Science Policy Report

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22 July 2009

In This Issue:

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

Congressional/Administration News

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

The key aim of the Climate Process Modeling Team (CPT) concept is to speed development of global coupled climate models and reduce uncertainties in climate models by bringing together theoreticians, field observationalists, process modelers and the large modeling centers to concentrate on the scientific problems facing climate models today. Deadline 24 Sep. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=48423

The Biosensing Program supports innovative, transformative, and insightful investigations of fundamental problems with broad long term impact and applications that require novel use of bio-inspired engineering principles and sophisticated devices to meet the engineering and technology needs of the nation. The program is targeting research in the area of the monitoring, identification, and/or quantification of biological phenomena and will support potential technological breakthroughs that exist at the intersection of engineering, life science, and information technology. Projects submitted to the Program must advance both engineering and life sciences. Projects in the program may range from single investigator to multi-investigator collaborative research efforts. The development of these novel principles and devices will require highly collaborative interactions between engineers, life scientists, and experts in nanotechnology, biomaterials, bioinformatics, and the chemical and physical sciences. Deadline 17 Sep. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=48424

Objectives of this research include: (1) determine the processes that control the flux of covered greenhouse gases in and out of each ecosystem; (2) estimate the potential for increasing carbon sequestration in natural and managed ecosystems through management activities or restoration activities in each ecosystem; (3) develop near-term and long-term adaptation strategies or mitigation strategies that can be employed— (A) to enhance the sequestration of carbon in each ecosystem; (B) to reduce emissions of covered greenhouse gases from ecosystems; and (C) to adapt to climate change (4) Estimate the annual carbon sequestration capacity of ecosystems under a range of policies in support of management activities to optimize sequestration.  Deadline 24 Jul.  http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=48427

The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is a program designed to fulfill the National Science Foundation's (NSF) mandate to promote scientific progress nationwide. The EPSCoR program is directed at those jurisdictions that have historically received lesser amounts of NSF Research and Development (R&D) funding. Twenty-seven states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands are currently eligible to participate. Through this program, NSF establishes partnerships with government, higher education and industry that are designed to effect lasting improvements in a state's or region's research infrastructure, R&D capacity and hence, its national R&D competitiveness. Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Track-1 (RII Track-1) awards provide up to $4 million per year for up to 5 years to support physical, human, and cyber infrastructure improvements in research areas selected by the jurisdiction's EPSCoR governing committee as having the best potential to improve future R&D competitiveness of the jurisdiction.   Deadline 19 Oct.  http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=48432

This project is on-going with Montana State University and will assist in the implementation of integrated noxious weed management on public lands. Also included in this project is the education of federal, state, county and private cooperators about management and control of invasive species.  Deadline 5 Aug. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=48321

Coordinate with Siskiyou County Department of Agriculture for early detection and rapid response program and to control, reduce the spread of, and prevent the further invasion and establishment of noxious weeds using the most economical appropriate and effective weed control methods available on both private and public lands. Deadline 30 Jul. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=48358

The purpose of the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK) funding opportunity is to explore two methods of modeling complex multivariate wetland vegetation system: Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN) and Bayesian Graphical Models (BGM). Both approaches represent the complex multivariate system by a graph composed of edges and nodes. Variables are represented by nodes and edges can be directed representing a “causal” relationship or undirected representing a correlation (spatial or temporal). The research objectives are as follows: 1) Build a predictive model of wetland vegetation species abundance as a function of abiotic factors within Red Rock Lakes NWR using BBN and/or BGM that incorporates time lags at different temporal scales. 2) Investigate tools for BBN and BGM model selection to establish if the typical information theoretic criteria are appropriate to use to select among different hypothetical causal structures and if the criteria are appropriate in a system with spatial and/or temporal correlation. And 3) Determine if a BBN or a BGM could be a useful tool for practitioners to address the effects of climate change on natural systems. Deadline 24 Jul. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=48447

This project is to analyze climate trends and variations in the six parks that comprise the Klamath Network, the PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University developed a Web-based data viewer that allows users to extract and view monthly climate data for these parks. The user can access two types of data: (1) observations from available stations; and (2) 800-m gridded data from the PRISM spatial climate data set. It is proposed that the online data viewer be expanded to include three additional parks: Point Reyes, Muir Woods, and Golden Gate Recreation Area. This project will provide detailed knowledge about changes in core climate parameters in three San Francisco Bay Area Network parks. This information is critical to a data analysis project being conducted by USGS. This analysis will integrate Vital Signs monitoring data sets of the SFAN and KLMN national parks networks with data from other sources to describe the interactions among drivers of salmon populations.  Deadline 27 Jul. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=48506

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) into NRCS technical manuals, guides, and references or to the private sector. CIG does not fund research projects. It is a vehicle to stimulate the development and adoption of conservation approaches or technologies that have been studied sufficiently to indicate a likelihood of success, and to be candidates for eventual technology transfer or institutionalization. CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations.  Deadline 24 Jul. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=48085

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

The Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is seeking the nomination of individuals to fill vacancies on its Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee which advises the DOE and USDA points of contact with respect to the Biomass R&D Initiative (Initiative) and also makes written recommendations to the Biomass R&D Board (Board). Those recommendations regard whether: (A) Initiative funds are distributed and used consistent with Initiative objectives; (B) solicitations are open and competitive with awards made annually; (C) objectives and evaluation criteria of the solicitations are clear; and (D) the points of contact are funding proposals selected on the basis of merit, as determined by an independent panel of qualified peers. Deadline 20 Aug. Federal register notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-17161.htm

The Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD) will meet on 29 July in Washington, DC to discuss food security, including the broadly emerging issues surrounding climate change, and the role of universities in partnership with USAID to achieve critical short and long-term development objectives. This meeting continues to build toward the establishment of a special strategic partnership between USAID and the university community and the launching of a university 'Brain Trust.' Underpinning these initiatives the Board's discussion incorporates the results from its second Conference of Deans (COD II) which was held in Washington, DC on June 28 and 29, 2009. The COD II's theme was 'Building a Global Food Security Strategy: The Role of Higher Education in US International Development'. View federal register notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-17273.htm. Information about the BIFAD is at http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/agriculture/bifad/index.html

USDA has extended to 15 Aug the deadline for the nomination of individuals to fill ten openings on its National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board (NAREEEAB) which provides advice to the Secretary of Agriculture and land-grant colleges and universities on top priorities and policies in these areas. The ten slots to be filled are: National Farm Organization; Food Animal Commodity Producer; National Human Health Association; NLGCA Institutions; Hispanic-Serving Institutions; Transportation of Food and Agricultural Products to Domestic and Foreign Markets; Food Retailing and Marketing Interests; Food and Fiber Processors; Private Sector Organization Involved in International Development; and National Social Science Association. Deadline for nominations 15 Aug. View federal register notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-17298.htm

The Leonardo Academy is seeking the nomination of individuals to serve on subcommittees that are writing its "National Sustainable Agriculture Standard". The following subcommittees will meet by conference call during the week of July 20-24, 2009: Fundraising and Communications; Economic Sustainability; Structure and Process; Environmental Sustainability; and Social Sustainability - The objective of the sustainable agriculture standard-setting initiative is to establish a comprehensive, continuous improvement framework and common set of economic, environmental and social metrics by which to determine whether an agricultural crop has been produced and handled in a sustainable manner. Details: at http://www.leonardoacademy.org/programs/standards/agstandard/development.html

Congressional/Administration News

Last week, Senate Agriculture Committee chair, Tom Harkin (D-IA) and ranking member Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) announced new Subcommittee Chairs and membership. The Nutrition and Food Assistance, Sustainable and Organic Agriculture, and General Legislation Subcommittee has been renamed to the Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition and Family Farms and will be chaired by Sherrod Brown (D-OH). View complete list of subcommittee membership: http://agriculture.senate.gov/

Yesterday, House Democrats officially unveiled proposed changes to statutory pay-as-you-go legislation which they were to consider to today on the House floor. Meanwhile, in the upper chamber, Senate Budget Committee chair Kent Conrad (D-ND), expressed support for a proposal to ensure that budget scoring of bills for determining possible OMB-ordered sequestrations be done by CBO, rather than by OMB. Conrad and other senators were concerned that the new pay-as-you budget requirements would have provided the executive branch too much power. House Democrats are confident that they’ll be able to give that scoring authority to CBO, while still meeting constitutional requirements. For the science community, PAYGO rules, which would require either cuts to other programs or tax increases for any discretionary program funding increase, e.g., science, if truthfully adhered too, which is unlikely given recent history, could mean serious cuts to science---USDA, National Science Foundation, EPA, other agencies—budgets.

This week members of the Senate Agriculture Committee will weigh in to the climate change and energy legislation debate. Committee members expect to play a significant role in shaping the legislation as did their ag colleagues in the House. Witnesses include ag, forestry and farm groups as well as USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Science Adviser John Holdren. As Senate leadership aims to advance the bill this fall, agricultural interests could form a formidable coalition. Several key fence-sitters on the bill sit on the Agriculture Committee, and farm interests have wide appeal in the Senate. Each senator has some farm interests in his or her state -- unlike the House, which has more representatives from urban and suburban areas. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee chair, Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has announced plans to introduce her bill the week of Sept. 8, after lawmakers return from the month-long recess, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has set a Sept. 28 deadline for all committees to finish their work on the measure. View details about the hearing at: http://agriculture.senate.gov/ (click on July 22 on calendar).

On 12 June, President Obama sent a memorandum to the heads of executive departments and federal agencies establishing an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, led by the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The Task Force is charged with developing a recommendation for a national policy that ensures protection, maintenance, and restoration of oceans, our coasts and the Great Lakes. It will also recommend a framework for improved stewardship and effective coastal and marine spatial planning. The Task Force seeks input on its work from interested communities, governments, tribes, businesses, associations, non-governmental organizations and the general public. ASA, CSSA, SSSA will submit recommendations to the Task Force addressing one of five topics listed. Specifically, we will address the National Policy topic seeking recommendations for a national policy that ensures the protection, maintenance, and restoration of the health of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems and resources, enhances the sustainability of ocean and coastal economies, preserves our maritime heritage, provides for adaptive management to enhance our capacity to respond to climate change, and is coordinated with our national security and foreign policy interests. Read more about the Task Force and submit recommendations/comments at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/oceans/

Sources: Congressional Quarterly; E&E Daily; 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.

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