BUzz Bits
BU IN DC
Malika Jeffries-EL of the College of Arts & Sciences participated in a media briefing on cutting-edge semiconductor research hosted by the National Science Foundation on March 19th.
Mayank Varia of the College of Arts & Sciences spoke on a New America Foundation panel on innovations in privacy-preserving technologies on March 24th.
Wheelock College of Education & Human Development Dean David Chard discussed the Institute for Education Sciences with Congressional committee staff as part of the LEARN Deans spring advocacy day on March 24th.
BUZZ BITS…
- President Joseph R. Biden announced his intent to nominate former U.S. Senator Bill Nelson as administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Nelson is a former astronaut who represented Florida in the Senate for 14 years.
- The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced last week that Dr. Jane Lubchenco will serve as deputy director of climate & environment. Lubchenco is a marine biologist who served as the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during the Obama administration.
- Stefanie Tompkins became the new director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) last week. Tompkins is a former U.S. Army intelligence officer who previously worked at DARPA for more than a decade, including a stint as the agency’s acting director in 2017.
- Former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was confirmed as Secretary of Labor (DOL) by a 68 to 29 vote of the U.S. Senate on Monday. Walsh is the first former union president to lead the agency since 1977.
GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released the 2021 Convergence Accelerator solicitation for projects that seek “to transition basic research and discovery into practice—to solve high-impact societal challenges aligned with specific research themes (tracks).” NSF is inviting proposals for two new tracks: Networked Blue Economy and Trust and Authenticity in Communications Systems. Letters of Intent for Phase I proposals are required and due by May 5th, and full proposals due by June 14th. Only Phase I awardees are eligible to submit to Phase II, with those proposals due by May 25, 2022.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
The Office of Research and Foundation Relations are cohosting a workshop on April 7th to acquaint social scientists at BU with the Russell Sage Foundation’s (RSF) mission, funding priorities, and grant application protocols. RSF dedicates itself to strengthening the methods, data, and theoretical core of the social sciences to better understand societal problems and develop informed responses. Program Officer Stephen Glauser will give a presentation and take questions from the audience.
A Note To Our Readers: With Congress starting a two week District Work Period, Beltway BUzz will be on hiatus. Follow us on Twitter or check out our website for updates, and see you in April!