Update on Research Funding via Federal Agencies October 21, 2022
Science Policy Legislation
Lawmakers Punt FY 2023 Funding to December
https://cossa.org/2022/10/11/lawmakers-punt-fy-2023-funding-to-december/
Congress averted a government shutdown late last month by passing a short term continuing resolution (CR) (PL 117-180) that keeps the federal government operational until December 16. While fiscal year (FY) 2023 officially began on October 1, as has become commonplace, Congress has yet to complete its work on the FY 2023 appropriations bills. Lawmakers will return to Washington after the November midterm elections at which time they will revisit the FY 2023 funding debate.
U.S. aims to hobble China's chip industry with sweeping new export rules
The Biden administration published a sweeping set of export controls on 10/7/22, including a measure to cut China off from certain semiconductor chips made anywhere in the world with U.S. equipment, vastly expanding its reach in its bid to slow Beijing's technological and military advances. The rules, some of which take immediate effect, build on restrictions sent in letters this year to top toolmakers KLA Corp (KLAC.O), Lam Research Corp (LRCX.O) and Applied Materials Inc (AMAT.O), effectively requiring them to halt shipments of equipment to wholly Chinese-owned factories producing advanced logic chips.
Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights
https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/ai-bill-of-rights/
The OSTP has identified five principles that should guide the design, use, and deployment of automated systems to protect the American public in the age of artificial intelligence. It recently released a Blueprint for an Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights aimed at protecting diverse communities through identifying concerns, risks, and potential solutions to combat discrimination and biases with artificial intelligence systems.
The National Academies of Sciences Call for Nominations for Ocean Acoustics Committee
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7051383/Call-for-Nominations-Ocean-Acoustics-Education-and-Expertise
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is accepting nominations for an ad hoc committee to assess the current and future state of ocean acoustics expertise required to realize the full value of ocean acoustics knowledge and capabilities across a diversity of fields and applications. Nominations must be submitted by October 24th.
OSTP Request for Information on U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/10/04/2022-21480/ocean-climate-action-plan
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) requests input from all interested parties to inform the development of a U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan (OCAP) that will help guide and coordinate actions by the Federal government and civil society to address ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes-based mitigation and adaptation solutions to climate change. The OCAP will summarize planned Federal ocean-based climate action and the benefits of these actions, identify gaps in knowledge and application of knowledge to emerging ocean-climate issues, and recommend actions to advance the effectiveness of the Nation's response to the impacts of climate change. The input received will be used to inform the development of the OCAP. Responses are due by November 18th.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NOT-OD-22-211: NIH Request for Information (RFI) on the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research Strategic Plan 2023-2028
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-22-211.html
The NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) in finalizing their 2023 - 2028 Strategic Plan priorities and strategic objectives for behavioral and social science research (BSSR) at NIH. OBSSR seeks feedback on the- scientific priorities and cross-cutting themes that are proposed for its next strategic plan. These were developed based on an evaluation of the previous strategic plan, a previous RFI, and listening sessions with multiple groups internal and external to the NIH. Comments will be accepted through November 14, 2022.
Department of Commerce (DoC)
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking additional input to guide its implementation of the CHIPS Act through two new requests for information:
- CHIPS Incentives Program for the semiconductor industry; Comments must be received by November 14th
- Identifying requirements for new Manufacturing USA Institutes devoted to semiconductor R&D; Comments must be received by November 28th
Department of Energy (DoE)
Biden-Harris Administration Launches $1 Billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Program to Enhance Energy Systems in Rural and Remote Communities | Department of Energy
DOE issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on a new $1 billion program to improve energy generation in rural or remote communities across the country. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program will strengthen the resilience, reliability, and availability of energy systems, helping communities unlock the public health and cost-saving benefits cleaner, more efficient energy provides. Responses are due by November 28th.
DOE Seeks Input on How Defense Production Act Could Support National Security by Strengthening Grid Reliability
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a Request for Information (RFI) to determine how DOE could best leverage the Defense Production Act (DPA) authority invoked by President Biden to accelerate domestic production of key technologies, strengthen U.S. power grid reliability, and deploy clean energy...The technologies covered by this DPA RFI include transformers and electric grid components; solar photovoltaics; insulation materials; and electrolyzers, platinum group metals, and fuel cells for clean hydrogen. Responses to the RFI must be submitted by 5 p.m. (EST) on November 30, 2022.
GSA, DOE Issue RFI for Technologies for Net-Zero Carbon Buildings | GSA
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), in collaboration with the DOE, announced a new request for information (RFI) about technologies that will help achieve net-zero carbon buildings. Specifically, the RFI seeks input from industry on technologies that
- Improve Operating Efficiency and Promote Healthy Workplaces
- Enable Whole Building Electrification
- Facilitate GHG and Carbon Reduction
- Provide On-site Energy Generation and Storage Systems
- Deliver Electric Fleet and Load Management Solutions
While higher ed responses are not requested, this does provide insight into areas of R&D interest.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
NASA Confirms DART Mission Impact Changed Asteroid’s Motion in Space
Analysis of data obtained over the past two weeks by NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) investigation team shows the spacecraft's kinetic impact with its target asteroid, Dimorphos, successfully altered the asteroid’s orbit. This marks humanity’s first time purposely changing the motion of a celestial object and the first full-scale demonstration of asteroid deflection technology.