Science Policy Report

Address all comments to the Science Policy Office at:
sciencepolicy@sciencesocieties.org

14 October 2009

In This Issue:

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

Congressional/Administration News

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on September 30 that up to $12.5 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be awarded in early 2010 to support at least 80 graduate fellowships ($50,500 per year for three years) to U.S. students pursuing advanced degrees in science, mathematics, and engineering through the newly created Department of Energy Office of Science Graduate Fellowship program. The goal of the fellowship program is to encourage outstanding students to pursue graduate degrees in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, engineering, and environmental and computer sciences – fields that will prepare students for careers that can make significant contributions in discovery driven science and science for national needs in energy and the environment. To be eligible for the Fellowship, applicants must be U.S. citizens and currently a first or second year graduate student enrolled at a U.S. academic institution, or an undergraduate senior who will be enrolled as a first year graduate student by the fall of 2010. Applicants must be pursuing graduate study and research in the physical, biological, engineering and computational sciences. Deadline 30 Nov.  Interested students can apply online at: http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/SCGF.html

Funds may be used to: Evaluate current landfill conditions to determine threats to water resources in rural areas; provide technical assistance and/or training to enhance operator skills in the maintenance and operation of active landfills in rural areas; provide technical assistance and/or training to help associations reduce the solid waste stream; and provide technical assistance and/or training for operators of landfills in rural areas which are closed or will be closed in the near future with the development/implementation of closure plans, future land use plans, safety and maintenance planning, and closure scheduling within permit requirements. Deadline 31 Dec. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=49681

The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (“Brownfields Law”, P.L. 107-118) requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish guidance to assist applicants in preparing proposals for grants. This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals from eligible entities, including non-profit organizations to deliver environmental job training. Applicants must propose to serve a community that currently receives, or has received, financial assistance from EPA for a brownfields assessment, revolving loan fund, or cleanup grant, a targeted brownfield assessment, and/or site-specific brownfields work carried out under a state or tribal response program. Deadline 1 Dec. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=49682

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 10, Office of Water and Watersheds, Watersheds Unit, is soliciting proposals from eligible agencies/organizations for the coordination and acceleration of research, studies, experiments, training, investigations and demonstration projects to improve the capacity of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington States and Tribes to effectively and efficiently develop total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for impaired waters located in these States. EPA will not provide funding to State or Tribal environmental agencies for “routine” TMDL work that the Agency supports with grants under Section 106 and 319 of the Clean Water Act; production of TMDLs must be an incidental by-product of the activities EPA funds under this competitive announcement. This notice sets forth the process that will be used for selecting awards. The total estimated funding available for awards under this announcement is approximately $400,000. The number of expected awards is approximately 8, with an expected range of award of $25,000 - $80,000; however, proposals requesting funding below or above the expected range of award will be considered. Deadline 9 Nov. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=49708

The Directorate for Engineering (ENG) welcomes and encourages the submission of transformative, interdisciplinary research proposals to its Divisions. The primary funding division must be within ENG.IDR proposals may be on any topic relevant to engineering and, in particular, should not be constrained by the current program structures. It is hoped that new fields of research will eventually emerge from IDR awards. While not an absolute requirement, an IDR proposal typically will be submitted by a small team of 2-4 investigators. Deadline 7 Dec. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=49709

The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) awards Postdoctoral Fellowships to highly qualified investigators within 3 years of obtaining their PhD to carry out an integrated program of independent research and education. The research and education plans of each fellowship must address scientific questions within the scope of EAR disciplines. The program supports researchers for a period of up to 2 years with fellowships that can be taken to the institution or national facility of their choice. The program is intended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential, and provide them with experience in research and education that will establish them in leadership positions in the Earth Sciences community. Because the fellowships are offered only to postdoctoral scientists early in their career, doctoral advisors are encouraged to discuss the availability of EAR fellowships with their graduate students early in their doctoral programs. Fellowships are awards to individuals, not institutions, and are administered by the Fellows.  Deadline 1 Jul. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=49842

Effective for proposals submitted on or after January 4, 2010. The guidelines in GPG 09-29 remain effective through January 3, 2010. Available Formats: JSP: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf10_1/gpg_index.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_109 PDF: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf10_1/gpgprint.pdf?WT.mc_id=USNSF_109

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

The 15th International Humic Substances Society Meeting (IHSS15), "Humic Substances and the Maintenance of Ecosystem Services", will take place in Puerto de la Cruz, Canary Islands, Spain, 27 June-2 July 2010. Details http://www.ihss2010.org.

A paper published 12 Oct by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) urges policymakers to focus on "fast-acting" climate policies for lesser-known greenhouse gases and particles that contribute to warming. In the paper, the authors lay out four separate strategies they contend might prevent abrupt climate change over the next few decades. Included in the strategies is the use of the existing Montreal Protocol, which governs chemicals that deplete the ozone layer in order to end use of hydrofluorocarbons which harm ozone and trap heat up 100 to 12,000 times more effectively than CO2. The PNAS analysis also recommends reducing emissions of black carbon (sooty particles produced by diesel engines), burning trees and plants, and wood- and coal-powered stoves. Black carbon absorbs heat from sunlight, warming surrounding air and, when deposited on ice or snow, hastening melting. A recent study suggests that black carbon emissions caused half the total warming in the Arctic between 1890 and 2007. Finally, the paper outlines additional steps including slowing the rate of deforestation and reducing emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, methane and other volatile organic compounds that react with sunlight to form tropospheric ozone, "a major pollutant and significant GHG." http://www.pnas.org/site/misc/news.shtml

A recent GAO study focused on possible environmental impacts of biofuels and impact of the ethanol subsidy found the EPA should be required to consider more widely the environmental effects of biofuels production when deciding which fuels are eligible under the federal biofuels use mandate. A 2007 law requires the amount of biofuels in the nation's transportation fuels mix to reach 36 billion gallons by 2022. The report states, however, that "For the environment, many experts believe that increased biofuels production could impair water quality -- by increasing fertilizer runoff and soil erosion -- and also reduce water availability, degrade air and soil quality, and adversely affect wildlife habitat."

