What’s Ahead
Budget Outlook Remains Uncertain as July Fourth Recess Begins
Little progress is expected on budget negotiations this week as Congress is out of session for the Fourth of July holiday. Congressional leaders and President Trump have yet to agree to overall spending levels for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts on Oct. 1. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said last week that he still supports striking a deal that raises statutory caps on discretionary spending for two years and opposes the idea of resorting to a one-year caps increase or a yearlong continuing resolution that freezes funding at current levels.
The lack of an agreement has slowed progress on appropriations legislation. While the House has passed two packages of spending bills covering most science programs, the Senate has yet to release its own proposals. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Richard Shelby (R-AL) has said his panel may adopt notional spending levels in order to begin advancing its bills this month, though McConnell has indicated he is not happy about the idea. For its part, the White House has issued veto threats on both the House spending packages, arguing they include excessive increases for non-defense agencies, including the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and National Institutes of Health.
Progress is further along on the National Defense Authorization Act , which Congress passes annually by tradition. The Senate passed its version of the legislation last week on a vote of 86 to 8 after adopting a substitute version that incorporated a number of amendments, including a major reauthorization act for intelligence agencies with several research-related provisions. The House is scheduled to begin considering floor amendments on its version next week. Once the House passes its version, the chambers will convene a conference committee to iron out the differences between the bills. This year’s conference is likely to feature debate on items such as deployment of low-yield nuclear weapons , plutonium production , and the organization of military space programs .
In Case You Missed It
More Supersonic Tests Anticipated as Interest Takes Off
The Federal Aviation Administration announced last week it is planning to streamline the application process for supersonic aircraft tests in anticipation of increased demand for such flights. Tests over land have been heavily restricted since 1973 to prevent noise pollution from sonic booms, and FAA states it has only granted three authorizations for such tests and fielded a “handful of inquiries” since then. FAA’s action is likely to be the first of several rule change proposals as the Trump administration seeks to encourage the return of commercial supersonic flight. Michael Kratsios, the deputy assistant to the president for technology policy, published an article in the Washington Post on June 25 calling for regulatory reforms and promoting the possibilities of new aircraft that produce dramatically quieter sonic booms. The next day, at a House Science Committee hearing on NASA’s aeronautics research portfolio, witnesses attested to the potential of the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology Demonstrator the agency is developing with Lockheed Martin. The committee also surveyed the prospects for other technologies such as low-noise subsonic aircraft and aircraft with reduced carbon emissions.
MIT President Warns Against Stigmatizing Chinese Scientists
As the FBI continues to warn universities about the potential for academic espionage by the Chinese government, MIT President Rafael Reif penned an open letter last week emphasizing the contributions of foreign nationals to the U.S. and warning against stigmatizing Chinese nationals and Chinese Americans. In mitigating the risk of espionage, Reif wrote, “we must take great care not to create a toxic atmosphere of unfounded suspicion and fear,” given that the number of foreign-born researchers acting in bad faith are “the exception and very far from the rule.” He expressed dismay that MIT faculty and students have told him that “in their dealings with government agencies, they now feel unfairly scrutinized, stigmatized and on edge — because of their Chinese ethnicity alone.” Reif’s letter follows similar statements by top officials at major research universities expressing support for international students and scholars amid rising U.S.–China tensions.
Science Committee Peppers Perry on Priorities
With the House Science Committee working on legislation to guide the Department of Energy’s research programs, committee members raised various subjects of concern at a hearing last week with Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who was accompanied by Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar. Both Committee Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Rep. Kendra Horn (D-OK) pressed Perry on the value of the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy, which the committee sought to reauthorize last year. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) asked about DOE’s response to a new requirement that its Fusion Energy Sciences program support research on inertial confinement fusion. Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) inquired about the Trump administration’s position on the ITER international fusion energy project as well as the National Reactor Innovation Center DOE is required to establish. Asked by Rep. Anthony Gonzales (R-OH) about DOE’s efforts to protect research from misappropriation by foreign actors, Dabbar spoke about the department’s new policy to bar employees and contractor personnel from participating in certain foreign talent recruitment programs. He also clarified that a forthcoming policy governing collaborations with certain foreign countries on sensitive research areas will entail an “extra review” of such collaborations rather than an outright ban.
