Participate in the 2024 AIBS Congressional Visits Day
Join the American Institute of Biological Sciences on April 28-30, 2025 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 30.
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 29, 2025 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 28-29, 2025. 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 3, 2025. 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 IDEA2 Public Policy Fellowship
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) are jointly offering a paid Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, Accepting, and Accessible (IDEA2) Public Policy Fellowship in the spring-summer of 2025 for current and recent graduate students in the life sciences or a closely related field.
This unique training opportunity provides young scientists with valuable first-hand experience in science policy. The Fellow will have the opportunity to work on a range of science policy projects that could include planning a Capitol Hill science policy briefing, preparing science policy documents, conducting research on science and science education policy initiatives, and attending Congressional and executive branch meetings. The Fellow will work closely with AIBS and SURA policy staff to gain practical experience with science policy and advocacy efforts that inform federal decision-making.
Applicant must be a current graduate (M.S. or Ph.D.) student or within two years of completing a graduate degree in the life sciences or a closely related field, who has a strong interest in science policy. The Fellow will have the option to choose between a 10-week remote or a month-long in-person engagement in the spring-summer of 2025. The Fellow will receive a minimum stipend of $3,000, contingent on active participation, with additional support available for in-person participation. Travel expenses will also be covered.
Applications are due no later than 05:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday, January 24, 2025. Learn more about the opportunity and how to apply: https://io.aibs.org/idea2fellow
President-Elect Announces NIH, CDC Nominees
President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to nominate Stanford University health policy professor Jay Bhattacharya to head the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Bhattacharya, a physician and economist, is known for his work on the health of vulnerable populations. He gained prominence during the pandemic in 2020 as a co-author of The Great Barrington Declaration, which advocated for targeted protections for at-risk groups while avoiding broad restrictions for healthy individuals. The declaration was welcomed by the Trump Administration but faced widespread criticism from public health leaders, including former NIH Director Francis Collins.
Bhattacharya has extensive experience with NIH, having received several grants and served on various grant review panels. He has also critiqued the agency's funding practices as becoming overly conservative and risk-averse. While his position on proposals to streamline NIH's structure is unclear, Bhattacharya has expressed interest in decentralizing the agency to reduce the influence of a small number of decision-makers on scientific research.
Trump has selected Dr. David Weldon, a former congressman from Florida, to serve as the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For the first time, the incoming CDC head will need to be confirmed by the Senate, thanks to a provision in a recent omnibus budget passed by Congress.
Weldon served seven terms in Congress, starting in 1995, before returning to his medical practice. He has been skeptical of vaccine safety and pushed the unsubstantiated notion that thimerosal, a preservative compound in some vaccines, had caused an increase in autism. He introduced a "vaccine safety bill" during his congressional tenure that aimed to transfer vaccine safety research from the CDC to a separate agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, due to an "inherent conflict of interest."
Trump earlier announced that he will nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., another vaccine safety skeptic, for Secretary of Health and Human Services, a position that oversees NIH and CDC. The President-elect selected Jim O'Neill, biotech investor and a former top aide to venture capitalist Peter Thiel, to be the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Trump's Pick to Lead NASA
President-elect Trump will nominate billionaire tech entrepreneur and space enthusiast Jared Isaacman as the next Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Isaacman, founder of a payment processing company and a military pilot training firm, has also commanded two private orbital missions with SpaceX. He expressed enthusiasm for the role, emphasizing space's potential for groundbreaking advancements in fields like biotechnology, manufacturing, mining, and energy. Isaacman envisions a "thriving space economy" that will enable Americans to live and work in space.
If confirmed, Isaacman would replace the current Administrator, Bill Nelson, a former Democratic senator from Florida who also traveled to orbit in 1986 as part of a space shuttle mission.
Venture Capitalist Announced as PCAST Chair, AI Czar
Trump has selected billionaire venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks to chair the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) and oversee artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency policy in a newly created "czar" role.
