[Nhcoll-l] FW: AIBS Public Policy Report

Bentley, Andrew Charles abentley at ku.edu
Mon Oct 6 12:34:15 EDT 2014 

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AIBS Public Policy Report



AIBS Public Policy Report, Volume 15, Issue 20, October 6, 2014

  *   AIBS Past President to be Honored by President Obama
  *   Ecosystem Scientists to Present Research to Policymakers
  *   NSF Announces Expansion of Postdoc Research Fellowship Program
  *   Final Rule Released on Dual Use Research
  *   USGS Coalition Honors Four Senators
  *   New Global Alliance to Tackle Climate Impacts on Agriculture
  *   From the Federal Register
  *   Become an Advocate for Science: Join the AIBS Legislative Action Center

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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 www.aibs.org/public-policy-reports<http://aibs.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=b12e456912&e=6708ed45cf>.

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.

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AIBS Past President to be Honored by President Obama

Entomologist May R. Berenbaum is among 10 recipients of the prestigious National Medal of Science. The award is the nation's top honor for achievement and leadership in advancing science.

"These scholars and innovators have expanded our understanding of the world, made invaluable contributions to their fields, and helped improve countless lives," President Barack Obama said. "Our nation has been enriched by their achievements, and by all the scientists and technologists across America dedicated to discovery, inquiry, and invention."

Dr. Berenbaum will be recognized at a White House ceremony later this year for her pioneering contributions to our understanding of the co-evolution of insects and plants and her extensive public engagement.

Berenbaum served as President of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) in 2009. She is a professor and head of the Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Ecosystem Scientists to Present Research to Policymakers

Ecosystem science plays an important role in the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change. A distinguished panel of scientists will present their research findings to policymakers on 9 October 2014. The briefing<http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=a88a6b3add&e=6708ed45cf>, to be held on Capitol Hill, is hosted by the Association of Ecosystem Research Centers (AERC), as part of their annual meeting in Washington, DC.

Dr. Jay Arnone, AERC president and research professor at the Desert Research Institute, will moderate the one-hour science briefing. Sharing findings from recent ecosystems research will be: Dr. Jerry Hatfield, laboratory director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment and director of the Midwest Climate Hub; Dr. Julia Cherry, associate professor at the University of Alabama; and Dr. G. Darrel Jenerette, associate professor at the University of California, Riverside. Their presentations will be posted on the AERC website following the briefing.

AERC is a member of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS). This year, as part of the AERC meetings in Washington, DC, AIBS will conduct a half-day workshop on communicating ecosystem science to decision-makers and the media for AERC members participating in the annual meeting.

As a member organization of AIBS and a contributor to the AIBS Public Policy Office, AERC received planning and logistical assistance for the congressional briefing from AIBS. For more information about the AIBS Public Policy Office and its services for AIBS members and contributing societies, please visit http://www.aibs.org/public-policy/<http://aibs.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=48f60b723f&e=6708ed45cf>.

NSF Announces Expansion of Postdoc Research Fellowship Program

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is expanding the areas of award for the Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology program. In addition to two existing areas, a new focus on research using biological collections has been added. This replaces a prior focus on international fellowships, although all competitive areas will accept applications for foreign postdoc positions.

In addition to postdocs involving biological collections, applications will be accepted in the areas of broadening participation of groups under-represented in biology and the National Plant Genome Initiative.

The fellowships aim to provide Ph.D. recipients the opportunity to pursue independent research and receive active mentoring in the most appropriate research locations regardless of the availability of funding for the fellows at that site.

More information is available at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15501/nsf15501.htm<http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=f00b6dccb6&e=6708ed45cf>.

Final Rule Released on Dual Use Research

The federal government has finalized a rule to better regulate life sciences research involving dangerous agents at universities and other research centers. So-called 'dual use research' has the potential to generate knowledge, products, or technologies that could be intentionally used for harmful purposes. The rulemaking applies to a subset of dual use research that poses "a significant threat with broad potential consequences to public health and safety, agricultural crops and other plants, animals, the environment, materiel, or national security."

Scientists whose federally funded research involves 15 dangerous microbes or toxins will have to notify a special review committee at their institution about dual use studies. Any dual use research that the committee sees as potentially harmful will have to be reported to the funding agency and have a risk mitigation plan.

The new policy complements a March 2012 federal policy that describes the responsibilities of federal agencies in addressing dual use research of concern. The rule goes into effect on 24 September 2015. Additional resources are available at http://www.phe.gov/s3/dualuse/Pages/default.aspx<http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=6fb749d7d5&e=6708ed45cf>.

