Science Policy Report

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09 June 2010

In This Issue:

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

Congressional/Administration News

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

The energy audits and renewable energy development assistance program is designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and help meet the nation’s critical energy needs. The 2008 Farm Bill mandates that the recipient of a grant that conducts an energy audit for an agricultural producer or a rural small business require the agricultural producer or rural small business to pay at least 25 percent of the cost of the energy audit, which shall be retained by the eligible entity for the cost of the audit. Deadline 26 Jul. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=54851

The Department of Interior has initiated a major effort to address climate change and its effect on federal trust resources. As part of this effort, BLM is providing partial funding to facilitate the ability of States to work with Heinz Center to identify ecosystems and species vulnerable to climate change as well as develop methods and models to document the effects of climate change. States are charged with revising their Wildlife Action Plans to include climate change. Nevada has completed the first phase of identifying potential species indicators of climate change. This funding is the continuation of this work by examining the performance of these indicators. The Nevada Wildlife Action Plan supports management activities that sustain and recover viable populations of the state’s desired wildlife and the ecosystems upon which they depend. Deadline 14 Jun. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=54859

The purpose of the Expert Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Decision Support System (EIPMDSS) program is to support development of expert systems that help guide, demonstrate and multiply impacts of USDA supported IPM programs. The EIPMDSS created and maintained by the successful applicant will help these programs establish and communicate IPM research, education, and extension priorities; allow a diverse group of stakeholders to obtain access to selected program outputs; compile LOGIC model based program reports; and synthesize program impacts. Deadline 6 Jul. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=54873

EPA Region 10 is seeking applications from eligible organizations that will promote the transition to reduced-risk pest management practices in agriculture to protect human health and the environment. The Strategic Agricultural Initiative, (SAI) program focuses financial resources primarily on minor agricultural crop production. Grant funding assistance under this program is generally available to: States, U.S. territories or possessions, federally recognized Indian tribal governments and Native American Organizations, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public or private nonprofit institutions, local governments, individuals, and international entities. Grant activities that are supported under the SAI program and this Request for Applications (RFA) include: education, extension, demonstration, and studies for Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) transition and reduced risk pest management practices in agriculture. Project activities should support achieving the adoption of reduced risk pest management practices, and/or ecologically based Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Deadline 15 Jul. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=54880

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging the federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) into NRCS technical manuals, guides, and references or to the private sector. CIG does not fund research projects. It is a vehicle to stimulate the development and adoption of conservation approaches or technologies that have been studied sufficiently to indicate a likelihood of success and to be candidates for eventual technology transfer or institutionalization. CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. The Kansas NRCS will accept applications for single or multi-year projects, not to exceed three years, submitted to NRCS from eligible entities including federally recognized Indian tribes, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations and individuals. Kansas component CIG projects must take place in Kansas; multi-state projects will not be considered. Technical Contact: Susie McBride, susie.mcbride@ks.usda.gov. Deadline 25 Jun. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=54888

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Vermont (VT) is announcing availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of the Vermont State CIG competition in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 will be $201,000. Funds will be awarded through a statewide competitive grants process. Only projects to be implemented within the state of Vermont will be considered. There are three categories of natural resources concerns or technology needs in the State CIG for FY 2010. Deadline 6 Jul. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=54894

The New Hampshire State Office of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) requests applications for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications will be accepted from any eligible entity for projects within the State of New Hampshire. Funds will be awarded through a statewide competitive grants process. Applications are requested from eligible government or non-government organizations or individuals within the State of New Hampshire for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between one and three years in duration. This notice identifies the objectives for CIG projects, the eligibility criteria for projects, and associated instructions needed to apply for a CIG. There are two CIG components available in FY2010: (1) Natural Resource Concerns Component, and (2) Technology Component. Deadline 2 Jul. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=54896

Dramatic expansion of the domestic biofuels industry is needed to meet the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2; i.e., 36 billion gallons per year of biofuels from domestically produced feedstocks by 2022, including 21 billion gallons per year of advanced biofuels from cellulosic feedstocks). In order to displace 30 percent or more of the country’s present petroleum consumption, approximately one billion dry tons of sustainably produced feedstocks would need to be produced each year. It is anticipated that the feedstock required to achieve the anticipated rapid expansion of the commercial domestic biofuels industry will come predominantly from dedicated energy crops. The lack of verifiable and reliable environmental data at the watershed scale for high-yielding energy crops and other feedstocks removed from the landscape to ascertain the sustainability of these production systems has been identified as a barrier to the development of a large and significant biofuel and biopower industry. Deadline 16 Jul. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=54923

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New York is announcing availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted for projects located entirely within the state of New York. Funds will be awarded through a two-phase competitive grants process which will include a pre-proposal for all applications, and a full application package only for competitively selected pre-proposal applicants, pursuant to notification by NRCS. Both phases are described in this announcement, but only pre-proposals are being solicited at this time. This notice identifies the objectives for CIG projects, the eligibility criteria for projects, and provides the instructions needed to apply to CIG. Each pre-proposal will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete applications will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be mailed to the applicant. NRCS will request a full application package only from those applicants selected in the pre-proposal process. Deadline 25 Jun. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=54950