Sacks' advisory position does not require Senate confirmation. His swift appointment contrasts with Trump's first term, during which PCAST was inactive for nearly three years. Concerns have been raised about potential conflicts of interest given Sacks' business ties, but some researchers argue that his appointment to lead PCAST signals support for the science panel.
In his first term, Trump issued executive orders aimed at bolstering U.S. leadership in AI and promoting trustworthy use of the technology in government. The Republican platform for 2024, shaped by Trump, pledges to revoke President Biden's 2023 executive order on AI, criticizing it as restrictive and ideologically driven, and instead supports AI development aligned with free speech and human advancement.
Trump has yet to announce a nominee for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), traditionally a co-chair of PCAST, though former OSTP official Michael Kratsios, who served as Trump's chief technology officer, is reportedly under consideration.
Leadership Changes to Congressional Science Committees
Lawmakers have selected new leaders for several science relevant committees in the new Congress.
Representative Brian Babin (R-TX) is poised to replace Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK) as the new chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The panel has jurisdiction over issues related to science policy and STEM education, as well as agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The GOP's Steering Committee has officially selected Babin for the position and the full House Republican Conference is expected to confirm the pick. Babin has said that his priorities as chair would include boosting energy security, improving weather forecasting, and maintaining U.S. leadership on artificial intelligence. Representative Zoe Lofgren of California will remain the top Democrat on the committee.
Representative Brett Guthrie (R-KY) was picked by the GOP Steering Committee to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee, replacing retiring Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). Guthrie, a strong proponent of fossil fuels, has vowed to focus on "energy dominance" and plans to push permitting reform and climate rollbacks in the next Congress. As a member of the Conservative Climate Caucus, he acknowledges man-made climate change but considers fossil fuels a major part of reducing emissions. Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ) will continue to serve as Ranking Member.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) will lead the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Departments of Energy and the Interior and a range of issues related to energy, conservation, and public lands. He will take over from the panel's current top Republican, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), who will become the Senate Majority Whip next year. With current Chairman Joe Manchin (I-WV) retiring, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) is set to become Ranking Member of the panel.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz is expected to chair the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, where he is currently the ranking Republican. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) will chair the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which oversees the National Institutes of Health.
Congress Passes Bipartisan Conservation Bill
The House has passed S. 3791, the "America's Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act," with a vote of 366-21, following earlier Senate approval. The bill now awaits the President's signature.
The bipartisan legislation, led by Senate Environment and Public Works Chair Tom Carper (D-DE) and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), would reauthorize the 2020 America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act, extending funding and protections through 2030.
The ACE Act supports wildlife habitat protection, invasive species management, and disease prevention. It funds several wildlife conservation programs such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Carper emphasized that the bill "recognizes that wildlife conservation is a shared responsibility between the federal government, state partners and many stakeholders, including hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers."
USFWS Proposes Listing Monarch Butterfly as Threatened Species
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to address its alarming decline and ensure its recovery.
The monarch butterfly's eastern migratory population is estimated to have declined by 80%, while the western population faces a 99% extinction risk by 2080, primarily due to habitat loss, climate change, and insecticide exposure. USFWS also proposed designating 4,395 acres of critical overwintering habitat in California to support the butterfly's western population.
Public input on the proposal will be accepted until March 12, 2025. If the USFWS decides to list the monarch after comments are received, the listing would not occur until at least January 2026. Learn more at fws.gov/monarch.
AIBS Expresses Support for Farm Bill Orphan Programs
AIBS joined more than 50 organizations in sending a letter to the House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership urging them to include funding for orphan programs in any new Farm Bill, or should it become necessary, a Farm Bill extension.
The letter reads, in part: "As you know, orphan programs often address niche or emerging areas within agriculture which may not receive the same level of attention or resources as other larger programs. The outcomes of these varied programs are many: improving farm system efficiency, enhancing rangeland management and conservation, increasing farmers' and ranchers' resilience to extreme weather, addressing emerging diseases and invasive species, supporting young farmers and those transitioning to new crops or systems, de-risking investments in innovation, promoting biofuels production, and growing market access. These vital programs operate in all fifty states and a failure to fund them in a farm bill or farm bill extension in 2024 negatively impacts countless farmers, ranchers, and food system stakeholders."
