Science Policy Report

Address all comments to the Science Policy Office at:
sciencepolicy@sciencesocieties.org

08 December 2010

In This Issue:

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

Congressional/Administration News

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

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 policy, technical manuals, guides, and references or to the private sector. CIG is to apply proven technology which has been shown to work previously. 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 promotes sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies, and facilities among communities, governments, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users. CIG funds projects target innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. Deadline 28 Dec. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58943

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS), Science and Technology (S&T), Scientific Leadership Awards (SLA) support the development of a coordinated program of education in Homeland Security-related Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (HS-STEM) to prepare students for careers in research and development of the technology needed to secure our nation. Moreover, DHS strongly supports the development of a workforce that reflects the population of the United States of America. The DHS, S&T Directorate, Office of University Programs solicits applications from eligible Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) granting bachelor degrees to support early-career faculty and to establish homeland security–related scientific leadership programs in areas critical to homeland security. Deadline 31 Jan. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58953

The Environmental Sustainability program supports engineering research with the goal of promoting sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being and that are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems. These systems provide ecological services vital for human survival. The long-term viability of natural capital is critical for many areas of human endeavor. Research in Environmental Sustainability typically considers long time horizons and may incorporate contributions from the social sciences and ethics. This program supports engineering research that seeks to balance society's need to provide ecological protection and maintain stable economic conditions. Deadline 15 Sep. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=59009

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for the Youth Ambassadors Program with South America. Public and private non-profit organizations may submit proposals to recruit and select youth and adult participants, to provide the participants with three-week exchanges focused on civic education, community service, and youth leadership development, and to support follow-on projects in their home communities. Exchange delegations will travel from 10 South American countries to the United States, and U.S. exchange delegations will travel to select countries. ECA anticipates awarding multiple cooperative agreements that cover the administration of this program for two years. The awards will be contingent upon the availability of FY-2011 funds. Deadline 27 Jan.  http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=59018

The OREI seeks to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research and extension activities. The purpose of this program is to fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. The OREI is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole farm planning, especially those relating to climate change. Projects should plan to deliver applied production information to producers. Fieldwork must be done on certified organic land or on land in transition to organic certification, as appropriate to project goals and objectives. Refer to the USDA National Organic Program (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop) for organic production standards. Deadline 10 Feb. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58918

The Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering (BBBE) program supports fundamental engineering research that advances the understanding of cellular and biomolecular processes (in vivo, in vitro, and/or ex vivo) and eventually leads to the development of enabling technology and/or applications in support of the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, and bioenergy industries, or with applications in health or the environment. The program encourages proposals that address emerging research areas and technologies that effectively integrate knowledge and practices from different disciplines, and effectively incorporate ongoing research into educational activities. Deadline 15 Sep. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58926

The U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry is now accepting applications for the 2011 Young Observer Program, as part of the 46th IUPAC General Assembly and 43rd IUPAC Congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 29 through August 7, 2011. U.S. scientists and engineers under the age of 45, with interests and expertise related to the work of IUPAC are invited to attend the General Assembly in Puerto Rico as Young Observers. The Young Observer Program provides an excellent opportunity to become involved in the work of IUPAC, develop an international network of scientists and engineers, and represent your U.S. colleagues in the chemical sciences. Deadline for applications 17 Jan. http://www.national-academies.org/usnc-iupac/yo, http://www.iupac2011.org/

The 2011 North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) Graduate Student Grant Call for Proposals is now available online at: http://sare.org/ncrsare/cfp.htm. Graduate students enrolled at colleges or universities in the North Central Region can submit proposals for up to $10,000 to fund sustainable agriculture projects that will be part of their educational programs. Funded proposals have contributed to farmer or rancher profitability, environmental quality, and the enhancement of the quality of life of farmers or ranchers, rural communities, and society as a whole. NCR-SARE strongly encourages students to involve farmers and ranchers in their Graduate Student Grant projects. NCR-SARE expects to fund about 15 projects in the twelve-state North Central Region. Potential applicants can contact Beth Nelson at: schre002@umn.edu or 612-626-4436. Deadline 27 Jan.

Each summer, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), located in Schloss Laxenburg near Vienna, Austria, hosts a selected group of graduate students, primarily doctoral, from around the world in its Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP). These students work closely with an IIASA senior scientist mentor on a project proposed by the student, related to his or her graduate research. Fellows selected by IIASA will receive funding to cover travel to IIASA and a modest living allowance. IIASA is an international institution, supported by the U.S. and 15 other member nations, engaged in scientific research aimed at providing policy insight on issues of regional and global importance in the following fields Energy, Ecosystem Services and Management, Mitigation of Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gases, Risk Policy and Vulnerability, Energy and Climate Change, and Food and Water. Deadline 17 Jan. Details: http://www.iiasa.ac.at/. Contact: Sheila Poor, YSSP Coordinator poor@iiasa.ac.at.

On 29 Nov, USDA announced the availability of up to $43 million in FY 2011 funding for existing conservation projects to improve water quality in forty-one priority watersheds through the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI), administered by USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS also published its FY 2011 request for proposals(RFP) for new MRBI projects in the Federal Register today.  NRCS will make available $40 million for new projects in forty-three designated focus areas in thirteen States. Deadline 28 Jan.

