Policy

ASPB Signs Letter Encouraging Full Funding of the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA), Authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill.

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ASPB is pleased to be a signee in support of fully funding the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA), authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill. AgARDA’s authorizing legislation aims to quickly and definitively tackle some of the biggest challenges in food and agriculture, from climate change, to production mechanization, to zoonotic diseases. AgARDA’s specialized … Read more

ASPB Signs Letter to Coalition for National Science Funding’s (CNSF) letter encouraging emergency relief funding for the National Science Foundation

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CNSF COVID January 2021 Letter: ASPB is pleased to be a signee on the Coalition for National Science Funding’s (CNSF) letter encouraging emergency relief funding for the National Science Foundation. Though our nation’s scientists and research institutions have risen to the challenge of the pandemic, they are facing enormous strains on their operations and infrastructure. … Read more

Letter Urging Continued Support for AFRI (FY21)

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The AFRI Coalition sends letter to Chairman Hoeven, Ranking Member Merkley, Chairman Bishop, and Ranking Member Fortenberry (members of the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees) regarding fiscal year 2021 spending proposals. The AFRI Coalition commends you for your support of USDA’s Agriculture & Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and urges $435 million for AFRI … Read more

ASPB Joins CNSF in Support for NSF Funding (FY21)

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ASPB signs on to coalition letter in support of the NSF for fiscal year 2021 appropriations legislation. The letter was sent on November 20, 2020 to the U.S. Senate and House Committee on Appropriations members:  Chairman Shelby, Vice Chairman Leahy, Chairwoman Lowey, and Ranking Member Granger. As Congress seeks to finalize fiscal year 2021 (FY21) … Read more

Agency Update: NIH Releases Final Data Management and Sharing Policy

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As part of its ongoing work to standardize and promote the sharing of data generated from biomedical research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published its final NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing (DMS) on October 29, 2020.  The final policy is the culmination of several recent efforts from NIH in this space, including … Read more

Agency Update: DOE Ready to Launch New Portal For Application Submissions for EERE Research and Development Opportunities

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On November 2, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will launch a new portal to list all future funding opportunities and submit applications for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.  Fiscal year (FY) 2021 application submissions will be through the new portal, while open opportunities published prior to November 2 will continue to be managed … Read more

Funding Opportunity: NSF Releases Mid-Career Advancement Program Solicitation

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently released a solicitation for the new Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) program.  NSF recognizes that while the mid-career timeframe is essential for advancing research, many faculty have to balance research with other demands, such as teaching and service activities.  Through this solicitation, NSF intends to support “protected time” to mid-career researchers … Read more

ASPB’s Response to Proposed DHS Rulemaking on Student Visas

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On behalf of the thousands of members of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), we write to express our opposition to the proposal titled “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media.” (DHS Docket No. ICEB2019-0006). This … Read more

Agency Update: DOE Office of Science Continues to Provide Maximum Flexibility on Grants During COVID-19

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On September 24, the Director of the Office of Science, Dr. Chris Fall, released a memo to Office of Science applicants and awardees to provide an update on the administration of grants and other awards during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Office of Science continues to be “committed to maximum flexibility in administering awards, recognizing potential … Read more

Funding Opportunity: DOE Office of Science Releases Open Funding Call for Basic Research

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The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science recently released its fiscal year (FY) 2021 open funding call for basic research.  The FY 2021 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program is an annual, open solicitation that funds grant applications in all six major Office of Science programs, including Advanced Scientific … Read more

Policy Update: Uneven Implementation of Executive Order on Race and Sex Stereotyping

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This update follows the September 24 Lewis-Burke note “Policy Update: President Trump Releases Executive Order on ‘Race and Sex Stereotyping’ Impacting Federal Grants and Contractors.” Background On September 4, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued memorandum M-20-34, which directed executive branch agencies to end trainings on topics such as “critical race … Read more

Multisociety Letter on Executive Actions Impacting Diversity Training

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ASPB signs on to two letters urging the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science and Technology Policy to rescind the September 4th memorandum and September 22nd Executive Order (EO) to eliminate federal employee training programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion. “Such constraints are antithetical to the progress we seek to … Read more

Agency Update: DHS Proposes Replacing Visa Duration of Status Policies

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This week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a proposed rule that would replace the current Duration of Status policies for F, J, and I visa holders with fixed time periods of admission, as a way to increase oversight over these categories of nonimmigrants.  The proposed fixed length of time would not exceed four … Read more

Policy Update: President Trump Releases Executive Order on “Race and Sex Stereotyping” Impacting Federal Grants and Contractors

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On September 22, President Trump released an Executive Order (EO), entitled “Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping.”  The EO has implications for federal agencies, grantees, and contractors and is a follow-up to a September 4 executive memorandum, M-20-34, which directed executive branch agencies to end trainings on topics such as “critical race theory,” … Read more

Agency Update: HHS Seeks Input on Screening Guidance for Synthetic Double-Stranded DNA

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The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) pertaining to the agency’s 2010 framework for providers of synthetic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). This framework aims to mitigate the potential biosecurity risks of certain dsDNA products being … Read more

Agency Update: DARPA Announces 2021 Young Faculty Award Proposers Day

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The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) will be holding a proposers day webcast on September 25, 2020 in anticipation of releasing its 2021 Young Faculty Award Program (YFA) research announcement (RA). DARPA’s YFA program aims to expose rising stars in junior faculty or equivalent positions at academic and non-profit research institutions … Read more

Plant Science Research Network Releases Decadal Vision 2020-2030

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Research network presents action plan for the plant science community to maximize impact on pressing global issues such as human health and climate change.  Plant science research has tremendous potential to address pressing global issues including climate change, food insecurity and sustainability. However, without sustained investment in plant science, the necessary research to generate innovative … Read more

Funding Opportunity – NSF Announces Two Lead Agency Opportunities in Collaboration with International Partners

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On August 31, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced, via two Dear Colleague Letters (DCL), new opportunities to support international collaboration.  Specifically, the two DCLs will enable collaborative projects in specific research areas with the UK and with France to undergo a single review under lead agency agreements.  Both lead agency opportunities allow for reciprocal … Read more

Multisociety Letter Addressing the Impacts of Persistent, Systemic Racism

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On September 1, ASPB joined more than 70 scientific organizations to support the call of House Science Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson for a National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) study to “identify policies, strategies, and practices that have been the most successful in preventing and addressing systemic racism” in academia. Read the Letter … Read more

Funding Opportunity: NSF Announces Second Solicitation to Support National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced its second solicitation to support national artificial intelligence (AI) research institutes through the National AI Research Institutes Program.  This solicitation is a joint activity with the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T), the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), … Read more