Science Policy Report

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29 September 2010

In This Issue:

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

Congressional/Administration News

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

The Regional IPM Competitive Grants Program (RIPM) supports the continuum of research and extension efforts needed to increase the implementation of IPM methods. The RIPM program supports projects that develop individual pest control tactics, integrate individual tactics into an IPM system, and develop and implement extension and education programs. The program is administered by the land-grant university system's four regional IPM Centers (North Central, Northeastern, Southern, Western) in partnership with NIFA. Deadline 22 Nov. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58187
 

The Regional IPM Competitive Grants Program (RIPM) supports the continuum of research and extension efforts needed to increase the implementation of IPM methods. The RIPM program supports projects that develop individual pest control tactics, integrate individual tactics into an IPM system, and develop and implement extension and education programs. The program is administered by the land-grant university system's four regional IPM Centers (North Central, Northeastern, Southern, Western) in partnership with NIFA. Deadline 22 Nov. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58185

The Regional IPM Competitive Grants Program (RIPM) supports the continuum of research and extension efforts needed to increase the implementation of IPM methods. The RIPM program supports projects that develop individual pest control tactics, integrate individual tactics into an IPM system, and develop and implement extension and education programs. The program is administered by the land-grant university system's four regional IPM Centers (North Central, Northeastern, Southern, Western) in partnership with NIFA. Deadline 22 Nov. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58188

The Regional IPM Competitive Grants Program (RIPM) supports the continuum of research and extension efforts needed to increase the implementation of IPM methods. The RIPM program supports projects that develop individual pest control tactics, integrate individual tactics into an IPM system, and develop and implement extension and education programs. The program is administered by the land-grant university system's four regional IPM Centers (North Central, Northeastern, Southern, Western) in partnership with NIFA. Deadline 22 Nov. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58189

The Promoting Research and Innovation in Methodologies for Evaluation (PRIME) program seeks to support research on evaluation with special emphasis on exploring innovative new approaches for determining the impacts and usefulness of evaluations of STEM education projects and programs; building on and expanding the theoretical foundations for evaluating STEM education and workforce development initiatives, including translating and adapting approaches from other fields; and growing the capacity and infrastructure of the evaluation field. Two types of proposals will be supported by the program: Exploratory Projects that include proof-of-concept and feasibility studies and more extensive Full-Scale Projects. Deadline 5 Jan. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=57274

The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council serves to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the status of the nation’s urban and community forests and related natural resources. The Council seeks to establish sustainable urban and community forests, by encouraging communities of all sizes to manage and protect their natural resources, which can, if well managed, improve the public’s health, well being, and economic vitality, and create resilient ecosystems for present and future generations. Urban and Community Forestry Program Requirements: Through the U.S. Forest Service’s competitive Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost-Share Grant Program, the Council only supports urban and community forestry projects that have national or multi-state application and impact. Deadline 29 Nov. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=57346

The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program provides opportunities to doctoral candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. The program is designed to contribute to the development and improvement of the study of modern foreign languages and area studies in the United States. Deadline 2 Nov. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=57616

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to provide training workshop support activities for the State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs, the Clean Water SRF program and the Drinking Water SRF program. The training workshop support will include planning, preparing, and providing technical support for four annual National SRF Infrastructure Financing and Training Workshops. This section of the CWA restricts the use of these assistance agreements to the following: conducting or promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. Implementation projects are not eligible for funding under this announcement. Deadline 29 Oct. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58105

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the P3 Award Program, is seeking applications proposing to research, develop, and design solutions to real world challenges involving the overall sustainability of human society. The P3 competition highlights the use of scientific principles in creating innovative projects focused on sustainability. The P3 Awards program was developed to foster progress toward sustainability by achieving the mutual goals of economic prosperity, protection of the planet, and improved quality of life for its people-- people, prosperity, and the planet – the three pillars of sustainability. The EPA offers the P3 competition in order to respond to the technical needs of the world while moving towards the goal of sustainability. Please see the P3 website (http://www.epa.gov/P3) for more details about this program. Deadline 22 Dec. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58110

