July 25, 2014 - This Week's Consolidation of Advocacy News
News
Republicans Prep Short-Term Funding to Keep Government Open Through Election Day
July 21, 2014 | National Journal
House Republicans are planning a vote for a temporary “continuing resolution” to keep the government operational beyond the start of the fiscal year on October 1 to avoid another government shutdown.
- Want to learn more about government funding in the U.S.? Watch From Congress to Your Lab.
Government Must Double Funding for Innovation to Compete, Admits Vince Cable
July 22, 2014 | The Telegraph
The UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable, made the case for increased science funding—up to double the current investment—to allow the UK to keep pace with the rest of the world.
- Learn how you can make the case for increasing science funding with SfN’s Science Funding Advocacy Tools.
Cora Marrett Steps Down as NSF Deputy Director
July 21, 2014 | ScienceInsider
The deputy director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), Cora Marrett, has announced her retirement from NSF after serving as acting director for most of 2013.
- Watch Cora Marrett speak at Neuroscience 2013 about Understanding New Brain Initiatives in the U.S. and Europe.
Funding Review Casting Shadow Over Portuguese Research Could Cloud Other Countries
July 23, 2014 | Phys.org
This year, the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation contracted the European Science Foundation (ESF) to conduct their annual review of Portuguese research institutes. The process has been mired in controversy after a large number of institutes received poor reviews—denying them funding until 2020.
- Watch SfN’s new video on the importance of global science advocacy.
Senate Bill Backs NSF's Practices and Calls for Big Funding Boost
July 21, 2014 | ScienceInsider
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which oversees the National Science Foundation, has released draft legislation calling for a 40 percent increase for the NSF budget by 2019. It also supports NSF’s peer review criteria, which has come under fire by the equivalent committee in the House.
- Learn more about the congressional committees relevant to neuroscience funding.
Neuroscientists Go to Washington — As Advocates for Science
Early Career Policy Fellow Kateri Spinelli, a postdoctoral fellow at Oregon Health & Science University, writes about her experience at SfN’s Hill Day last March.
- Learn how you can participate in Hill Day 2015 at SfN.org/HillDay.
Articles of Interest
Spark for a Stagnant Search
July 21, 2014 | The New York Times
The Broad Institute has announced a $650 million donation for psychiatric research from the Stanley Family Foundation — one of the largest private gifts ever for scientific research.
- Learn about the future of neuroscience funding at the Public Advocacy Forum at Neuroscience 2014.
Amid Growing Concern Over Head Injuries, California Limits Full-Contact Football Practices
July 22, 2014 | The Washington Post
A bill limiting football practices for middle and high school students in California was just passed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. It regulates the number and duration of full-contact practices per week for these students, and comes on the heels of widespread concern over the long-lasting effects of repeated concussions.
- Learn more at BrainFacts.org’s Hard Knocks: The Science of Concussions.
Director’s Blog: Mapping the Risk Architecture of Mental Disorders
July 22, 2014 | NIMH
Read National Institute of Mental Health Director Thomas Insel’s perspective on recently-published insights into the genetics of Schizophrenia and autism.
- Read how SfN cited advances in understanding of the genetics of Schizophrenia to make the case for increased funding for NIH in its fiscal year 2014 testimony to Congress.
Opinion
Science Advisers Should be Supported, Not Sacked
July 24, 2014 | The Guardian
Roger Pielke, Jr., professor of environmental studies in the Centre for Science and Technology Policy Research at the University of Colorado, argues that calls for removing the position of chief scientific adviser to the president of the European Commission are misguided.
- Learn more about SfN’s work in Europe with the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies.
