Aligning Your Advocacy Message for Global and Regional Impact

Policy

Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2020 Defense Funding Bill
May 21, 2019 | House Committee on Appropriations

The House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2020 Defense bill on a vote of 30 to 22. The legislation funds the Department of Defense, including basic and applied scientific research and development, equipment modernization, medical research programs, and health and quality-of-life programs for our troops and military families.

Reminder - Soliciting Applications for the BRAIN Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity
June 2019 | National Institutes of Health

The NIH BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00) program aims to enhance diversity in the neuroscience workforce and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented, NIH-supported, independent investigators from diverse backgrounds in BRAIN Initiative research areas. The next deadline for new applications to the BRAIN Initiative Diversity K99/R00 is June 12, 2019 (resubmissions: July 12, 2019).

Align Your Advocacy Message for Global and Regional Impact
May 2019 | Neuronline

Lars Kristiansen, the executive director of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), leads neuroscience advocacy conversations and initiatives across 33 European countries. Here, he highlights the advocacy culture around Europe as he shares ways all scientists can become stronger advocates — coordinating knowledge to develop a unified message, preparing for your country-specific context, and gaining public support for science through clear and compelling outreach.

Bipartisan Bill Would Create Forum for Discussing How to Counter U.S. Academic Espionage
May 30, 2019 | Science

Those who complain that the U.S. government prefers to talk about the nation’s problems rather than solve them may think creating two forums to discuss science and national security is not a very constructive idea. But academic leaders say more dialogue is urgently needed on one issue now bedeviling the U.S. research community: how to best protect the country against its economic and military competitors without choking off international scientific collaborations and the free flow of people and ideas.

Top Appropriator Looking to Address Looming Lab Workforce Shortfall
May 30, 2019 | American Institute of Physics

Worried about an impending wave of retirements at the national laboratories, House appropriations subcommittee chair Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) announced last week she is interested in supporting a broad initiative to train a new generation of elite scientists.

Here’s Why the Outcomes of This Week’s European Elections Are Good News for Science
May 28, 2019 | Science

Although populist and euroskeptic parties grew in last week's elections for the European Parliament (EP), the tsunami that European Union supporters feared didn't happen. That comes as a relief to many scientists, because several of the populist movements currently on the rise in Europe appear to have little interest in science, flirt with antiscientific ideas, or have tried to curtail academic freedom.

Science in the News

Animal Research: Raising Awareness of Care Regulations
May 2019 | Neuronline

Scientists are careful to follow animal care regulations, both for the well-being of the animals and for the accuracy of the science. By educating the public on the guidelines in place to ensure animal welfare during experiments, you can help encourage public support of animal research overall.

New Cable-Free Brain Imaging Method May Take Social Neuroscience to the Next Level
May 28, 2019 | Science Daily

Researchers at Osaka University have developed a new method to record brain activity simultaneously in multiple, freely moving mice. The method is based on a recent bioluminescence-based indicator of membrane voltage called “LOTUS-V.”

Public Attitudes to Animal Research in 2018
May 24, 2019 | Ipsos MORI

This report presents the findings of the 2018 survey into public acceptance, awareness and attitudes towards the use of animals in scientific research in the UK. The research was carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Office for Life Sciences, a joint office between the Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Taiwan Considers Double-Blind Peer Review for Grants
May 24, 2019 | Nature

Taiwan’s science ministry is thinking of introducing double-blind peer review to assess research-grant proposals, a trend being adopted by some journals to eliminate bias. The Ministry of Science and Technology says it has begun soliciting feedback from scientists about whether it should bring in such a system.