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 10, Office of Water and Watersheds, Watersheds Unit, is soliciting proposals from eligible agencies/organizations for the coordination and acceleration of research, studies, experiments, training, investigations… and demonstration projects to improve the capacity of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington States and Tribes to effectively and efficiently develop and implement total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for impaired waters located in these States. EPA will not provide funding to State or Tribal environmental agencies for “routine” TMDL work that the Agency supports with grants under Section 106 and 319 of the Clean Water Act; TMDL production and implementation must be an incidental by-product of the activities EPA funds under this competitive announcement. This notice sets forth the process that will be used for selecting awards. The total estimated funding available for awards under this announcement is approximately $400,000. The number of expected awards is approximately 8, with an expected range of award of $25,000 - $80,000; however, proposals requesting funding below or above the expected range of award will be considered. Deadline 8 Nov. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58165

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

University spending on R&D in science and engineering reached $54.9 billion in FY 2009, with almost 60% funded by the federal government ($32.6 billion). The institutions themselves contributed the second largest amount of funding for their R&D projects ($11.2 billion). Medical and biological sciences continue to account for over half of all R&D expenditures with $18.2 billion and $10.2 billion, respectively. Data from a redesigned Higher Education R&D Survey will be available by the fall of 2011.

On 21 Sep, Vice President Joe Biden hosted a roundtable discussion with university presidents to discuss investments in university research made through the Recovery Act. View video of discussion: http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2010/09/21/investing-university-research

The Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) will hold the annual Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop, “Meeting DoD’s Environmental Challenges,” November 30 – December 2, 2010, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Partners in Environmental Technology event promotes the many different partnerships that play a key role in the success of federal technology development: the partnership between DoD, the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other federal agencies; the partnership between federal agencies, private industry, and academia; and most importantly, the partnership between technology developers, the numerous end users of technology, and environmental regulators/policy developers. Details: www.serdp-estcp.org/symposium. Contact: partners@hgl.com, or call the Symposium Contact Line at (703) 736-4548.

Just candid conversations with leading scientists, economists, and politicians hosted by award-winning NPR reporters Richard Harris… (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100631), and David Kestenbaum (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100747). The events will be held every other Monday night -- October 4, 18 and November 1, 15-- this fall from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm in the AAAS Auditorium at 1200 New York Avenue. A reception will start at 5:00 pm. Talks begin Mon, Oct 4 with “Challenge: Meeting Global Energy Demand” with DOE Under Secretary for Science, Steve Koonin ( http://www.energy.gov/organization/dr_steven_koonin.htm), Undersecretary for Science, US Department of Energy; and David Goldston (http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dgoldston/), Natural Resources Defense Council. The event will be hosted by Michael Parker of ExxonMobil. RSVP online (https://secureapps.aaas.org/EventRSVP/Login.aspx?eventid=177). View this information online at: http://cstsp.aaas.org/content.html?contentid=2376

EPA has announced the availability of the 2010 version of the Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS), which was developed to help scientists find, develop, organize, and use environmental information to improve causal assessments of biological impairment.Federal Register Notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-23966.htm. The Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System" is posted at: http://www.epa.gov/caddis/

On Tuesday, October 5th, from 3:30-4:30 EDT, the Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics (C-FARE) and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), will sponsor a webinar discussing the value of wetlands in serving as a buffering system to the impacts of extreme events such as hurricanes, floods, fire, and oil spills. To RSVP for the event please visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/924334986. The RSVP Deadline is October 4, 2010.Registration is free but space is limited. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. Our nation’s wetlands serve as a filter for much of our water system, they provide numerous valuable ecosystem services and are a great source of biodiversity. When disasters strike, the impacts to these wetlands can be significant, jeopardizing the ecosystem services that they provide. As a result, foresight about how to manage these areas in the face of disaster is critical. This briefing will highlight the ecosystem services that wetlands provide, how these services are managed in the face of disaster events, and the process and protocol for recovery. Speakers will also identify research that can help guide the conservation and recovery of these vital systems.

