Biophysical Society Bulletin | September 2018

Public Affairs

Senate Appropriators Tee-Up Research Funding Boost In late June, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced funding bills for the Department of Defense (DOD), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and others out of com- mittee, marking the fastest timeframe the committee has completed its appropriations work since 1988. According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), proposed research funding for fiscal year 2019 could top $85 billion, the highest point for research spending in America’s history.

NSF 2026 IdeaMachine: Help Identify the next Big Idea

In 2016, the National Science Foundation (NSF) unveiled its first ten “Big Ideas.” The ideas are meant to define a set of cutting-edge research agendas and processes that NSF is uniquely positioned to lead, given its large portfolio of multi-disciplinary research initiatives and already established partnerships with the private sector, academia, and other federal agencies. Examples of these broad research ideas include: The Future of Work, Harnessing the Data Revolution, and The Quantum Leap.

The first 10 “Big Ideas” were developed internally at NSF. However, for their next set of ideas, NSF will be seeking public input. The NSF 2026 Idea Machine is a competition to help set the US agenda for fundamental research in science and engineering. This public input process will provide researchers and other interested stakeholders a direct way to contribute to NSF’s mission and focus federal resources towards major societal challenges. The Idea Machine will begin accepting entries in August 2018. BPS members are encouraged to participate. https:/www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/ns- f2026ideamachine/index.jsp Join NewOpinion Piece Program Organizations utilize opinion pieces or letters to the editor to build local awareness of their activities or policy priorities and elevate members who are interested in getting more involved. At 600–800 words, these concise articles allow members to communicate their personal backgrounds, their research and scientific work, and call attention to pressing policy priorities. These pieces can be placed in local media outlets around the world to raise awareness of global science activities, or highlight BPS efforts around diversity or Annual Meeting programming. Are you interested in writing about your community, science policy, or simply want to call attention to an exciting research idea? Consider getting involved with this new BPS program! BPS staff is here to provide the support you need to get your piece published. We are happy to provide you with templates, help you brainstorm an idea, review your draft, and help contact media outlets to pitch your piece. Please contact Sean Winkler , Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy, at swinkler@ biophysics.org for more information.

Senate Appropriators have proposed increases for re- search-funding agencies across the board. Proposed Senate funding for NSF sits at $8.1 billion, a $301 million increase over FY2018 levels. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) are provided with $39.1 billion, an increase of $2 billion above FY2018 levels. The rest of the federal research enterprise is also likely to see a boost. While the Senate Appropriations Committee has wrapped up its work, the annual funding process still has a ways to go. To date, no funding bills have been signed into law and only a few have been approved on the floor of either chamber. However, congressional leaders remain optimistic that ap- propriations will be finished on time by October 1. This would represent the first time all spending bills would be approved in time since the 1990s. Yet, Congress is facing down an important midterm election in November, a Supreme Court nomination fight, and a host of immigration issues that may derail the spending process. Only time will tell if Congress finishes its appropriations work as planned.

September 2018

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