Participate in the 2026 Congressional Visits Day
Join the American Institute of Biological Sciences on April 20-22, 2026 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 22.
Who should participate?
Scientists, graduate students, educators, or other biological 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 21, 2026 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 20-21, 2026. 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.
Registration
Express your interest in participating in the event by registering. Registration closes on February 23, 2026. 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.
AIBS Submits Comments to OSTP on Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise
In response to a request for information from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), AIBS has provided comments emphasizing the need for sustained and predictable federal investments to accelerate the American scientific enterprise.
The comments read, in part: "Biological research underpins advances in human health, agriculture, environmental stewardship, biotechnology, and defense readiness. The long-standing success of the U.S. scientific enterprise rests on sustained and predictable federal investment in basic research; rigorous, independent, merit-based peer review; strong scientific integrity policies; transparency and open inquiry; and the consistent engagement of external scientific advisory panels. As OSTP considers policy updates to accelerate discovery and innovation, we urge that these foundational principles remain central. History demonstrates that when federal support for science is stable, strategically coordinated, and insulated from political, ideological, and financial interference, the nation realizes outsized returns in economic growth, workforce development, and societal well-being."
Read the full comments.
Administration Moves to Dismantle National Climate Research Center
The Trump Administration has announced plans to dismantle or significantly restructure the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), one of the world's leading climate and weather research institutions.
In a social media post, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said the National Science Foundation (NSF) will be "breaking up" NCAR, based in Boulder, Colorado, characterizing the center as "one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country." He added that a "comprehensive review is underway" and that "any vital activities, such as weather research, will be moved to another entity or location."
Established by NSF in 1960 and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)--a consortium of more than 120 colleges and universities--NCAR provides foundational research and infrastructure that underpin U.S. weather forecasting, climate modeling, air quality monitoring, and hazard prediction.
In response, NSF stated it would begin "rescoping" NCAR's mission to focus on areas like seasonal weather prediction, severe storms, and space weather, while exploring the transfer of major assets including its supercomputer and research aircraft. NSF has indicated it will outline next steps in a forthcoming Dear Colleague Letter.
The move has drawn widespread concern from scientists, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and members of Congress, who warn it would erode U.S. leadership in weather and climate science and weaken national preparedness for natural disasters. House Science Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) called NCAR "a crown jewel of our weather and climate research infrastructure," arguing that cuts would come at exactly the wrong moment as extreme events intensify. Colorado Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet temporarily blocked a funding agreement on multiple appropriations bills to demand full funding for NCAR, while Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Jeff Hurd (R-CO) circulated a bipartisan letter of support. The American Geophysical Union is coordinating a letter-writing campaign in support of NCAR and hundreds of people have gathered in Boulder to protest the move.
NSF Scales Down Grant Review Process, Announces Organizational Realignment
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is revising its grant-review process to reduce reliance on outside scientific reviewers and give program officers greater authority over funding decisions, according to a report by Science.
The changes, outlined in a December 1 staff memo and reflected in updates to NSF's grantmaking manual, allow proposals to receive as few as one external review, down from the current minimum of three. The revisions also scale back the routine use of expert review panels and permit program officers to advance or decline proposals with less outside input--particularly in Administration priority areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and advanced manufacturing.
NSF cites a sharply reduced workforce as the primary driver of the changes. Since President Trump took office, the agency has lost hundreds of temporary "rotator" program managers from academia, and some directorates have reportedly lost up to one-third of their program officers. Agency leadership argues that streamlining review procedures is necessary to manage roughly 50,000 proposals annually and to expedite the award of FY 2026 funds. Although NSF maintains that external review remains a hallmark of its process and consistent with "gold standard science," some researchers question whether fewer reviews can sustain the rigor historically associated with NSF funding.
In parallel, the National Science Board (NSB)--NSF's governing body--released a report recommending updates to NSF's grant review policies. The Board called for broadening the pool of expert reviewers by drawing from a wider range of industry, research institutions, venture capital, and regions across the United States. It also urged NSF to better align its award portfolio with national priorities and to more explicitly highlight the expectation that NSF-funded research deliver societal benefits, including economic competitiveness and national security. Among its recommendations, the NSB proposed renaming the statutorily required "broader impacts" criterion as "societal benefits."
NSF also announced changes to its organizational structure that it says will streamline management by reducing layers of oversight. Under the new structure, all offices and directorates will report to one of three senior leaders--the chief science officer, chief of staff, or chief management officer--who in turn report to the NSF director. Some roles, such as the heads of research security and research facilities, have been reassigned from the office of the director to the chief science officer.
Directorate-level changes are also emerging. During a recent virtual office hour, officials from the Biological Sciences Directorate (BIO) reported that the directorate has lost approximately 40% of its workforce and expects to issue fewer solicitations with broader scope going forward, with the number and size of awards contingent on future appropriations. BIO also plans to replace its five existing divisions with three thematic areas:
- Foundations of Life: Exploring molecules, cells, and physiology that build living things.
