Issue 10 (May 16)

On May 15, the White House announced the nomination of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli as the next Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). If confirmed, Bertagnolli would replace the current Acting Director, Dr. Lawrence Tabak, who has been serving since the departure of Francis Collins in 2021.

President Biden stated, “Dr. Bertagnolli has spent her career pioneering scientific discovery and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve cancer prevention and treatment for patients, and ensuring that patients in every community have access to quality care… Dr. Bertagnolli is a world-class physician-scientist whose vision and leadership will ensure NIH continues to be an engine of innovation to improve the health of the American people.”

Currently, Bertagnolli is the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and previously served as the Richard E. Wilson Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and as a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Bertagnolli holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Princeton University and received her medical degree from the University of Utah.

Bertagnolli’s nomination requires Senate confirmation and will face questions in upcoming hearings.

Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced plans to develop bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening the U.S.’s ability to continue outcompeting China in key technology development. As previously reported, earlier versions of the CHIPS and Science Act that was enacted last year and focused on domestic investment in semiconductor manufacturing, had a much larger focus on direct competition with China. However, many of those provisions pertaining to trade and foreign policy were dropped at the eleventh hour in order to get the final bill across the finish line. Now, Sen. Schumer wants to reinvigorate those and other provisions through a “CHIPS 2.0” type of initiative. In particular, Schumer is calling on several Senate committees to start developing legislation and holding hearings to advance a bill that could be considered on the Senate floor.

According to a press release and press conference, Schumer expects the measure to address five key policy areas: limiting the flow of advanced technology to the Chinese Government, possibly through stronger export controls, sanctions, and other means; curtailing the flow of investment to the Chinese Government; securing domestic economic investment in areas such as biotechnology and biomanufacturing, among others; underscoring U.S. commitment to economic allies and maintaining partner alignment; and safeguarding allies’ and partners’ security and maintaining strategic alliances, namely with Taiwan.

Timing of such a bill is not yet known; however, Congressional initiatives directed at limiting Chinese influence on the global stage often are bipartisan, which means such legislation could see action this year.

On May 4, The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing on the fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH Acting Director Dr. Lawrence Tabak, Principal Deputy Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Dr. Douglas Lowy, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Dr. Joshua Gordon, Director of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Dr. Richard Hodes, and Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Dr. Nora Volkow testified before the committee.

In her opening statement, Chairwoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) voiced her support for the NIH, with committee member, and President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, Patty Murray (D-WA) adding, “when it comes to protecting our families, NIH funding is just as important as defense funding.” Several members of the subcommittee expressed concern about the House-passed bill proposing major cuts to discretionary spending, which if enacted would result in the loss of the United States’ global scientific leadership. Dr. Tabak added that the proposed budget cuts would impact young researchers the most, likely resulting in a decrease in future STEM researchers.

Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and other subcommittee members raised concerns over the President’s flat funding requests for nearly all parts of the NIH and asked for an explanation as to why the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) would receive a major boost in funding at the expense of other NIH activities. Dr. Tabak explained that ARPA-H is an independent agency housed within NIH and that the lack of increased funding is not a result of the ARPA-H increase many NIH advocates do not agree with this sentiment. A recording of the hearing, along with the witness testimonies, are available on the subcommittee’s website.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a request for information (RFI) on developing a roadmap for the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP).

NSF is seeking input to inform the TIP Directorate’s three-year roadmap, and is requesting comments on the following focus areas: artificial intelligence; computer hardware and software; quantum science and technology; robotics and advanced manufacturing; advanced communication technologies; biotechnology; data storage and cybersecurity; energy and industrial technologies; and advanced materials science.

NSF is also requesting comments on the societal, national, and geostrategic challenges to be addressed through TIP-supported research, including United States national security and workforce development, climate change and sustainability, and inequitable access to education and opportunity.

Comments are requested to be submitted by July 27. Comments can be submitted here or via email to [email protected].

The Office of the Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy (OCRSSP) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) seeking input from the research community on the creation of a new Research Security and Integrity Information Sharing Analysis Organization (RSI-ISAO). As previously reported, the CHIPS and Science Act passed in 2022 called for the establishment of a new research security and integrity entity to “safeguard the security and integrity of the U.S. research enterprise while simultaneously promoting the furtherance of human knowledge.” The new entity will be tasked with developing and sharing resources that will help universities and other organizations ensure that they are aware of and following procedures related to research security risks, such as foreign interference in science, and other concerns around research integrity.

Brief white papers addressing specific questions outlined in the DCL are to be submitted by June 30.

In addition, NSF will be hosting a series of webinars to provide additional information about the new entity. The webinars are scheduled for May 18 at 12:00-2:00 pm ET and May 24 at 1:00-3:00 pm ET. Registration is available here.

Additional information is available in the Dear Colleague Letter and on NSF’s Research Security website.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is accepting proposals that diversify and further deepen the study of language and communication. This is a collaborative initiative across several programs in the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences with shared interests in the study of language. It is an effort to organize new relationships that integrate knowledge across disciplines and/or levels of analysis. The goal is to advance more universal and replicable theories in the language and communication sciences via diversified sampling practices, language(s) of study, methodologies, and theoretical perspectives.

