AIBS Receives NSF Award to Convene Discussions on Building an Integrated, Open, FAIR Data Network
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) has been awarded a workshop grant (Award No. 2303588) from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support the development of a series of discussions on enabling interdisciplinary and collaborative science through the integration of biological and environmental data. AIBS, in collaboration with the Biodiversity Collections Network (BCoN), will organize a set of domain-focused virtual listening sessions and a subsequent interdisciplinary workshop to engage an expansive set of stakeholders toward Building an Integrated, Open, Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (BIOFAIR) Data Network.
During the last two decades, a wealth of data on biodiversity and associated environments has been mobilized in digital form. Collectively, these data provide a powerful resource that, when curated and integrated with intention, can provide critical information to address emerging complex global biological, environmental, and public health challenges. Tapping the vast potential of specimen, observation, and environmental data requires us to integrate diverse and complex datasets, connect domain-specific communities, and bridge discipline-specific social norms and data infrastructures. Linking data and their respective communities is a critical next step to creating the accessible and enriched data source needed to empower broad integrative biological research and education.
The BIOFAIR Data Network project will convene stakeholders from across the spectrum of biodiversity, ecological, and environmental data providers, curators, and users, with the goal of initiating a collaborative and accessible partnership towards an integrative and expanded data network. Virtual discussions will focus on advancing data culture and infrastructure that meets emerging needs in research, education, conservation, biosecurity, and the bioeconomy. Discussions will build on and bridge the Extended Specimen Network (ESN) vision with other existing conceptual frameworks for data integration and application. This project will inform the next steps of data integration with attention to supporting formal and informal education, including engagement through outreach and community science, and providing new opportunities and access for individuals from historically underrepresented groups to engage in biodiversity research and education.
Interested individuals can sign up on the project website to receive the latest information and updates as we plan these events.
Environment Bills Advance in House; Scientific Integrity Act Reintroduced
Congress is currently on its August recess--a temporary break in legislative proceedings--before it returns in September to finalize appropriations legislation, ideally before the next fiscal year begins on October 1.
Prior to heading into recess, the Appropriations Committees in both chambers made significant advances with their fiscal year 2024 spending proposals.
In addition, lawmakers on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology advanced a set of bipartisan energy and environmental research bills, including:
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The Fire Weather Development Act of 2023 (R. 4866), sponsored by Representative Mike Garcia (R-CA), which aims to strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's capabilities in fire weather and fire environment forecasting. The bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) and Young Kim (R-CA).
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The Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act (R. 4877), which would direct the Secretary of Energy to establish an abandoned wells research, development, and demonstration program.
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The Carbon Sequestration Collaboration Act (R. 4824), which would coordinate research across the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of the Interior to improve carbon sequestration efforts.
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The Aviation Weather Improvement Act (R. 3915), which aims to improve the National Weather Service's forecasting of turbulence and acquisition of aviation weather data.
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The Clean Energy Demonstration Transparency Act of 2023 (R. 1069), which intends to increase transparency in DOE's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
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The Privacy Enhancing Technology Research Act (R. 4755), which would ensure responsible data use and data privacy by authorizing research, workforce development, and standards-setting activities at the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology for privacy-enhancing technologies.
Furthermore, House Science Committee member, Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY), reintroduced the Scientific Integrity Act (H.R. 4893), which aims to keep public science independent from political interference. The bill would require federal agencies that fund or direct scientific research to adopt and enforce clear scientific integrity policies. Last year AIBS endorsed the measure, which has been introduced a few times in the past but has failed to gain enough traction to pass. The latest version has four Democratic cosponsors, namely Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA), Haley Stevens (MI), Suzanne Bonamici (OR), and Don Beyer (VA), and one Republication cosponsor, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
NIH Announces New Director of NIAID
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that Dr. Jeanne M. Marrazzo will serve as the next Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). NIAID conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand, treat and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.
Dr. Marrazzo currently serves as the Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and expects to begin her new position in the fall. "Dr. Marrazzo brings a wealth of leadership experience from leading international clinical trials and translational research, managing a complex organizational budget that includes research funding and mentoring trainees in all stages of professional development," said NIH Acting Director Dr. Lawrence Tabak.
