U.S. Unveils Nature-Based Solutions to Tackling Climate Change
As part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28), the Biden-Harris Administration announced new commitments to advance nature-based climate solutions.
Nature-based climate solutions include reduction of forest loss, ecosystem restoration, and improving the management of working lands. Such actions decrease greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon capture and storage, and protect communities from climate hazards such as flooding, heatwaves, and wildfires.
For the first time, U.S. federal agencies are directed to consider nature-based solutions when designing resilient infrastructure.
The Department of the Interior also released a new policy to prioritize nature-based solutions that improve climate security, include Indigenous knowledge, and apply evidence-based approaches.
Additional federal guidance provides local communities with tools and 140 potential funding opportunities for nature-based solutions. Examples include rain gardens to address stormwater and shaded fire breaks to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
Interior Finalizes Rule on Native American Remains
The federal government has finalized new rules on the repatriation and disposition of Native American human remains, funerary objects, and sacred objects held by American museums and federal agencies.
"Finalizing these changes is an important part of laying the groundwork for the healing of our people," said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who is the first Native American to serve in the role and as a cabinet secretary.
The new rules include requirements for museums to "obtain free, prior, and informed consent" from tribes before exhibiting or conducting research on human remains or cultural items; eliminates the category of "culturally unidentifiable human remains" under the rules; and requires museums and federal agencies to update their inventories within five years.
Notably, several of the changes requested by the museums community were made between the draft 2022 rule and the 2023 final rule. The proposed rule would have required repatriation based on cultural or geographical affiliation. As noted in a letter from the Natural Science Collections Alliance, which is a member of AIBS, "For institutions holding remains that cannot be affiliated with any specific group or groups on the basis of available evidence, a determination of affiliation based on geography will not necessarily result in the return of ancestors to lineal descendent communities--the intent of repatriation." The final rule removed references to "geographical affiliation," but did include geographical information as relevant to establishing cultural affiliation.
Other changes from the draft to the final rule include removal of all references to groups without federal tribal recognition and an extension of the timeline from two years to five years for museums to update inventories. Additionally, the time frame for a museum to make a determination about a claim by a tribe was increased from 60 days to 90 days.
Under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990, museums and federal agencies are required to identify and repatriate Native American human remains and cultural objects. Currently, more than 108,000 human remains and 764,000 funerary objects are held in collections.
New Hiring Practices for Land Management Agencies
Starting in January 2024, it will be easier for temporary or seasonal federal employees at land management agencies to be hired for permanent positions.
Under a new federal rule, a significant number of positions within the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service, as well as other agencies, could have a new pathway to compete for permanent jobs. Temporary employees will now be able to apply when the hiring agency is accepting applications from internal applicants or from outside applicants under merit promotion procedures.
Under the current hiring rules, federal employees need to have served "for a period or periods totaling more than 24 months with a break in service of 2 or more years" to qualify for the merit promotion hiring process.
Report Calls for More Research to Fill Gaps in Cost-Benefit Analyses
The White House released a new report on advancing the frontier of benefit-cost analysis for federal actions. The report identifies five areas for future focus: non-fatal health effects, ecosystem services effects, wildfires and extreme weather effects, information and transparency effects, and effects of public benefit programs.
For example, the ecosystem services focus area identifies key data gaps in ecological data, such as baseline surface water quality data and the relationship between a species' population size change and benefits of a government action.
The report makes specific recommendations for challenges that the research community can help address, such as data on specific habitats (e.g. deep water corals), data on long-term temporal changes in ecosystem carbon sequestration after wildfires, and incentivizing more replication of studies and external research validation.
The federal committee charged with preparing the report was directed to "identify a subset of common effects that are currently difficult to monetize or quantify in analyses of agency regulations, projects, programs, or other actions." The effort is part of a broader initiative by President Joe Biden for federal agencies to modernize their analytical approaches.
AIBS Selects Winners of 2023 Photo Contest
Three winners have been selected in the 2023 Faces of Biology Photo Contest, sponsored by the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB).
"Photography is an effective tool to help communicate the process of scientific research," said Scott Glisson, CEO of AIBS. "This contest provides a visual forum for expression, inspiration, and technical skill that can have a positive impact on how the public views research and science."