ARPA–E Director Confirmation Fills Out DOE Roster
By a voice vote last week, the Senate confirmed Lane Genatowski to be the director of Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy. Genatowski brings a background in energy sector finance to the position and holds degrees in economics and law. At his confirmation hearing last summer, he said he sincerely wishes to lead ARPA–E despite the Trump administration’s continued efforts to defund the agency, which currently has a $366 million budget. DOE now has a complete set of Senate-confirmed appointees with the exception of its nuclear waste cleanup arm, whose director stepped down this month.
DOE Innovation Bills Introduced
On June 27, Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to establish a nonprofit foundation for the Department of Energy. Congress has created similar entities at agencies such as the National Institutes of Health to leverage private sector funds and facilitate private-public partnerships in support of R&D projects. The same day, Coons and Luján also introduced a bipartisan bill to establish a $25 million voucher program that would facilitate partnerships between small businesses and DOE national labs on technology feasibility studies.
Senators Seek Consent for Nuclear Waste Solutions
As part of its effort to revitalize the U.S. nuclear energy industry, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing last week to gather testimony on the Nuclear Waste Administration Act , which was reintroduced in April by Committee Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) along with Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). First introduced in 2012, the bill would establish a new, independent agency charged with overseeing the selection of temporary and permanent sites for nuclear waste storage. Ranking Member Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) both made clear they believe repository siting decisions should require the consent of the affected state and communities. Cortez Masto, who is a vocal opponent of storing waste at Yucca Mountain in her state, asserted the site would remain the default choice under the bill’s provisions. In response, Murkowski stressed she recognizes the bill will require changes to garner broader support.
Climate Analysis Proposal Included in House Intelligence Act
On June 27, the House Intelligence Committee unanimously approved its version of the Intelligence Authorization Act, which sets policy for intelligence agencies. Among various provisions adopted in a substitute amendment , the bill now directs the Director of National Intelligence to create a Climate Security Advisory Council tasked with ensuring climate change is incorporated into intelligence analyses. The council would comprise intelligence officials as well as three federal climate experts from outside the intelligence community. The move comes after committee members expressed interest in formalizing the intelligence community’s approach to climate analyses at a hearing on the national security impacts of climate change last month, though it stops short of establishing a dedicated climate analysis center as proposed by Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA).
NASA to Develop Rotorcraft Mission to Saturn’s Moon Titan
NASA announced on June 27 that it has selected a rotorcraft mission called Dragonfly as the next mission in its medium-scale New Frontiers program. Dragonfly aims to explore multiple sites on Saturn’s moon Titan, which has a thick atmosphere and an abundance of organic compounds, some of which exist in liquid form on the surface. It is believed that conditions on the moon may offer clues to how life began on Earth and that it is even possible lifeforms currently exist there. Dragonfly will be developed by a team led by planetary scientist Elizabeth Turtle at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. It is targeted for launch in 2026 to arrive at Titan in 2034 with a development cost cap of $850 million. Notably, as an “Ocean Worlds” mission, Dragonfly did not arise from a recommendation in the last planetary science decadal survey, but rather was made eligible for inclusion in the New Frontiers competition through congressional action orchestrated by former Rep. John Culberson (R-TX).
Events This Week
Monday, July 1
World Conference of Science Journalists (continues through Saturday) Lausanne, Switzerland
Tuesday, July 2
NSB: National Science and Engineering Policy Committee teleconference 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Wednesday, July 3
NIST: “The European Spallation Source - Design and Current Status” 10:45 am, NIST headquarters (Gaithersburg, MD)
Thursday, July 4
Independence Day holiday
Friday, July 5
No events start today.
Monday, July 8
DOE: ARPA-E Summit (continues through Wednesday) Aurora, CO Politics and Prose: “The Weather Machine: A Journey Inside the Forecast” 7:00 - 8:00 pm, P&P at the Wharf (20 District Sq. SW, DC)
Opportunities
National Academies Seeking S&T Policy Fellows
The National Academies is now accepting applications for the 2020 Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program. Fellows spend 12 weeks in Washington, D.C., working for a committee or board of the National Academies. Interested individuals who have earned a graduate degree in a STEM-related field within the last five years are encouraged to apply. Applications are due Sept. 6.