Dr. Marrazzo is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and is board certified in infectious disease. She has also chaired the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Council, and the ABIM Infectious Disease Specialty Board. Dr. Marrazzo is a recipient of the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association's Distinguished Career Award, the highest recognition for contributions to research and mentoring in the field. She earned her bachelor's in biology from Harvard University, her M.D. from Thomas Jefferson University, and her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Washington.
BioScience Talks Podcast: AIBS Congressional Visits Day
The latest episode of BioScience Talks is a second dispatch from AIBS' spring Congressional Visits Day, which is a program that gives researchers a chance to travel to Washington, DC, to meet with their Congressional representatives and advocate for science.
The episode features interviews with a number of participants about their research, their interest in policy, and their plans for the next day's Capitol Hill visits. Participants included Peri Lee Pipkin, University of California Botanic Garden, Claremont University; Conner Philson, University of California, Los Angeles; Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory; Valentina Alvarez, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Katherine Charton, University of Wisconsin; Lauren Orton, Sauk Valley Community College; and Rebecca Kauten, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Captions are available on YouTube.
Learn more about our Congressional Visits Day, and stay tuned for the next event.
In case you missed it, a previous episode included interviews with recipients of AIBS's Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award: Inam Jameel (2023 awardee, University of Georgia), Elena Suglia (2023 awardee, UC Davis), Michael McCloy (2022 awardee, Texas A&M), and Heidi Waite (2022 awardee, UC Irvine). The award recognizes graduate students in the biological sciences who are demonstrating an interest and aptitude for working at the intersection of science and policy. The application period for the 2024 ward will open in November.
Now Available: 2022 AIBS Annual Report
The 2022 AIBS Annual Report is now available online. Learn about how we are working to achieve our mission by publishing the peer-reviewed journal BioScience, by providing scientific peer review and advisory services to a variety of clients; and by collaborating with scientific organizations to advance public policy, education, and the public understanding of science.
Enter the 13th Annual Faces of Biology Photo Contest
Enter the Faces of Biology Photo Contest for a chance to win $250 and to have your photo appear on the cover of the journal BioScience.
The competition recognizes scientists who use imagery to communicate aspects of biological research to the public and policymakers. Once again, this year's competition is sponsored by the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in addition to the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS).
"Photography is one of many excellent tools scientists have to showcase their work to new audiences, including policymakers and the public," said Scott Glisson, CEO of AIBS. "AIBS remains committed to strengthening scientists' ability to communicate with broad audiences. An important part of that effort has been supporting this artful approach to sharing their research."
The theme of the contest is "Faces of Biology." Photographs entered into the competition must depict a person, such as a scientist, technician, or student, engaging in biological research. The depicted research may occur outside, in a lab, with a natural history collection, on a computer, in a classroom, or elsewhere.
The winning photos from the 2022 contest were featured in the April 2023 issue of BioScience.
Submissions must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 30, 2023. For more information or to enter the contest, visit our website.
Short Takes
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is hosting a virtual meeting of the Novel and Exceptional Technology and Research Advisory Committee (NExTRAC) on August 29, 2023, from 2:00- 4:30 PM ET. This meeting will include presentation, discussion, and possible finalization of a draft report prepared by the Data Science and Emerging Technology Working Group. The Working Group was previously tasked with identifying research questions that rely on novel types and uses of data, and to explore implications of this research for stakeholders. A draft agenda, webcast information, details on how to sign up to make oral comments or submit written comments, and other meeting materials is available on the meeting page.
- The National Science Board (NSB) will hold a hybrid meeting August 15-16, 2023 to address science and engineering policy issues relevant to the National Science Foundation (NSF). The public is welcome to attend the open sessions in-person or watch the live webcast. Learn more.
From the Federal Register
The following items appeared in the Federal Register from July 31 to August 11, 2023.
Commerce
Council on Environmental Quality
Health and Human Services
Interior
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Science Foundation
Office of Science and Technology Policy
Become an Advocate for Science: Join the AIBS Legislative Action Center
Quick, free, easy, effective, impactful! Join the AIBS Legislative Action Center, a one-stop shop for learning about and influencing science policy. The Legislative Action Center offers tools and resources to inform researchers about recent policy developments. Users can find and contact their elected officials, learn about and track current science legislation, and sign-up to receive the latest science policy alerts.
This tool is made possible through contributions from the Society for the Study of Evolution and the Botanical Society of America. AIBS and our partner organizations invite scientists and science educators to become policy advocates today. Subscribe now to get started.