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maine is announcing availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from all 50 States, Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Funds will be awarded through a two-phase competitive grants process which will include a pre-proposal for all applications, and a full application package only for competitively selected pre-proposal applicants, pursuant to notification by NRCS. Contact: Christopher Jones Maine CIG Program Manager Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Phone: (207) 990-9563, Email: chris.jones@me.usda.gov. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=54958

The USDA SBIR CAP program will provide support to a successful applicant to provide commercialization assistance to SBIR Phase I winners from FYs 2010 and 2011. The goals of the commercialization training program are: (1) Enhance the commercialization skills of SBIR Phase I grant recipients through introductory commercialization training that can be obtained by the grant recipients at a time and place that is convenient to them; (2) Help enhance the ability of SBIR Phase I grant recipients to write competitive commercialization plans; and (3) Monitor the impacts of commercialization training on Phase I grant recipients. Deadline 15 Jul. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=55052

The STEP Centers competition allows a group of faculty representing a cross section of institutions of higher education to identify…a national challenge or opportunity in undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and to propose a comprehensive and coordinated set of activities that will be carried out to address that challenge or opportunity within a national context. In the current competition, efforts must be related to the biological sciences, engineering, or the geological sciences. Deadline 20 Jan. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=55064

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

A record 108,819 first-time, full-time science and engineering (S&E) graduate students enrolled in fall 2008—20.6% of all S&E graduate enrollments and a 1-year increase of 7.8%. First-time enrollment in engineering grew faster among U.S. citizens and permanent residents than among foreign students with temporary visas. Graduate enrollment in S&E fields increased slightly more among men (2.9%) than among women (2.1%) from 2007 to 2008, reversing a long-term trend toward relatively greater enrollment gains by women. View document: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf10320/

In early April 2010, the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America Science Policy Office sent ASA, CSSA and SSSA members an email with a link to a survey we are conducting on general employment data, funding sources, and research topics.  This data will help us to maintain an accurate picture of your interests and activities, enabling us to better serve you when we advocate for federal research, funding within agencies such as USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Agricultural Research Service, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy Office of Science, and other government agencies that fund research in the agronomic, crop, and soil sciences.  As a reminder, if you have not already done so and are interested in participating in the survey, please go to: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB229TKLM4KPLand complete the survey, which should take less than five minutes.  Background: The President's FY '11 Budget, released February 1, 2010 has a strong focus on research and development (R&D) investments. View full budget at the Office of Management and Budget website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/. View Federal R&D at the Office of Science and Technology Policy website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/rdbudgets/2011

On May 28th, the House passed the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act, a bill originally passed in 1997 which was set to expire on September 30th. America COMPETES, or America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science is a monumental bill that authorizes appropriations for NASA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), NOAA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. The 1997 bill was also the genesis for the Advanced Research Projects Agency– Energy (ARPA-E), which has since become well-known for supporting cutting-edge research in energy science, as well as other high-risk, high-reward research projects. At a time when American students are beginning to lag academically behind those in other industrialized countries, especially in math and science, the Act also provides funding to advance science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education programs. http://science-policy.blogspot.com/2010/06/america-competes-reauthorization.html

The USDA Economic Research Service has released its latest forecast of U.S. agricultural exports, by commodity and region, as well as the agricultural trade balance and the import and export outlook. The report is at http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/AES/AES-05-27-2010.pdf.  Reports for previous years are at http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1196. The Publication Coordinator is Nora Brooks, ERS, 202-694-5211, nbrooks@ers.usda.gov

The US Geological Survey (USGS) a unit of the Interior Department, has released a study of untreated water samples from 932 public wells across the nation.  Findings showed that naturally occurring contaminants, such as radon and arsenic, accounted for about three-quarters of contaminant concentrations greater than human-health benchmarks. Man-made contaminants were also found including herbicides, insecticides, solvents, disinfection by-products, nitrate, and gasoline chemicals. Man-made contaminants accounted for about one-quarter of contaminant concentrations greater than human-health benchmarks, but were detected in 64 percent of the samples, predominantly in samples from unconfined aquifer. The May 21, 2010 NAWQA Full report is postedat http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1346/pdf/circ1346.pdf