The competition showcases, in a personal way, biological research in its many forms and settings. With the images, we are able to help the public and policymakers better understand the value of biological research and education.
A forthcoming issue of the journal BioScience will feature the first-place photograph on the cover and the second- and third-place photos in an article. All of the winners receive a one-year subscription to BioScience. The first place winner will also receive $250.
View the winning photos.
Participate in the 2024 AIBS Congressional Visits Day
Join the American Institute of Biological Sciences on April 15-17, 2024 for our annual Congressional Visits Day in Washington, DC.
Meet with your members of Congress to help them understand the important role the federal government plays in supporting the biological sciences. Advocate for federal investments in biological sciences research supported by the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies.
Participants will complete a communications and advocacy training program provided by AIBS that prepares them to be effective advocates for their science. AIBS will provide participants with background information and materials, as well as arrange meetings with lawmakers on April 17.
Who should participate?
Scientists, graduate students, educators, or other science community members who are interested in advocating for scientific research and education are encouraged to participate in this important event.
The ideal participant will:
- Have an interest in science policy.
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Work in a scientific profession or be enrolled in graduate school.
- Be able to speak about the importance of biological research funded by federal agencies (e.g. NSF, NIH, USDA).
- Provide compelling examples from their own experiences.
Training
The event includes a free, half-day training session on how to be an effective advocate for science policy. This training session will be held on April 16, 2024 and is mandatory for everyone who will be participating in congressional meetings.
Additionally, participants have the option to attend the highly acclaimed AIBS Communications Boot Camp for Scientists. This training course will be held in Washington, DC on April 15-16, 2024. This professional development program provides practical instruction and interactive exercises designed to help scientists (e.g. researchers, graduate students, administrators, educators) translate scientific information for non-technical audiences and to effectively engage with decision-makers and the news media. All participants who complete this optional training will receive priority access to the Congressional Visits Day and a certificate of completion indicating that they have successfully completed 16 hours of communications training. Click here for more information, including cost, for this two-day training program.
Registration
Express your interest in participating in the event by registering. Registration closes on March 1, 2024. Space is limited and we encourage you to register early. If registrations exceed program capacity, AIBS may prioritize registrants based on participation in the boot camp training, geographic diversity, and other factors. Register now.
Apply for the 2024 Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award
Are you a science graduate student looking to make a difference in science policy and funding? The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is now accepting applications for the 2024 Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award. This award recognizes graduate students in the biological sciences who are demonstrating an interest and aptitude for working at the intersection of science and policy.
Recipients of the AIBS Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award receive:
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A trip to Washington, DC, to participate in the AIBS Congressional Visits Day, an annual event where scientists meet with lawmakers to advocate for federal investment in the biological sciences, with a primary focus on the National Science Foundation. The event will be held on April 15-17, 2024. Domestic travel and hotel expenses are paid for the winners.
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Policy and communications training, including information on the legislative process, trends in federal science funding, and how to engage with policymakers and the news media.
- Meetings with congressional policymakers to discuss the importance of federal investment in the biological sciences.
- A one-year online subscription to the journal BioScience.
The 2024 award is open to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents enrolled in a graduate degree program in the biological sciences, science education, or a closely allied field. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to science policy and/or science education policy. Prior recipients are not eligible for the award.
Applications are due by 05:00 PM Eastern Time on January 17, 2024. Learn more about how to apply.
Short Takes
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The National Academies is seeking experts for the Board on Earth Sciences and Resources and for the Water Science and Technology Board. These boards are the focal points for National Academies activities related to Earth and water sciences, resources, and policy. Experts are sought in fields including soil science, ecology, and biogeosciences. Nominations are due by January 12, 2024. Learn more here and here.
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The 2023 Arctic Report Card released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration highlights the transformation of the Arctic from more frequent extreme weather and climate events. In 2023, summer air temperatures were the warmest on record. Diminishing sea ice and warming seas increased phytoplankton blooms. Other biological impacts included record lows for Chinook and chum salmon and record highs for sockeye salmon.
From the Federal Register
The following items appeared in the Federal Register from December 18 to 29, 2023.
Agriculture
Commerce
Energy
Environmental Protection Agency
Health and Human Services
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Interior
National Science Foundation
Office of Science and Technology Policy