Who Gets a Seat at the National Science Funding Priorities Table?

The NSF’s failure to publicize its solicitation for input about public science funding priorities is a missed opportunity for democratic public engagement.

INVESTING IN SCIENCE

In Defense of the National Science Foundation

Sen. Coburn thinks science is silly, but there’s something funny about his report.

Quick Takes on Science and Tech in the President’s Budget

A quick glance at a couple early takes on R&D funding in President Obama’s budget request outline for FY2010: Science Insider: NIH details are sketchy, but include increases; NSF would see 8.5 percent bump; more for scientific facilities though DOE’s [...]

Down Payment on a Scientific Future

Several science budgets fared well in the Recovery and Reinvestment Act compromise, but cross your fingers that we won’t need additional resources to combat bird flu.

INNOVATION

Recovering Innovation, Innovating to Recover

The proposed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act recognizes that science, technology and innovation have long provided the foundation for America’s prosperity, and are crucial to boosting an economy in crisis.

National Research Council: Nanotech Safety Needs a Closer Look. Much Closer.

The National Research Council cannot tell us whether or not nanomaterials present a danger to the public, but the Council is sure that the federal government is not doing enough to identify risks nanotechnology may pose.

A Taxonomy of Scientific Appointments

The Washington rumor mill is buzzing with names of possible science appointees—and there are dozens of major science-related positions to fill. The questions appointees will face are an opportunity for a clear break with past approaches.

Six Easy Pieces

Americans know that the future fortunes of the country rest on scientific and technological advances, so Mr. President, let’s take biomedical science policy seriously.

President Signs Science Supplemental

On Monday President Bush signed a supplemental appropriations bill granting $337.5 million in additional funding to various federal scientific agencies. The support is good news, but the administration should not have neglected the financial health of these vital groups in the first place.

How Much Science Could $135.4 Billion Buy?

President Bush’s latest request for Iraq war funding totals approximately $135.4 billion. What if we spent that money on domestic scientific research and development? Boosting R&D by the numbers.

It’s Just Like That, Except Different

Advocates and critics of nanoscience research often compare the technology to the creation of genetically-modified organisms, yet the more apt analogy is to the space program. But there are limits to the analogies used in shaping emerging technology policy.

Scientists to Congress: Boost Research Funding With Wartime Supplemental Bill

Thousands of scientists, engineers, corporate executives, and college presidents across the country have mobilized in an effort to convince Congress to set aside a small piece of this year’s wartime supplemental funding bill to boost science research funding.

Clarifying “Broader Impacts” for NSF Grants

The National Science Foundation issued a “Dear Colleague” letter earlier this month to education grant applicants about the sometimes-misunderstood “broader impacts” criteria used to evaluate grant proposals.

NSF Report Shows Strong Science and Engineering Job Market

After three months of declining job numbers and an economy in recession, the National Science Foundation released a series of reports last week indicating a growing supply of scientists and engineers, along with a strong science and engineering job market to take them in.

House Committee Hears Testimony on NSF FY2009 Budget

Members of the House Committee on Science and Technology met the President’s FY2009 budget request for the National Science Foundation with general praise during today’s hearing.

More Money for Research? We All Need Good Reasons

Communicating the importance and public good of scientific research is a responsibility of scientists and policy makers alike. To do so, we must draw clear connections between the policy issues that attract public attention and the technological innovation that underscores them.

NSF Looks At STEM Education In Practice

The NSF has been making measurable headway in its efforts to improve STEM education from Kindergarten to Grad School and beyond, but it still has a long way to go. On Jan. 15th and 16th the NSF held a conference in DC entitled “Science Education and Workforce Development: Key Challenges for Innovation in the States,” focusing on progress an challenges in the overlapping fields.

The Dish: Sampling Today’s News – January 16, 2008

Scientists on Capitol Hill; National Science Board reports on the state of U.S. science; interview with the Department of Energy Undersecretary Orbach; risks to U.S. leadership in biotech; Columbia Journalism Reviews announces The Observatory.

An NCAA for Science and Engineering

At a hearing before the House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education on Wednesday, University of Miami President Donna Shalala said that the country needs “an organization like the NCAA that holds us accountable” in the national effort to promote more women into the upper ranks of science.

Snap Observations: Research Corridors Drive the Economy, Congress Considers Science Funding

The University of Michigan is hosting a conference on developing technology corridors this week as the Senate considers two major appropriations bills that fund science agencies.