The U.S. Department of State, the Interagency Working Group on Scientific Collections (IWGSC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative (SCRI) are working together to help identify, and where possible assist with efforts to save and protect priceless Ukrainian archival, cultural, and scientific collections under threat. They are requesting help […]
NSF Requests Comments on Draft Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has published a notice in the Federal Register requesting comments on an updated draft of the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Notable proposed changes include: A provision requiring the use of SciENcv to prepare personnel biographical sketches for grant proposals. A new section to expand disclosure requirements […]
Science Agencies Slated for Budget Increases in FY 2023
On March 28, 2022, President Joe Biden released his budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2023, once again calling for significant investments in climate change, scientific research, and conservation. The budget framework proposes large budget increases for most federal science agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. […]
President’s Request Would Boost Smithsonian’s Budget by 11 Percent
Federal support for the Smithsonian Institution would grow by 11 percent in fiscal year (FY) 2023 to $1.2 billion. This increase includes the congressionally mandated pay raise, funds to revitalize physical infrastructure, and support for two new museums. Smithsonian is also funded by private donations and a trust fund. The Facilities Capital account would receive […]
IMLS Slated for a $9 Million Budget Increase
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. President Biden’s FY 2023 budget request includes $277 million for IMLS, an increase of 3.4 percent compared to the FY 2022 enacted level. The IMLS Office of Museum Services (OMS) awards grants to museums […]
NSC Alliance Joins Science Coalition in Urging Robust FY 2023 Funding for NSF
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)—an alliance of more than 140 professional organizations, scientific societies, universities, and businesses that advocate for the National Science Foundation (NSF)—has called on House and Senate Appropriators to provide at least $11 billion in funding for NSF in fiscal year (FY) 2023. The groups wrote, in part: “NSF needs […]
Science Agencies Receive Funding Boosts in FY 2022
The U.S. Congress has now enacted a much-awaited omnibus spending package that provides fiscal year (FY) 2022 funding for the U.S. government. Nearly 6 months overdue, the $1.5 trillion legislative package (H.R. 2471) combines all twelve FY 2022 appropriations bills and includes $13.6 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine. Overall, defense spending will […]
Collections in the News
Science Insider recently reported on the impacts of the ongoing war in Ukraine on museum collections. The article recounted how researchers at the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center—a bat rescue and research facility in Kharkiv, Ukraine—scrambled to protect, hide, or evacuate irreplaceable specimens, collections, and data. Conservation biologist Anton Vlaschenko “moved the center’s collection of over 2000 Nyctalus noctula bat […]
NSC Alliance Joins Call for Community Self-Governance on Digital Sequence Information Sharing
The NSC Alliance has joined an international coalition of 26 scientific societies and organizations and 122 scientific researchers and professionals in urging continued open access to digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources. In a letter to National Focal Points to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the coalition has shared recommendations to inform ongoing […]
NSC Alliance Submits Testimony in Support of FY 2023 Federal Funding for Collections
The NSC Alliance has submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Committee regarding fiscal year (FY) 2023 funding for programs that curate natural history collections within the Department of the Interior and Smithsonian Institution. “Scientific collections are critical infrastructure for our nation’s research enterprise, ” argued NSC Alliance. “They are a national treasure that help support the […]