Congressional/Administration News

President Obama announced his nomination of Subra Suresh, currently Dean of the School of Engineering and the Vannevar Bush Professor of Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as the next Director of the National Science Foundation.  From 2000 to 2006, Dr. Suresh served as the head of the MIT Department of Materials Science and Engineering.  He joined MIT in 1993 as the R.P. Simmons Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and since then has held joint faculty appointments in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biological Engineering, as well as the Division of Health Sciences and Technology.  From 1983 to 1993, Dr. Suresh was a faculty member in the Division of Engineering at Brown University.  He has been elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Indian Academy of Sciences in Bangalore, the Royal Spanish Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Sciences of the Developing World based in Trieste, Italy, and the German National Academy of Sciences.  Dr. Suresh is the recipient of the 2007 European Materials Medal, the highest honor conferred by the Federation of European Materials Societies, and the 2006 Acta Materialia Gold Medal.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras, an M.S. from Iowa State University, and a Sc.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Dr. Suresh also holds honorary doctorate degrees from the Technical University of Madrid in Spain and Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

 USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) this week released the first Annual Synopsis for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) competitive grants program, which awarded more than $176 million in 470 research, education and extension grants in fiscal year 2009. Fiscal year 2009 was the first year that NIFA administered the AFRI program, which was created by the 2008 Farm Bill. In the first year, AFRI solicited competitive grant applications in 40 programs addressing the areas of plant and animal health and production, plant and animal products, food safety, nutrition and health, renewable energy, natural resources and environment, agricultural systems and technology, and agricultural economics and rural communities. More than 2,000 competitive grant applications were received and reviewed through a competitive peer review process comprised of more than 500 subject matter experts from across the country. Twenty-seven grants were made to new investigators receiving their first federal grant and 13 postdoctoral fellowships. Thirty percent of grants made were for integrated projects that combined research, education and extension components.

This week, as part of an effort by the Obama administration to cut spending and address the out-of-control federal budget deficit, the White House has asked federal agencies to cut their budgets by 5 percent. In the announcement, Peter Orszag, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, who’s the top fiscal adviser for the administration, announced that all "non-security" agencies will have to find ways to trim spending in their 2012 budgets. Yesterday’s announcement goes well beyond the three-year overall spending freeze the administration previously proposed. Orzag also said that for the next round of budget cuts, the president wants additional discretionary programs trimmed back. For the science community, this move is seen as a threat because almost all research funding is discretionary. In the most recent budget proposal, the administration proposed cuts to popular farmland conservation programs and research programs, as well as an array of proposed cuts to subsidies and research programs for fossil fuels. Environmental advocates who monitor the federal budget said today that they will recommend the administration look for significant cuts to programs that support fossil fuels or nuclear loan guarantees. The U.S. national debt recently rose to more than $13 trillion for the first time in the country's history.

Emboldened by a potential presidential veto, Senate Democrats seem to be joining forces against a Republican-party effort to block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. The chief architect of the a resolution (S J Res 26) banning EPA from regulating carbon monoxide, Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska admitted that the outcome of tomorrow’s vote on her measure is in the hands of moderate Democrats with reservations about EPA regulation of carbon dioxide. With 40 cosponsors, including Democrats Mary Landrieu (LA), Ben Nelson (NE) and Blanche Lincoln (AR), the resolution could be adopted with a simple majority vote, thereby overturning the “endangerment finding” issued in December by the EPA, which concluded that high concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are a hazard to human health. That finding, consequently, triggered a requirement to regulate emissions under the Clean Air Act (PL 101-549).

The recent fallout from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has renewed prospects for an energy debate this summer in the Senate, with Congress open to consideration of a bipartisan climate change proposal that could effectively sideline the comprehensive bill recently unveiled by John Kerry (D-MA) and Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT). Leading the charge are Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chairman, Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and ranking Republican Lisa Murkowski. Three other senators signed onto a letter, released Monday, that asked the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to analyze so-called cap-and-dividend legislation. Sponsored by Democrat Maria Cantwell (WA) and Republican Susan Collins (ME), the bill (S 2877), would cap emissions of greenhouse gases, but rebate to consumers the money raised by selling emissions allowances to polluters. The bill is an alternative to the measure that Kerry and Lieberman drafted after months of talks with environmental and business groups.

On 28 May, House of Representatives passed the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 on final vote of 262-150. I and most other observers were pessimistic about prospects for passage of Competes, after the measure failed twice to pass the lower chamber. COMPETES passage was a pleasant surprise. At the end of the day, 17 Republicans joined with 245 Democrats in supporting the bill, which now goes on to the U.S. Senate for consideration. In Competes is an authorization (not actual funding) for about $85.6 billion in new investments in the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy's Office of Science, and the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards & Technology over a five-year period.

Sources: Congressional Quarterly; E&E Publishing; Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC

Vision: The Societies Washington, DC Science Policy Office (SPO) will advocate the importance and value of the agronomic, crop and soil sciences in developing national science policy and ensuring the necessary public-sector investment in the continued health of the environment for the well being of humanity. The SPO will assimilate, interpret, and disseminate in a timely manner to Society members information about relevant agricultural, natural resources and environmental legislation, rules and regulations under consideration by Congress and the Administration.

This page of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA web site will highlight current news items relevant to Science Policy. It is not an endorsement of any position.