Read the letter.
AIBS Joins Letter Raising Concerns About 'Blanket Ban' on Gain-of-Function Research
AIBS joined a letter led by the American Society for Microbiology to House and Senate Appropriators expressing concerns about language banning gain-of-function research currently found in two fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations bills.
The letter focuses on the importance of gain-of-function techniques in science, current and developing safeguards, and the need to maintain U.S. leadership in science and readiness for public health.
"While we understand that there may be concerns with inappropriate applications of research deemed 'gain-of-function,' with adequate guidance, oversight, and safety standards in place, we can prevent those types of projects from going forward without hampering valuable research that would protect and enhance our nation's health security and the United States' ability to remain a leader on the global stage," the letter reads. "Existing policies at the institutional, state, federal, and global levels help ensure that pathogen research is conducted ethically, safely, and securely by trained professionals at facilities that comply with strict physical containment provisions and policies."
The groups encourage Congress to "allow and support implementation of these oversight policies instead of instituting a blanket ban on funding for gain-of-function research."
Nominate for the IDEA2L Leadership Award
Nominations are sought for the AIBS Inspiring Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Acceptance, Accessibility, and Learning (IDEA2L) Leadership Award. The award recognizes commendable leadership in advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, acceptance, accessibility, and learning in the biological sciences community. Learn more about the nomination requirements, guidelines and eligibility, and past winners on the AIBS website.
To nominate someone, please complete the form available here no later than 05:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday, December 20, 2024.
Call for Applications: 2025 Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award
Are you a science graduate student looking to make a difference in science policy and funding? AIBS is now accepting applications for the 2025 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:
- 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 28-30, 2025. 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 2025 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 15, 2025. Learn more.
Short Takes
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The White House has released a new five-year strategic plan for advancing STEM education and cultivating STEM talent. The plan, developed with public input, is intended to guide the federal government to "inspire, teach, recruit, train, and retain talent in STEM learning, working, and research settings." The framework identifies three principles--access and opportunity, partnerships and ecosystem development, and transparency and accountability--that are essential to advancing STEM engagement, teaching and learning, workforce, research and innovation capacity, and environments.
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The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is inviting nominations of experts and fellows for the methodological assessment of integrated biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning and ecological connectivity. Experts or prospective fellows wishing to be nominated by a Government are encouraged to contact their IPBES National Focal Point and are requested to fill out their application form by January 10, 2025.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expediting the distribution of nearly $1.6 billion in Community Change Grants, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), to support marginalized neighborhoods impacted by pollution. The grants aim to reduce pollution, bolster resilience to extreme weather, and enhance workforce training in disadvantaged areas. Of the 105 grants announced, 34 are directed toward underserved "Target Investment Areas," including $150 million for Alaska Native communities. The majority of funds are expected to be allocated before President-elect Trump takes office next month. Trump has pledged to block unspent IRA funds.
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Applications are open for the National Academies' Gulf Research Program Science Policy Fellowship program, which helps scientists hone their skills by putting them to practice for the benefit of Gulf Coast communities and ecosystems. Fellows gain first-hand experience as they spend one year on the staff of federal, state, local, or non-governmental agencies in the Gulf of Mexico region. Deadline to apply is February 26, 2025. Learn more.
- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are seeking suggestions for experts to participate in a new study that will assess trends in insect abundance, identify research priorities, and suggest actions to slow insect losses in areas identified as most vulnerable and most critical to ecosystem function. Submit your suggestions by December 31, 2024.
From the Federal Register
The following items appeared in the Federal Register from December 2 to 13, 2024.
Agriculture
Commerce
Energy
Environmental Protection Agency
Interior
National Science Foundation