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

The USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) 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. "FY 2011 Exports, Imports, and Trade Surplus Projected At Record Highs" can be viewed at: 
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/ers/AES//2010s/2010/AES-11-30-2010.pdf

On 1 Dec, the much anticipated, National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform report, developed per the President’s request, was released with the main recommendations being: using FY 2010 levels for FY 2012, plus a one percent annual decrease in discretionary spending levels through FY 2015. In addition, the commission calls for reducing defense research, fossil fuel research, commercial spaceflight support, Smithsonian funding and National Park Service funding. “Moment of Truth”, also calls for a disaster relief fund with strict oversight and the elimination of emergency supplementals that wreak havoc on fiscal budgets. Furthermore the commission calls for one percent of savings in the discretionary budget to be redirected to “… increasing college graduation rates, leveraging private capital through an infrastructure bank, and expanding high-value research and development in energy and other critical areas.” The commission notes that duplicative programs in job training, invasive species management, and STEM education could be eliminated to provide some of these savings and redirections.

On 3 December, long-time ASA, CSSA and SSSA friend and science champion, Colien Hefferan, was named the next director of the U.S. National Arboretum. She currently serves as advisor to Roger Beachy, the director of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Prior to that, she was administrator of USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES). Dr. Hefferan also served as associate administrator and acting administrator of CSREES before being appointed administrator in 2000. In her new position, she will lead a special review and assessment of the future direction of the arboretum. Focusing on a strategy for sustainability, the assessment will look into alternative funding models and expansion of private support of the arboretum. Ramon Jordan, who has been serving as acting director of the arboretum, will continue to serve as a key advisor to Hefferan on scientific and management issues. We will sorely miss Colien and wish her all the very best.

The USDA has announced the appointment of Rob Hedberg as the next director of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Hedberg has served as interim director of the program since January 2009, and brings a wealth of personal, professional and educational experience in agriculture to the job. Since 2005, Hedberg has worked at USDA-NIFA (National Institute of Food and Agriculture) focusing on science policy, legislative and inter-governmental affairs.  In these roles, he worked closely with Congress and other federal agencies on issues related to agricultural science and led USDA's participation in negotiations on the Research Title of the 2008 Farm Bill.  Prior to working at USDA, Hedberg served in the policy arena for Congress and scientific organizations. He also served on the staff of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee as an American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, Weed Science Societies Congressional Science Fellow.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council are seeking public comments on the draft National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety Research draft NNI EHS strategy' which helps to facilitate achievement of the National Nanotechnology Initiative vision by laying out guidance for agency leaders, program managers, and the research community regarding planning and implementation of nanotechnology EHS R&D investments and activities. It also aims to ensure the responsible development of nanotechnology by providing guidance to the Federal agencies that produce the scientific information for risk management, regulatory decision-making, product use, research planning, and public outreach. The December 6, 2010 OSTP Federal Register Notice is posted at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-30414.htm

Congressional/Administration News

House Republican Frank Upton (R-6th MI) is expected to cross the final hurdle to the House Energy and Commerce Committee gavel with the GOP caucus vote today. Upton, able to overcome the opposition from more right-leaning members of his party, who challenged him as not conservative enough to run the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, was able to garner the support of the powerful and influential GOP Steering Committee last night which in turn is heavily influenced by the Republican leadership.  Upton’s nomination must still be ratified by the full Republican caucus, a vote that could occur as early as today. Once confirmed, Upton promises to carefully scrutinize U.S. EPA's regulations and to pursue an "all of the above" energy plan. Speaking to the press last night, he said his first priority would be repealing the health care law that passed earlier this year. But he also specifically mentioned upping oversight of the federal agencies under his committee's jurisdiction.

In what is seen as a serious if not fatal blow to passage of climate change legislation during the next two years of the first session of the 112th Congress, Texas Republican Rep. Ralph Hall was chosen by House GOP leaders to chair the Science and Technology Committee last night, turning back a dogged run by California Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher. The full House Republican Conference is expected to ratify the selection today. Serving as the top Republican on the Science panel during the past four years, Hall last month vowed to investigate the Obama administration's climate change policies and has criticized the administration's steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Hall is also critical of the America COMPETES Act, championed by almost all of the science community including our societies, which, he contends, is drowned in money.

Both a good and terrible bill for the agricultural sciences, the FY 2011 (year-long) continuing resolution (CR) will be taken up by the House as early as today. In the CR, Hatch formula funding receives a badly needed and long-overdue boost, from FY 2010’s level of $215 million to $318 million. The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) competitive grants program, on the other hand, despite much effort by the stakeholder community and the Obama Administration, gets basically flat funded (from $262 million in FY 2010 to $268 million in FY 2011). This seriously puts into doubt the assumption that Democrats support science funding as a high priority. Funding for USDA’s Agricultural Research Service appears to be flat, though this author could not find specific mention of a number for the USDA intramural program. (I’ll research further and report back in the next Science Policy Report, should I find the ARS number for FY 2011). McIntire-Stennis and Evans-Allen research programs see small increases in the CR. Smith-Lever 3 (b) and (c) extension also is bumped up from FY 2010 levels of $297.5 million to $306 million in the FY 2011 CR.  Should the bill pass the House, it must still hurdle possible Senate barriers to clear Congress and head to the president’s desk for his signature. Republicans want to pass a short-term CR so they can have more authority over the remaining 2011 spending levels when they take the majority in the House next year. Such resistance provides hope for an omnibus measure that would include all 12 spending bills, which Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) has argued for from the start. Inouye has already agreed to demands from Republicans and some moderate Democrats that discretionary spending be capped at $1.108 trillion for an omnibus.

Sources: American Institute of Physics; 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.