NSF, NIH Remind Grantees to Report Foreign Support
BU IN DC
Dean Jeffrey Hutter, Maria Kukuruzinska, and Marianne Jurasic of the Goldman School of Dental Medicine met with National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Director Martha Somerman and National Institutes of Health Principal Deputy Director Lawrence Tabak on June 27.
Christina Rice and Jay Darby of the School of Law presented their students’ comments regarding opportunity zone tax incentives at a U.S. Department of the Treasury public hearing on July 9.
Roscoe Giles of the College of Engineering spoke about the future of exascale computing at a meeting of the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee at the U.S. Department of Energy on July 11.
NIH, NSF REMIND GRANTEES TO REPORT FOREIGN SUPPORT
Last week, both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) issued notices reminding grantees of their obligation to report international sources of financial support for their research. The announcements from both agencies emphasized that “international collaboration is essential to pursuing the frontiers of science,” but reflect concern by federal scientific agencies that other nations are not “upholding the [scientific] values of openness, transparency, and reciprocal collaboration.” NSF plans to launch an electronic form for investigators to submit bio-sketches by early next year, in order to make disclosures easier. NIH does not view its announcement as a change in its existing policy.
BUZZ BITS…
- National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins announced last week that National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Director Linda Birnbaum will retire in October after leading NIEHS for ten years. NIEHS Deputy Director Robert Woychik will serve as acting director while a search for a replacement is conducted.
- The National Science and Technology Council Joint Committee on Research Environments met on July 9 to discuss new initiatives the federal government could undertake to ensure safe and inclusive research environments, rigor and integrity in research, research security, and reduced administrative burden.
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is requesting public input on its draft research plan for the years 2020 through 2026. The current draft identifies reducing the societal impact of extreme weather, sustainable use of the ocean and coastal resources, and a robust research enterprise as priority areas. Comments are due by August 26.
DOE SEEKS INPUT ON MICROELECTRONICS INITIATIVE
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science plans to significantly increase research activities and funding for microelectronics, and specifically to meet the needs of more compact and efficient high-performance computers and a modernized electricity grid. Last week, DOE announced it is seeking recommendations for its new basic research initiative in microelectronics, and asking stakeholders whether a focus on the following topics is appropriate: materials, chemistry, surface science and plasma science and technologies; device physics and circuits; component integration, architecture, and algorithms; and next-generation tools for synthesis, fabrication, and characterization. Investigators who want to play a role in shaping the agency’s future funding opportunities in microelectronics should submit comments prior to August 30.