Speakers include:

• Dr. John Day of the Coastal Ecology Institute at Louisiana State University
• Dr. K. Ramesh Reddyof the Soil and Water Science Department at University of Florida
• Dr. Daniel R. Petroliaof the Department of Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State University

Join us for this exciting event!

System Requirements: PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server; Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

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Congressional/Administration News

As has increasingly become the norm, Congress will pass a stopgap funding measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), to fund the US government through the November mid-term elections. Despite congressional leaders’ efforts to keep the CR earmark-free, the squabbling as apparently already started with both chambers and parties unable to reach agreement on what constitutes a “clean” CR.  To date, none of the 12 annual appropriations bills has been passed.  A CR followed, most likely, by some sort of omnibus spending bill for FY 2011, often results in science funding cuts. Stayed tuned…

A report released this week by the National Academy of Sciences finds that the United States' readiness to face the "gathering storm" of international competition in innovation and jobs is in doubt. Responding to the report, the House Science and Technology Committee will hold a hearing today to probe what steps the federal government can take to regain leadership. Four of the authors of the report, "Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited: Rapidly Approaching Category 5," which was requested by Congress, are expected to back up the report’s findings showing little advancement in U.S. competitiveness since a 2005 study examining the same issue. View report: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12999

On 22 Sep, Dr. Rajiv Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, issued the following statement on the President's ground-breaking policy on global development: "From President John F. Kennedy to President Barack Obama, the United States has a rich history of providing assistance that improves the lives of men, women and children around the globe. Today President Obama issued the first-ever development policy by a U.S. President. In partnership with the host countries where we work, USAID is pleased to play a leading role in the implementation of President Obama's vision for global development. From building sustainable capacity to restoring performance monitoring and impact evaluation to promoting science, technology and innovation, we are transforming our capabilities to support the President's new development policy. USAID is poised and ready to reclaim our place as the world's premiere development agency."  Read more about the President's global development policy at: http://www.usaid.gov/unga/ppd.html

On 16 Sep, Dr. Catherine E. Woteki was confirmed by the Senate as the next Under Secretary for the USDA Research, Education and Economics mission area. Woteki recently served as the Global Director of Scientific Affairs for Mars, Incorporated, where she managed the company’s scientific policy and research on matters of health, nutrition, and food safety. From 2002-2005, she was Dean of Agriculture and Professor of Human Nutrition at Iowa State University. Dr. Woteki served as the first Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 1997-2001, where she oversaw U.S. Government food safety policy development and USDA’s continuity of operations planning. Dr. Woteki also served as the Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics at USDA in 1996. Prior to going to USDA, Dr. Woteki served in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as Deputy Associate Director for Science from 1994-1996. Dr. Woteki has also held positions in the National Center for Health Statistics of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1983-1990), the Human Nutrition Information Service at USDA (1981-1983), and as Director of the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences (1990-1993). In 1999, Dr. Woteki was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, where she has chaired the Food and Nutrition Board (2003-2005). She received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Human Nutrition from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1974). Dr. Woteki received her B.S. in Chemistry from Mary Washington College (1969).

Also on the 16th, Carl Wieman was finally confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Associate Director for Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The OSTP now has a full complement of associate directors: Wieman; Aneesh Chopra, Associate Director and Chief Technology Officer in the Technology Division; Philip Coyle, Associate Director, National Security and International Affairs Division; and Shere Abbott, Associate Director, Energy and Environment Division. Along with the science portfolio, physics Nobel laureate Wieman is a serious and inspiring leader in improving science education, and will also add his leadership to this national priority goal. He earlier led programs at the Univ. Colorado that enhanced the education and training of science and math teachers. There have not been four associate directors of OSTP since the Clinton Administration.

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.