The DC Digest

In Today's Issue:

AAU Comments on NLRB's Proposed Rule to Revoke Student Unionizing Rights
Department of Energy Moves Carefully on Assessing Foreign Research Collaborations
NSF Rolls Out New and Improved Science and Engineering Indicators
Trump Rolls Out Policies to Support Religious Groups
AAU Submitted Comments to NIH on Data Management and Sharing Supplemental Draft Guidance
Want to Visit D.C.? Check Out These Upcoming Advocacy Opportunities Below
Tweet of the Week!

AAU COMMENTS ON NLRB'S PROPOSED RULE TO REVOKE STUDENT UNIONIZING RIGHTS
AAU joined a group of higher education organizations to submit comments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) about its proposed rule. The rule establishes that students enrolled at private universities who perform any services for compensation in connection with their studies are not "employees" and do not have the right to collectively bargain. In their comments, the associations emphasize that the proposed rule will "promote consistency and predictability in the higher education landscape."

Unionization Station

DOE ON ASSESSING FOREIGN RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS
The Department of Energy (DOE) has drawn up a list of technologies it may not want agency scientists to share with researchers from a handful of other countries, but it has not yet been put to use. Chris Fall, head of DOE's Office of Science, stated that DOE's national laboratories are trying to prevent foreign governments from taking advantage of the traditionally open U.S. scientific enterprise. As a result, the agency has created a "technology risk matrix" tool to shape interactions with China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Although the tool is ready for deployment, Fall expressed the need to pause in order to maintain a consistent approach with other U.S. research agencies.

DOE Your Research

NSF ROLLS OUT NEW AND IMPROVED SCIENCE & ENGINEERING INDICATORS
The National Science Foundation's (NSF's) statistics on global scientific enterprise were released this week. Instead of the agency's typical comprehensive Science and Engineering Indicators report release, NSF began to release chapters on science and math education, higher education, the technical workforce and will continue to do so over the next several months. In addition to the new and improved report, NSF also revamped its online interface to make it easier for researchers and the public to explore the data and now provides quarterly updates of research activity at the state level.

Stats Makeover

TRUMP'S POLICIES TO SUPPORT RELIGIOUS GROUPS
On Thursday, President Trump announced a series of new rules and guidance memos designed to push federal funds to religious organizations and advance prayer in public schools. The rule could override the Blaine Amendments, which prohibit taxpayer money from going to religious schools in 38 states. Acting OMB Director Russ Vought stated, "President Trump and this administration are committed to religious freedom for every American."

True Religion

AAU COMMENTS ON DRAFT NIH DATA MANAGEMENT AND SHARING GUIDANCE
AAU, of which Duke is a member, submitted comments to the NIH Office of Science Policy regarding their Draft NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing and Supplemental Draft Guidance. AAU thanked NIH for its engagement on data sharing and highlighted the importance of achieving, "the appropriate balance between public access and privacy to support and enable scientific inquiry."

Back (to) Draft

UPCOMING ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES

A list of upcoming DC-based advocacy opportunities in various disciplines for members of the Duke community. Any questions regarding these and other opportunities can be directed to Melissa Vetterkind in the Office of Government Relations (melissa.vetterkind@duke.edu).

National Humanities Alliance (NHA)

The NHA will be hosting its Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day March 8-10 in Washington, D.C. The event will cover the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Archives, Department of Education's Title VI and Fulbright-Hayes programs. Register here by February 28th to attend.

NHA(y) Day

AAAS CASE Workshop

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) will hold its 2020 Catalyzing Advocacy for Science and Engineering (CASE) Workshop on March 29-April 1. The three-day program hosts upper-class undergraduate and graduate students in DC to learn about Congress, the federal budget process and effective science communication.

Duke is a sponsoring institution and will select qualified candidates from the following fields: biological, physical, or earth sciences; computational sciences and mathematics; engineering disciplines; medical and health sciences; and social and behavioral sciences. Priority will be given to students with limited experience and knowledge of science policy and advocacy. Please share interested and qualified students with Melissa Vetterkind in the Office of Government Relations (melissa.vetterkind@duke.edu) by January 31 about submitting an application.

COSSA Social Sciences Advocacy Day

The Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) will be hosting its Social Sciences Advocacy Day on March 30 and 31 in Washington, D.C. The two-day program aims to bring together scholars and advocates from across the country to meet with their elected officials to discuss the value of social and behavioral science research. These visits are important for COSSA's ongoing advocacy efforts to advance social and behavioral science research. Register here to attend COSSA's 2020 advocacy day.

COSSA Palooza

TWEET OF THE WEEK!

MLK Day @ Duke

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