Biophysical Society Bulletin | April 2020

Public Affairs

PCAST Directs Attention to STEMEducation and NSB Collaboration

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) met in early February for two days to work on three focus areas: industries of the future; enhancing US science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce; and increased engagement with federal laboratories. During the first day, PCAST subcommittees addressed the three focus areas and provided updates and interim recommenda- tions to fellow council members. Subcommittees emphasized the need to build university and community college partnerships to drive needed curriculum changes and the considerable amount of untapped STEM talent in rural regions. White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director Kelvin Droegemeier , who chairs PCAST, noted that the future of the STEM workforce should not focus on terminal degrees but rather on the necessary skill sets for various research and industry sectors. Day two consisted of a joint meeting between PCAST and the National Science Board (NSB). NSB members provided an over- view of their recently released 2020 Science and Engineering Indicators, highlighting three macro trends affecting the US sci- ence and engineering enterprise: increased globalization, a global trend toward technology, and cultivating talent. These data will help inform the priorities and recommendations set forth by PCAST in the coming year.

NIH Approves Programs to Enhance Faculty Diversity and Support High-Risk, High-Reward Research The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Council of Councils provided updates on the NIH Common Fund, which supports innovative research that no single NIH Institute or Center can address on its own. The Council voted to approve the concept for a new program to foster diversity and renewed an updated program to support High-Risk, High-Reward (HRHR) research. Hannah Valantine , NIH Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity, presented a concept clearance for the Faculty Insti- tutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST)

program. FIRST aims to establish a faculty cohort model for hiring that offers institutional support for mentoring, sponsor- ship, and professional development programming. Expected outcomes of FIRST are 120 new faculty who are committed to diversity and inclusion, hired at 10 to 12 extramural institu- tions. Estimated FIRST funds are expected to be USD $241 million distributed over nine years. Ravi Basavappa , Program Official for Office of Strategic Coordi- nation, presented a proposed reissuance of the HRHR pro- gram. Unusually innovative research with potential for broad impact is the emphasis of the HRHR program’s four awards. Anticipated awards in fiscal year 2020 amount to USD $97.4 million, funding at least seven Pioneer Awards, 33 New Inno- vator Awards, seven Transformative Research Awards, and 10 Early Independence Awards.

Numbers By the

The BPS 64th Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, attracted attendees from 54 countries and held over 100 scientific sessions.

April 2020

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