This is not a special competition or new program; instead investigators should submit a proposal in response to the Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) directly to one of the participating programs, following their guidelines including deadlines/target dates. Participating programs in the Social, Behavioral and Economics Sciences Directorate include:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Developmental Sciences
• Dynamic Language Infrastructure-Documenting Endangered Languages
• Linguistics
• Perception, Action, and Cognition
• Science of Learning and Augmented Intelligence

Any questions concerning the letter should be directed to the NSF Language Diversity Panel Team at [email protected].

The National Science Board (NSB) is seeking nominations to fill eight upcoming vacancies for the 2024-2030 term. NSB is the policy-making body of the National Science Foundation (NSF) that also serves as an independent advisor to the President and Congress on federal science policy. The board consists of 24 members who serve staggered six-year terms, with the NSF director serving as a 25th ex officio member. External nominations are considered by the NSB, which will then makes recommendations to the White House. New members are appointed by the President of the United States.

More information can be found in NSB’s Dear Colleague Letter. Nominations can be submitted here and are requested by May 31.

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has released a report titled, Extreme Weather Risk in a Changing Climate: Enhancing prediction and protecting communities. The report discusses how recent advances in science and technology can improve prevention and response to extreme weather conditions.

Recognizing the added risk for communities lacking in resources to protect against these conditions and the need for accessible and transparent data, the report recommends the White House develop a National Adaptation Plan that include a robust approach to determining high-risk zones, frameworks for creating local solutions to prevent extreme weather risks, and guidelines for how to address these issues in an equitable way.

In addition, PCAST recommends updating policies on regulations for land-use planning, zoning, and building code adoption, as well as comprehensive assessment for federal and state programs addressing this topic.

The National Science Board (NSB), the policy-making body of the National Science Foundation (NSF) that also serves as an independent advisor to the President and Congress on federal science policy issues, met on May 9-10. Among the topics discussed was the establishment of a commission to review NSF’s merit review process and criteria. The NSB-NSF Commission on Merit Review (MRX) was formally created in February and is now getting started on its review and engagement with external stakeholders.

The Commission was created in response to language included in the CHIPS and Science Act passed in 2022 that called on NSF to partner with an external organization to assess how NSF’s Broader Impacts review criterion is applied across the agency and make recommendations for improving effectiveness. The NSB decided to broaden the scope of the Commission to include the entire merit review process, which has not been holistically reviewed in 11 years.

The Commission’s work is being guided by two overarching questions:

1. To what extent are the Merit Review process and criteria, as currently understood, implemented and assessed resulting in awards for research and education that achieve NSF’s mission?
2. Would changes to the Merit Review process and criteria, their implementation, or their assessment be needed to achieve NSF’s mission?

The Board intends to release a preliminary set of recommendations for public comment in November 2023. The final report and recommendations are anticipated for May 2024. Initial input into the activity can be sent to [email protected]. 

The Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (DBASSE) within the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has announced the appointment of Dianne Chong, Leah H. Jamieson, and Mary C. Waters to its their advisory committee. DBASSE works to advance the social and behavioral sciences by providing “independent, evidence-based advice to decision-makers on key questions of national importance.” Chong previously served as vice president at The Boeing Co.’s Engineering, Operations & Technology organization; Jamieson is the John Edwardson Dean Emerita of Engineering at Purdue University; and Waters is the John L. Loeb Professor of Sociology and the PVK Professor of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University.

A full list of the advisory committee members can be found on the DBASSE website.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) is seeking experts to participate in the new consensus study on promising PreK-12 STEM education innovations in response to the Congressional mandate in the CHIPS and Science Act.

The study will (1) review the literature and identify research gaps regarding the factors that foster and hinder successful implementation of promising PreK-12 STEM innovations at all levels; (2) present evidence-based PreK-12 STEM education practices, models, programs, and technologies; (3) identify barriers to widespread and sustained implementation of innovations; and (4) make recommendations to relevant stakeholders on measures to address the identified barriers.

The National Academies is looking to build a committee of approximately 14 volunteer experts, in addition to collecting information for potential speakers, participants, and peer reviewers for any publications resulting from the activity, with expertise particularly in the following areas: Science Education, Mathematics Education, Engineering Education, Computer Science Education, Data Science Education, Early STEM Education, Learning Sciences, Educational Technology, Curriculum Development, Teacher Professional Development, Curriculum Implementation, Teacher Preparation, and Education Administration and Policy.

The National Academies is requesting submissions by May 31, 2023. To learn more about this project, visit the NASEM PreK-12 STEM Education Innovations website.

The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Communications Committee has soft launched the Public Opinion Podcast (POP)!

The podcast aims to increase public awareness of the field of survey methodology and public opinion. POP will also serve as a learning tool to provide teaching materials to undergraduate and graduate programs to increase the visibility of expertise at AAPOR.

Two episodes have been released, the first one titled “Technological Advances and Public Opinion Research Challenges with Courtney Kennedy, Jennifer Agiesta, and Natalie Jackson,” and the second on “Race, Justice, and Public Opinion with David C. Wilson, Maria Krysan and Natalie Jackson”.

AAPOR is a COSSA Governing Member. Find the podcast on the AAPOR website or wherever you listen to podcasts.