National Science Board Accepting Nominations for Awards
The National Science Board is currently seeking nominations for its two annual awards. The Vannevar Bush Award is presented to a person who, “through public service activities in science and technology, makes outstanding contributions toward the nation and humanity.” The NSB Public Service Award recognizes individuals or organizations that have increased public understanding of science in the U.S. Nominations are due Sept. 27.
Ocean Policy Group Hiring Intern
The Consortium for Ocean Leadership is accepting applications for a year-long paid internship with its Public Affairs Team. The intern will be responsible for reporting on legislation, contributing to the policy section of a weekly newsletter, and developing briefing materials for congressional members and committees, among other duties. Applications are due July 13.
For additional opportunities, please visit www.aip.org/fyi/opportunities. Know of an opportunity for scientists to engage in science policy? Email us at fyi@aip.org.Know of an upcoming science policy event either inside or outside the Beltway? Email us at fyi@aip.org.
Around the Web
News and views currently in circulation. Links do not imply endorsement.
White House
- ‘We want more Chinese students’: Donald Trump says US looking for new ways to keep scholars in the country (South China Morning Post)
- Trump splits with rest of G-20 again on climate change action (Bloomberg)
- How a climate critic landed in the White House (E&E News)
- Seven minutes were devoted to climate change in the first Democratic debate (Washington Post)
- Remarks by vice president at the National Hurricane Center (White House)
- Trump administration’s industry-recognized apprenticeships will keep America working (Miami Herald, perspective by Ivanka Trump and Alexander Acosta)
Congress
- Federal investment, 1962 to 2018 (CBO, report)
- NIST: An appropriations overview (CRS, report)
Political Engagement
- A beginner’s guide to forming a student science policy group (Science Borealis)
Science, Society, and the Economy
- Sandia Labs to double assistance to small businesses (Sandia National Labs)
- Richmond woman performs science experiment onstage, wins Miss Virginia 2019 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
- Jacob Bronowski: The complex life of a science popularizer (Nature, book review)
- Science as political orthodoxy (RealClear Politics, perspective by Peter Schwartz)
Education and Workforce
- Discrimination drives LGBT+ scientists to think about quitting (Nature)
- Take pride in STEM (Fermilab)
- The universe and the university: Physics preparation for academic leadership (Physics Today, perspective by Gregory Crawford)
- STEM education: Lessons from 20 years of data (Education Week, perspective by Ina Mullis and Michael Martin)
Research Management
- NIH probe of foreign ties has led to undisclosed firings — and refunds from institutions (ScienceInsider, interview with Michael Lauer)
- Breaches of peer review integrity (NIH)
- FBI urges universities to monitor some Chinese students and scholars in the US (NPR)
- Researchers working with China face scrutiny by officials who don’t grasp science, lawyer says (Chronicle of Higher Education)
- Concerns remain over European open-access proposal (Physics Today)
- How to support open-source software and stay sane (Nature)
- Primer on open access (American Mathematical Society)
- The effect of technological imitation on corporate innovation: Evidence from US patent data (Research Policy, paper by Hyun Joong Im and Janghoon Shon)
- Management of consultant services at Los Alamos National Lab (DOE IG, report)
Labs and Facilities
- The future of particle accelerators may be autonomous (Symmetry)
- How JLab’s experimental program evolved, part 3: From experimental plans to concrete reality (Physics in Perspective, paper by Catherine Westfall)
- New facilities to support stockpile stewardship (Lawrence Livermore National Lab)
- About time (Science Friday, audio)
- New light source device, advanced imaging facility launched in Beijing (Xinhua)
Energy
- A Boston startup developing a nuclear fusion reactor just got a roughly $50 million boost from private investors (TechCrunch)
- A ‘significant leap’ in experiments at nuclear fusion project based at General Atomics (San Diego Union-Tribune)
- The reality behind perovskite films, solar power’s next star material (Nature)
