- DOD Under Secretary Sends Letter to Research Community on Science and Security
- Budget and Appropriations Update
- ESC Urges Appropriators to Fund DOE Office of Science at Senate Levels
- CNSR Letter Urges Appropriators to Increase Defense S&T Funding for FY20
- AAU Faculty Awarded Nobel Prizes
- AAU JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: Assistant/Associate Vice President for Federal Relations
- Upcoming Events
DOD UNDER SECRETARY SENDS LETTER TO RESEARCH COMMUNITY ON SCIENCE AND SECURITY
Defense Department Under Secretary for Research and Engineering Michael D. Griffin sent a letter to the research community to describe the current rising tensions and fears of potential espionage, intellectual property theft, and threats to academic integrity posed by foreign powers and outline steps the department has taken to address these threats. The letter highlights the activities of AAU, ACE, APLU, and others, and calls upon the academic community to continue to work with the department to develop and implement best practices to protect American innovation while maintaining the free and open exchange of ideas.
BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE
Congress will on Tuesday return from recess with just 20 joint legislative days to come to agreement on all 12 FY20 appropriations measures and fund the government before the current continuing resolution expires November 21. As of October 1, the House has passed 10 of 12 FY20 spending bills and the Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced 10 of 12 measures, but the chamber has not voted on any FY20 appropriations bills.
During recess Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) announced that she will not run for re-election in her district in 2020. Speculation about her successor as House Appropriations Committee chair has already begun.
RESOURCES AVAILABLE: AAU FY20 Funding Priorities Table
ESC URGES APPROPRIATORS TO FUND DOE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AT SENATE LEVELS
The Energy Sciences Coalition, of which AAU is a member, Monday sent a letter to House and Senate Energy and Water Appropriations leaders urging them to fund the Energy Department’s Office of Science at the Senate level, or $7.215 billion. The Coalition asserts this funding level will: support core research; accelerate facility upgrades; advance strategic investments in high-risk, high-reward research; maintain and grow multi-disciplinary research centers; and provide competitive grant and education funding to the next generation of American scientific and engineering talent.
CNSR LETTER URGES APPROPRIATORS TO INCREASE DEFENSE S&T FUNDING FOR FY20
The Coalition for National Security Research, which includes AAU, Monday sent a letter to House and Senate Defense Appropriations leaders urging them to support Defense Science and Technology programs in the FY20 Defense appropriations measure. The letter highlights the Coalition’s funding priorities for various programs, including: Science and Technology programs; Defense Research Sciences program elements; University Research Initiatives; Applied Research Funding; and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
AAU FACULTY AWARDED NOBEL PRIZES
Four AAU faculty have been awarded 2019 Nobel Prizes so far. Professor William G. Kaelin of Harvard University and Professor Gregg L. Semenza of the Johns Hopkins University were awarded the prize in Physiology or Medicine. University of Texas at Austin’s Professor John B. Goodenough received the prize in Chemistry. Professor Emeritus James Peebles of Princeton University was awarded the prize in Physics. We look forward to the announcement of the remaining 2019 Nobel Laureates in the coming days.
AAU JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR FEDERAL RELATIONS
AAU is seeking applicants for the position of Assistant/Associate Vice President for Federal Relations. This position focuses on NSF and NASA research policy and funding issues and works closely with the CFR. A description of the position and application requirements are available here. To be considered, please send by October 28 a cover letter, salary requirements, and resume to [email protected].
UPCOMING EVENTS
OCTOBER 18 PANEL DISCUSSION: THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION AT AMERICA’S LEADING RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES; The University of Iowa, Voxman Music Building, Concert Hall. For more information, click here.