USGS Coalition Honors Four Senators

On 16 September 2014, the USGS Coalition honored Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Udall (D-CO), and Dean Heller (R-NV) with the Coalition's 2014 Leadership Award. The awards were presented during the USGS Coalition's annual reception on Capitol Hill in honor of the lawmakers long standing support for the scientific programs and personnel of the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

AIBS is a founding member of the USGS Coalition and AIBS director of public policy Robert Gropp is chair of the group. In addition to remarks by Senator Heller and staff for Senators Murkowski and Udall, two senior Interior officials spoke. Anne Castle, who just resigned from her post, was the assistant secretary for water and science at the Department of the Interior. Suzette Kimball, acting director of the USGS, thanked the Senators and the USGS Coalition for the years of effort they have given to elevating the profile of the USGS among policymakers.

New Global Alliance to Tackle Climate Impacts on Agriculture

The Obama administration announced a new program to provide solutions to address the effects of climate change on agriculture. The Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture will help to improve food security in crop, livestock, and aquaculture systems around the world. The initiative will design new technologies and share information through new alliances.

According to a blog post on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website, "The Alliance will advance a more inclusive, innovative, and evidence-based approach to food security. It will provide platforms for partners to collaborate on agricultural practices, make key investments, develop policies that empower producers to mitigate the impact of climate change and, through sustainable agriculture practices, contribute to a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions."

>From the Federal Register

The following items appeared in the Federal Register from 22 September to 3 October 2014. For more information on these or other recent items, please visit the AIBS Federal Register Resource at www.aibs.org/federal-register-resource/index.html<http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=b680e2f431&e=6708ed45cf>.

Week Ending 3 October 2014

Agriculture

  *   Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding Commodity Boards To Propose Projects and Contribute Funding Under the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant Programs, Implementation
Energy

  *   Quadrennial Energy Review: Notice of Public Meeting
Environmental Protection Agency

  *   Notice of Availability of Guidance for Applying Quantitative Data To Develop Data-Derived Extrapolation Factors for Interspecies and Intraspecies Extrapolation
Health and Human Services

  *   Meeting of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Human Research Protections
  *   Request for Nominations of Candidates To Serve on the Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC), Office of Infectious Diseases (OID)
National Science Foundation

  *   National Big Data R and D Initiative; Framework, Priorities, and Strategic Plan
  *   Notice of Meeting of the Advisory Committee for Education and Human Resources
Veterans Affairs

  *   Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical Science Research and Development Services Scientific Merit Review Board; Notice of Meetings
Week Ending 26 September 2014

Agency for International Development

  *   Board for International Food and Agricultural Development; Notice of Meeting
Commerce

  *   United States Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee; Member Solicitation
Defense

  *   Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, Scientific Advisory Board; Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting
Energy

  *   Secretary of Energy Advisory Board; Notice of Meeting
Executive Office of the President

  *   Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
  *   Memorandum of September 23, 2014--Deepening U.S. Government Efforts To Collaborate With and Strengthen Civil Society
Interior

  *   Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking; Meeting
  *   Policy Regarding Voluntary Prelisting Conservation Actions
National Science Foundation

  *   Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering; Notice of Meeting
Office of Science and Technology Policy

  *   Notice Response to Comments and Notice of Final Action Regarding the United States Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern

Become an Advocate for Science: Join the AIBS Legislative Action Center

Quick, free, easy, effective, impactful! Join the AIBS Legislative Action Center<http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=75d41e0bce&e=6708ed45cf>.

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.

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.

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.

AIBS and our partner organizations invite scientists and science educators to become policy advocates today. Simply go to policy.aibs.org<http://aibs.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=725848529b&e=6708ed45cf> to get started.

________________________________

  *   Give your society or organization a voice in public policy. See http://www.aibs.org/public-policy/funding_contributors.html<http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=2656082da0&e=6708ed45cf>.


  *   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 http://www.access.aibs.org/?page=IndMem<http://aibs.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=35f78ba94e&e=6708ed45cf> to join AIBS.


  *   Become an advocate for science, visit the AIBS Legislative Action Center at http://policy.aibs.org<http://aibs.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=40fc45a9ec&e=6708ed45cf>.


  *   Know the news as it happens, sign-up to receive AIBS press releases and policy statements (http://www.aibs.org/mailing-lists/mediaisu.html<http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=597878c11f&e=6708ed45cf>).

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.

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 BioScience and the education Web site ActionBioscience.org, 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.

Website: www.aibs.org<http://aibs.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a2886d199362c2554974f78af&id=af15dc1608&e=6708ed45cf>.


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