- New US-Israel R&D center to get $16 million for advancing energy tech (Times of Israel)
- Senators try — again — to solve the nuclear waste debate (Wired)
- Inside the world’s first long-term storage facility for highly radioactive nuclear waste (Pacific Standard)
- Somehow, Rick Perry (?!) is Trump’s most stable Cabinet member (Daily Beast)
Quantum Science and Technology
- How to evaluate quantum computers that don’t quite exist (ScienceInsider)
- Move over, supercomputing. Quantum physics is here (Crain’s Chicago Business)
- AT&T hopes quantum networking will amplify the power of quantum computing (CNET)
- Air Force lab, IBM to pioneer quantum information technology (Rome Sentinel)
- Honeywell to build Canadian quantum encryption satellite (SpaceNews)
Space
- Quo vadis, NASA: The Moon, Mars, or both? (Physics Today)
- NASA selects partners for Mars 2020 ‘name the rover’ contest, seeks judges (NASA)
- NASA technology missions launch on SpaceX Falcon Heavy (NASA)
- Long-awaited space sustainability guidelines approved by UN committee (SpaceNews)
- Hardball tactics will only advance China’s space program (Washington Post, perspective by Fraser MacDonald)
Weather, Climate, and Environment
- FCC battles meteorologists again over plan to help wireless industry (Ars Technica)
- Ligado’s wireless plans caught in 5G agency crossfire (Wall Street Journal)
- US meteorologists worried over 5G roll-out (BBC News)
- Why weather forecasting keeps getting better (New Yorker)
- COSMIC-2 weather satellites soar into orbit aboard Falcon Heavy rocket (Phys.org)
- Florida news outlets partnering for climate change reporting (The Hill)
- Climate scientist Michael Mann urges Supreme Court to stay out of defamation fight (E&E News)
- Direct Air Capture Advisory Council launched (Bipartisan Policy Center)
Defense
- Jason — a secretive group of Cold War science advisers — is fighting to survive in the 21st century (ScienceInsider)
- Disagreements over Space Development Agency’s way spurred director’s departure (Air Force Magazine)
- Griffin taps senior DARPA official as interim Strategic Capabilities Office director (Inside Defense)
- Rumor: Griffin may be next space leader to go (Breaking Defense)
- Space Force or Space Corps? (CSIS)
- DARPA’S $1.5-billion remake of US electronics (IEEE Spectrum)
- The defense innovation ecosystem in one chart (Acquisition Talk)
- Senate NDAA sets a plutonium target experts deem a ‘fantasy’ (Roll Call)
- Los Alamos is unsuited for pit production (Aiken Standard, perspective by Greg Mello)
- The US doesn’t need new low-yield nuclear weapons (Physics Today, perspective by David Kramer)
Biomedical
- Medical groups warn climate change is a ‘health emergency’ (AP)
- The nation faces long-standing challenges related to defending against biological threats (GAO, report)
- Surprise patent ruling revives high-stakes dispute over the genome editor CRISPR (ScienceInsider)
International Affairs
- China ‘has decided not to fan the flames on supercomputing rivalry’ amid US tensions (South China Morning Post)
- How a big US chip maker gave China the ‘keys to the kingdom’ (Wall Street Journal)
- China’s leading scientists advised to keep a low profile in their work as US steps up pressure on tech firms (South China Morning Post)
- Huawei personnel worked with China’s military on research projects (Bloomberg)
- Huawei’s US research arm builds separate identity (Reuters)
- The history of Chinese indigenous innovation (Foreign Affairs, perspective by Lorland Laskai)
- Domestic quarrels cloud future of South Korea’s Institute for Basic Science (Physics Today)
- Science in South Asia (Science, perspective by Uttam Shrestha and Anindita Bhadra)
- India culls hundred more ‘dubious’ journals from government approved list (Nature)
- Iranian biologists face US trial for trying to take proteins out of the country (Nature)
- Have your say on future objectives for EU-funded research and innovation (European Commission)
- EU announces first ‘European Universities’ (Science|Business)
- UK science minister says access to Horizon Europe ‘essential’ (*Research)
- Head of UK’s national research funding agency vows to play ‘catalytic role’ for science in Brussels and beyond (Science|Business)
- New academic report evaluates impacts of Brexit to date (University College London)
- Scientists’ $250m fund aims to keep start-ups in the UK (Financial Times)
- ‘I was dying of shame’: Mexican science faces its #MeToo moment (Nature)