- Living Systems: Understanding how species evolve, interact, and share Earth's ecosystems
- Bioinnovation & Infrastructure: Developing the tools, data, technologies, and infrastructure to support biological sciences research.
Separately, NSF realigned the divisions within its Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate into "sections" and outlined adjustments to its grant review process. While the existing merit review criteria will remain unchanged, program officers will be given "new flexibilities" to tailor funding decisions to the specific needs of their scientific disciplines.
House Panel Advances GOP Overhaul of Endangered Species Act
The House Natural Resources Committee has approved legislation that would substantially revise the 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA), advancing a Republican-led overhaul on a 25-16 vote, with two Democrats joining Republicans. The bill is sponsored by Committee Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR).
The ESA Amendments Act of 2025 (H.R. 1897) would rename the law "the Endangered Species Recovery Act" and authorize roughly $405 million annually for ESA-related activities. The proposal targets several core elements of the law, including narrowing the designation of critical habitat to areas within a species' "current or historic range" and limiting how federal agencies define the "foreseeable future" when assessing extinction risk. It would also allow states to assume management of listed species at their discretion.
Under the bill, threatened species would no longer receive automatic endangered-level protections unless specifically granted through a tailored 4(d) rule. The measure would restrict federal agencies' ability to require mitigation measures, cap attorney's fees in ESA litigation, and expand exemptions for major water and infrastructure projects.
Democrats on the committee argued the bill would weaken species protections, increase litigation, and slow recovery efforts, while Republicans said it would rein in regulatory overreach and litigation. The measure's prospects remain uncertain in the closely divided House and Senate.
NSF Requests Input on New Tech Labs Initiative
The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) has announced the launch of its Tech Labs Initiative, a new effort to launch and scale independent research organizations operating outside traditional university and industry settings.
The initiative is designed to support full-time, interdisciplinary teams tackling complex technical challenges that are difficult to address through conventional grant-funded research models. Tech Labs will receive milestone-based, multi-year funding, operational autonomy, and sufficient runway to move innovations from early concepts or prototypes toward commercially viable technologies.
NSF is seeking broad community input on the new initiative until January 20. More information will be shared at a webinar on Wednesday, January 14 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM ET.
AIBS Selects Winners of 2025 Photo Contest
Four winners have been selected in the 2025 Faces of Biology Photo Contest, sponsored by the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB).
"The contest winners this year illuminate biological field research, from the humid wetlands to the vast savannas." said Scott Glisson, CEO of AIBS. "By capturing scientists in the field, these powerful images serve as essential documentation, making the dedication and diversity of their scientific endeavor visible to the world."
The competition highlights biological research through impactful, personal imagery, illustrating its diverse forms and settings. By showcasing these visuals, it aims to help the public and policymakers recognize the importance of biological research and education.
The winning photos highlighted scientists at work in the field. First place went to Heather Frantz for capturing pollen research on a North Carolina pond; second place was shared by Claire Kozal's freshwater jellyfish study and Ryan Wagner's image of froglets released after disease treatment; and third place went to Susan Alberts for documenting long-term baboon research in Kenya.
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. Heather Frantz will also receive $250.
AIBS Announces Winner of 2025 Innovative Leadership Award
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is pleased to announce Dr. Julio J. Ramirez as the winner of its 2025 Innovative Leadership Award. The Innovative Leadership Award recognizes commendable innovative leadership in the biological sciences community.
"Dr. Ramirez's dedication to mentoring and fostering welcoming scientific environments is exemplary," said AIBS CEO Scott Glisson. "We applaud his steadfast dedication to both the biological sciences and to the students who form the foundation of our community. On behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences, I offer my congratulations and thank Dr. Ramirez for his career-long contributions to science and society."
Dr. Julio J. Ramirez is currently the R. Stuart Dickson Professor and Director of the Neuroscience Program at Davidson College, where he has served since 1986. His research interests focus on the recovery of function after central nervous system injury, with an emphasis on determining the functional significance of hippocampal neuroplasticity. Over the course of his career, Dr. Ramirez has received several awards and mentored well over 150 undergraduates in his laboratory and has been a national leader in promoting innovative mentoring approaches in biological psychology and neuroscience. Learn more.
Apply for the AIBS & SURA Public Policy Fellowship
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) are jointly offering a paid Public Policy Fellowship in the spring-summer of 2026 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 2026. The Fellow will receive a stipend, contingent on active participation, of a minimum of $3,000 for remote participation and a maximum of $6,000 for in-person participation.
Applications are due no later than 05:00 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Learn more about the opportunity and how to apply: https://io.aibs.org/policy-fellow
