Biophysical Society Bulletin | March 2020

Public Affairs

Florida Lawmakers Tackle Foreign Influence In January, legislators in the state of Florida began an investigation into foreign meddling in taxpayer-funded research within the state’s research institutions. In December 2019, a new committee was created to tackle the issue, citing recent findings of conflicts of interests at the Moffit Cancer Center and regulatory crackdowns on the national level. This move comes in parallel to similar investigations happening within the US Congress and national science funding agencies. Concerns have been raised about duplicative regulations between national and state governing bodies and increased regulatory burden, but how the state proposes to provide parity for federal and state level regulations and probes is not yet clear.

Legislation Introduced to Addresses Threats fromChina and Climate Change House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Frank Lucas has introduced the Securing American Leadership in Science and Technology Act (HR 5685). The bill aims to create a long-term strategy for investment in basic re- search and infrastructure to protect US economic and national security. The bill addresses the threats to science and technology and the environment by doubling basic research over 10 years and prioritizing world-class research infrastructure, a skilled STEM workforce, and a focus on critical technologies. HR 5685 proposes: • Create a national science and technology strategy by directing a more strategic whole-of-government planning process to establish national priorities with better coor- dination between agencies and a large focus on securing research from China. • Prioritize investment in federal basic research by autho- rizing a doubling of basic research funding over the next 10 years at the Department of Energy, the National Sci- ence Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. • Invest in American research facilities by authorizing the infrastructure needed to maintain world-class research facilities. • Developing a STEM workforce through an increase in key programs to grow the American pipeline of STEM-capa- ble workers, including cybersecurity and other areas of national need.

• Reforming regulations by improving the effectiveness of federal research and development investments through technology transfer reform and promoting better col- laboration between the federal government and private industry. BPS Joins in Society Civic Science Initiative With Biophysics Week taking place later this month, March is well suited to announce a new initiative BPS is actively taking part in with the larger scientific community — the Society Civic Science Initiative. This initiative is a growing collaboration of more than 55 scientific organizations working in conjunc- tion with each other to cultivate a culture of civic science. The initiative, led by the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) and in partnership with American Association for the Advance- ment of Science (AAAS), American Geophysical Union (AGU), and Research!America, is being supported by a Civic Science Fellow funded by the Kavli Foundation. As scientists, you know that many of the most complex and important problems we face — from climate change to anti- biotic resistance to gene editing — require scientists to work with diverse stakeholders to find, discuss, and implement scientific insights and solutions. When these science-society relationships are strong, we see increased public interest in and support for science, the uptake of scientifically sound practices and policies, and the promise of a diverse and com- petent scientific workforce for years to come. Fortunately, many scientists already recognize the importance of engaging with diverse audiences, as evidenced by the commitment to science communication, advocacy, outreach, and public en- gagement by many scientists. These activities contribute to a culture of civic science, in which scientists are active

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