e8&e=6708ed45cf">http://www.aibs.org/mailing-lists/mediaisu.html</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#333333">The American Institute of Biological Sciences is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) scientific association dedicated to advancing biological research
and education for the welfare of society. AIBS works to ensure that the public, legislators, funders, and the community of biologists have access to and use information that will guide them in making informed decisions about matters that require biological
knowledge. The organization does this through informing decisions by providing peer-reviewed or vetted information about the biology field and profession and by catalyzing action through building the capacity and the leadership of the community to address
matters of common concern.<br>
<br>
Founded in 1947 as a part of the National Academy of Sciences, AIBS became an independent, member-governed organization in the 1950s. Today, AIBS has over 140 member organizations and is headquartered in Reston, VA, with a Public Policy Office in Washington,
DC. Its approximately 40 staff members work to achieve its mission by publishing the peer-reviewed journal
<em><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">BioScience</span></em> and the education Web site
<em><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">ActionBioscience.org</span></em>, by providing scientific peer-review and advisory services to government agencies and other clients, and by collaborating with scientific organizations to advance public policy,
education, and the public understanding of science.<br>
<br>
Website: <a href="http://aibs.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=2574523b3d&e=6708ed45cf">
www.aibs.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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