A new study released 30 Sep by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) estimates that twenty-five million more children will suffer malnourishment by 2050 due to the isolated effects of climate change. According to the report, those 25 million children represent a 20 percent increase from what otherwise would have occurred in the absence of warming temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and other climate impacts set to devastate farmers in developing nations. Furthermore, by 2050, inhabitants of the developing world will actually have access to less calories a day than they did in 2000, the study says. Consequently, decreasing yields in many regions will cause prices for staple grains such as irrigated wheat and rice to increase drastically; this increase would be beyond rising prices already predicted in the absence of warming challenges. That effect will also trickle down to increase the costs to raise beef and other meat. The study concludes that South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa will be the hardest hit regions. http://www.ifpri.org/

Congressional/Administration News

On 13 Oct, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee chair, Barbara Boxer (D-CA), announced that the Committee will begin hearings on global warming legislation Oct. 27 with a markup of S. 1733 most likely to be held the week of Nov. 2 or Nov. 9. Boxer added that Energy Secretary Steven Chu, U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff will testify. Additional hearings will run through that week, Boxer said.

Gary Machlis, a professor of conservation from the University of Idaho, has been named the first science adviser for the National Park Service. Previously he served as visiting senior scientist for the agency. In his role as NPS science adviser, Machlis will provide expertise on science policy and programs to Director Jon Jarvis. Agency officials said Machlis will help ensure that NPS uses the best available science to address the complex natural and cultural resource challenges it faces, from climate change to science education for youth. He also will provide advice and deliver scientific information to the Interior Department, Congress, stakeholders, park visitors and citizens.

On 9 Oct, the Senate, in a unanimous, vote confirmed the Obama administration's pick, Harris Sherman, to oversee the Forest Service, a choice criticized by environmental groups for his role in developing Colorado's roadless rule. Previously serving as executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Harris Sherman is now the Department of Agriculture's undersecretary for natural resources and environment. The position directs the Forest Service and conservation projects at the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Under the Bush administration, the position was held by Mark Rey, who generated significant controversy during his tenure. At his confirmation hearing the first week of October, Sherman vowed to recuse himself from the issue.

This month, Congress finally passed the FY 2010 agriculture spending bill. Included in the bill is a 30% ($61 million) increase for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative! Contributing to this significant increase in funding for USDA science was the collective efforts of the AFRI Coalition, which is co-led by ASA, CSSA and SSSA; National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research (NCFAR); and Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and 2) new, visionary leadership for USDA science, namely Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics (REE) and USDA Chief Scientist Rajiv Shah and newly named Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Roger Beachy. Learn more about the AFRI Coalition: www.agronomy.org/science-policy/afri-coalition. Additional final FY 10 agriculture spending bill numbers include: Hatch formula which received a 3.8% increase over FY 2009, bringing total funding to $215 million; McIntire-Stennis was slated for a 5.3% increase over FY 09 for a total funding of $29 million; Integrated programs saw a 5.5% increase (total funding $60 million); Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) got a small boost to $14.5 million; Smith-Lever extension formula funding was increased 3% to $297.5 million. Most education programs received flat funding. Meanwhile, the Energy and Water (funds DOE Office of Science) and Commerce, Justice and Science (funds NSF and NOAA) and Interior and Environment (funds US Geological Survey and Forest Service) spending bills are making their way through the Senate. Conferences with the House on these appropriations measures should begin soon. See FY 2010 spending billst: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app10.html. Stay tuned…

Late last month, Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) took over as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Lincoln takes over from Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) who will succeed the late Edward M. Kennedy as chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Also hailing from the South is the Agriculture Committee’s top Republican, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia. Lincoln, the first woman to chair the panel, is also a moderate, a stark change in political leaning from Harkin who is from the progressive wing. Learn more about Lincoln: http://lincoln.senate.gov/

At a 26 Sep meeting of more than 130 countries and other stakeholders organized to address underlying causes of global hunger co-hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, participants endorsed a statement to "take decisive action to free humankind from hunger and poverty through improving food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture," and to work together to : 1) support country-led processes; 2) ensure a comprehensive approach to food security; 3) strategically coordinate assistance; 4) support a strong role for multilateral institutions; and 5) sustain a robust commitment of financial resources, including $20 billion in resources pledged at the G8 Summit. Details of 'Partnering For Food Security: Moving Forward: http://www.state.gov/s/globalfoodsecurity/129626.htm. The 'Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative: Consultation Document': http://www.state.gov/s/globalfoodsecurity/129952.htm. ‘Global Food Security U.S. Commitment to Action' fact sheet: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/129768.pdf. U.S. State Dept. home page on Global Food Security: http://www.state.gov/s/globalfoodsecurity/

Sources: Congressional Quarterly; E&E Publishing; Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC

Vision: The Societies Washington, DC Science Policy Office (SPO) will advocate the importance and value of the agronomic, crop and soil sciences in developing national science policy and ensuring the necessary public-sector investment in the continued health of the environment for the well being of humanity. The SPO will assimilate, interpret, and disseminate in a timely manner to Society members information about relevant agricultural, natural resources and environmental legislation, rules and regulations under consideration by Congress and the Administration.

This page of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA web site will highlight current news items relevant to Science Policy. It is not an endorsement of any position.