Protecting America’s Discovery Infrastructure

The Office of Management and Budget’s proposed revisions to the Uniform Guidance governing federal financial assistance—alongside related policy developments at agencies such as the National Science Foundation—represent one of the most consequential proposed changes to the federal research funding environment in decades. They deserve careful scrutiny and thoughtful engagement from every part of the research and innovation community.

Strong stewardship of public funds and a vibrant scientific enterprise are complementary national objectives. The challenge is ensuring that changes intended to strengthen one also sustain the other. That is why, when considering regulatory change, we must look not only at the implications for individual investigators and research awards, but also at how the effects may extend across the broader discovery ecosystem.

We readily recognize the contributions of universities, national laboratories, scholarly publishers, nonprofit research organizations, and philanthropic foundations to America’s discovery ecosystem. Less often recognized, but equally important, is the role of scientific societies. Together, these institutions have helped make the United States the world’s scientific and innovation leader for more than seven decades.

At AIP, strengthening that ecosystem is central to our mission. We often speak about empowering the people and organizations that make discovery possible because scientific leadership depends not only on scientific excellence, but also on the institutions that convene communities, disseminate knowledge, establish professional standards, educate the workforce of tomorrow, and connect discovery with innovation, economic competitiveness, and national security.

The organizations that comprise the AIP federation demonstrate this every day. Nearly all are American nonprofit organizations operating in communities across the United States. Together they employ thousands of professionals, sustain education and research in every state, generate substantial economic activity through the scientific meetings they convene, and foster collaboration across disciplines and sectors. They are not simply membership organizations. They are part of the connective tissue that links researchers, institutions, disciplines, sectors, and generations in ways that sustain a healthy scientific enterprise.

Too often, however, science societies are taken for granted.

America’s discovery ecosystem is a national strategic asset. It is built on trusted institutions, enduring partnerships, and communities of expertise. It requires sustained attention and thoughtful stewardship. Its strength cannot be measured only when it is under stress; it must be built and maintained over decades—work that science societies do, day in and day out.

When changes in federal regulation are proposed, the public comment process exists precisely because reasonable people can reach different conclusions about changes of this significance. Whatever one’s perspective, the scientific community should not underestimate what is at stake. Proposals with the potential to reshape the operating environment for so many organizations simultaneously are rare, and they deserve the full attention of our community.

Personally, it is encouraging that so many of AIP’s Member Organizations have rallied their membership communities to take action and submit comments regarding the proposed regulations. This kind of action also provides the community an opportunity to engage with policymakers on the essential role their scientific societies play in the research enterprise—not simply as organizations serving their members, but as a network of institutions that enables discovery.

The work ahead requires thoughtful stewardship, rigorous analysis, and informed engagement. It also requires that we recognize and sustain not only the people who make discovery possible, but also the scientific societies whose indispensable work enables American science, innovation, opportunity, and leadership to flourish for generations to come.

Protecting America’s discovery infrastructure is a responsibility we all share.

Michael H. Moloney is Chief Executive Officer of AIP.