Pipettes and Politics

In this episode we cover the 2-year budget deal passed in Congress and what it means for some of the major science funding agencies; new sexual harassment policies being proposed by the NSF and the NIH; and the National Science Board’s policy companion statement on U.S. need for a STEM-capable workforce.

ASBMB Today science writer John Arnst makes his debut on the podcast to talk about his feature article for the February edition of the magazine on work funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

Interested in science policy? Applications are open for ASBMB's annual Capitol Hill Day. The deadline to apply is Feb. 26.

Go to policy.asbmb.org for more information.

NSF sexual harassment notice: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/issuances/in144.jsp?org=NSF

NIH revamps its sexual harassment policy: https://nihrecord.nih.gov/newsletters/2017/01_27_2017/story4.htm

NSB policy companion statement on U.S. need for STEM-capable workforce: https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=244391&WT.mc_id=USNSF_62&WT.mc_ev=click

Follow your Pipettes & Politics hosts Twitter and share your thoughts on this episode using #PipettesAndPolitics:

-Benjamin Corb | @bwcorb

-Andre Porter | @anporter_

-Daniel Pham | @dpham20

In this episode we cover updates on the recent government shutdown and its affect on the research enterprise; provide some agency policy updates; and highlight ASBMB's upcoming public affairs events.

Grant Support Index: http://policy.asbmb.org/2017/05/03/nih-moves-to-cap-the-number-of-active-grants-a-pi-can-have/

Next Generation of Researchers Initiative: http://policy.asbmb.org/2017/06/09/nih-shelves-gsi-policy-and-introduces-something-new/

NIH advisory committee to the director meeting recap: http://policy.asbmb.org/2017/05/03/nih-moves-to-cap-the-number-of-active-grants-a-pi-can-have/

Follow your Pipettes & Politics hosts Twitter and share your thoughts on this episode using #PipettesAndPolitics:

-Benjamin Corb | @bwcorb

-Andre Porter | @anporter_

-Daniel Pham | @dpham20

This episode begins with a summary of hearings held to update Congress on the progress of the 21st Century Cures Act. In his testimony to the U.S. House and Senate, National Institutes of Health Director Francis S. Collins emphasized his agency’s commitment to support the next generation of researchers. The episode also provides an update on the controversial Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; our letter-writing campaign to remove the repeal of the graduate student tuition waiver; the damaging effects of a continuing resolution on the research community; and the status of the FY18 budget and a possibility of another government shutdown. We end the episode and close out the year by sharing our favorite science stories of 2017.

Follow your Pipettes & Politics hosts Twitter and share your thoughts on this episode using #PipettesAndPolitics:

-Benjamin Corb | @bwcorb

-Andre Porter | @anporter_

-Daniel Pham | @dpham20

In this episode we cover updates on the controversial Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; the retirement of U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith R-Texas, chair of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee; and the National Institutes of Health’s request for information on developing emoji for use in scientific presentations.

We’re also joined by Matt Hourihan, Director of the Research and Development Budget and Policy Program at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Matt discusses discretionary spending caps, budget deals, and the impact they have on science budgets.

Follow your Pipettes & Politics hosts Twitter and share your thoughts on this episode using #PipettesAndPolitics:

-Benjamin Corb | @bwcorb

-Andre Porter | @anporter_

-Daniel Pham | @dpham20

ASBMB's policy team discusses how tax reform efforts currently being debated in the House of Representatives could impact scientists. Read more about this topic on the Policy Blotter: bit.ly/2iSQlKZ.

Follow your Pipettes & Politics hosts Twitter and share your thoughts on this episode using #PipettesAndPolitics:

-Benjamin Corb | @bwcorb

-Andre Porter | @anporter_

-Daniel Pham | @dpham20