Science Policy Report

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

27 October 2010

In This Issue:

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

Congressional/Administration News

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

The Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, Snake River Area Office (Reclamation) is requesting proposals to fund activities in support of its Water Conservation Field Services Program in Federal fiscal year 2011 (October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011). To be eligible for financial assistance under this Funding Opportunity, a proposed activity must be within the administrative boundaries of the Snake River Area Office. The objective of this Funding Opportunity is to invite eligible applicants to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on activities that will either: 1) Promote the preparation of written water management and conservation plans that will lead to subsequent implementation of conveyance, measurement, or operational improvements which will conserve water, increase water use efficiency, or enhance operational efficiency; or 2) implement activities identified in approved and written water management and/or conservation plans. Deadline 18 Feb. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58522

The Northeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to develop a partnership to engage communities within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with an initial focus on the James River in Virginia, for the purposes of wildlife and natural resource conservation planning and design. We seek to work with non-profit organizations that have experience with community outreach, natural resource inventory and analysis, and an understanding of current natural resource conservation initiatives, including those that provide public outdoor educational and recreational opportunities, within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Questions: Joe McCauley at Joseph_McCauley@fws.gov. Deadline 29 Oct. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58523

This NASA Research Announcement (NRA) solicits proposals for supporting basic and applied research and technology across a broad range of Earth and space science program elements relevant to one or more of the following NASA Research Programs: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. This ROSES NRA covers all aspects of basic and applied supporting research and technology in space and Earth sciences, including, but not limited to: theory, modeling, and analysis of SMD science data; aircraft, stratospheric balloon, suborbital rocket, and commercial reusable rocket investigations; development of experiment techniques suitable for future SMD space missions; and more. Contact: Max Bernstein, Lead for Research, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, E-mail: sara@nasa.gov; Phone: 202-358-0879. Deadline 17 Sep. http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58539

Conferences, Meetings and Reports

A new report takes on California’s approach for scoring the greenhouse gas footprint of biofuels, specifically corn ethanol. Authoring the study, “Empirical Data and Decomposition Analysis of U.S. Corn Use for Ethanol Production from 2001-2008,” the Energy Department's Oak Ridge National Laboratory set out to inform the state's low-carbon fuel standard, which is anticipated to reduce emissions by 16 million metric tons by 2020, nearly 10 percent of the total reductions mandated by the state's 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act. The study disputes the theory, pushed by some California regulators and environmental groups, that corn grown for ethanol displaces other homegrown crops, reducing exports and contributing to deforestation in other countries that must then grow their own food, a phenomenon known as "indirect land-use change." View report: http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/lcfs/workgroups/ewg/101410decomposition.pdf

The Global Harvest Initiative launched last week the 2010 GAP Report™ developed with the Farm Foundation and U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS). The report claims to quantify for the first time the difference between the current rate of global agricultural productivity growth and the pace required to meet future needs.  “Doubling agricultural output to meet global demand by 2050 will require an annual average growth of at least 1.75 percent in total factor productivity (TFP),” said Neil Conklin, president of the Farm Foundation, and author of the report. Total factor productivity is the increase in output per unit of total resources employed in production. Between 2000 and 2007, ERS estimates global agricultural TFP growth averaged 1.4 percent per year. With the first report released in 2010, the Global Harvest Initiative plans to update the report annually to gauge progress and with the goal of each report becoming more comprehensive and prescriptive to help better identify actions needed in different parts of the world. View report: http://www.globalharvestinitiative.org/GAP.htm

The Leonardo Academy, which is developing a "National Sustainable Agriculture Standard" under the standard development procedures of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has announced that the standard development process is progressing from principle development to content development. The new content being developed by the Subcommittees will be reviewed by the Sustainable Agriculture Standards Committee at its next meeting, hosted by the company GAP in the San Francisco Bay Area January 13-14, 2011. Meanwhile, according to an announcement by the National Corn Growers Association, agricultural representatives have withdrawn en masse from the Leonardo Academy’s sustainable agriculture standard setting initiative, citing systemic limitations and chronic anti-agriculture biases inherent in the Writing Committee structure set up for this initiative. The Leonardo Academy is seeking new interested parties to submit applications to participate in the upcoming Subcommittee conference calls and to attend the Standards Committee meeting. View document, “National Sustainable Agriculture Standard Development Update; Development Continues, Leonardo Academy Responds to Recent Resignations and Welcomes Participation from All Stakeholders": http://www.leonardoacademy.org/programs/standards/agstandard.html

The Department of Energy invites you to nominate candidates for the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Awards, which are among the longest running and most prestigious science and technology awards given by the U.S. Government.  The Lawrence Awards honor U.S. scientists and engineers at mid-career for exceptional contributions in research and development supporting the Department of Energy and its mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States. The Lawrence Award was established in 1959 by the Atomic Energy Commission and President Dwight D. Eisenhower in honor of the 1939 Nobel Laureate in physics.  Deadline 15 Jan. View eligibility and additional details:  http://www.sc.doe.gov/lawrence and http://www.orau.gov/lawrence. Questions to: lawrence.award@science.doe.gov or james.glownia@science.doe.gov. 

Data are reported on the budget authority of U.S. federal agencies to fund R&D components of their programs in FY 2009-11. FY 2011 data are proposed funding levels. FY 2010 data (preliminary) are agency estimates of final appropriations. FY 2009 data are actual budget authority received by agencies. Figures do not include estimates for R&D funds appropriated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). ARRA funds are presented separately in the data tables. View data tables: Federal R&D Funding by Budget Function: Fiscal Years 2009-11

Congressional/Administration News

Climate change legislation is currently dead in the Senate and, with a high likelihood that the House will flip and be under GOP rule come January and the new (112th) Congress, not predicted to go anywhere in the House either. Not daunted by Congressional inaction, environmentalists and industry have shifted their attention to the courts and U.S. EPA as the agency prepares to implement a rule next year to limit greenhouse gas emissions on stationary sources under the Clean Air Act. Opponents of EPA climate regulation have rallied their troops around a pre-emptive action, namely through the legislative process in what they hope will be a Republican led House.  In addition, lawmakers may consider shackling EPA efforts to regulate greenhouse gases by inserting provisions in must-pass appropriations bills.

Last weekend, tens of thousands of K-12 students, college students, and anyone else interested in learning about science and engineering took part in the 2010 Science and Engineering Festival held in Washington, DC. In addition to heavy representation by Lockheed Martin and other industry giants, scientific societies, including the Agronomy, Crop and Soil Science Societies, took part in the two-day educational effort. Scientists and students from our societies volunteered to man the three individual booths and interact with the public. ASA had rice, peanut and other food plants as well as many different kinds of seeds for hands-on education.  Many visitors were fascinated with the rice plant. CSSA also had great visuals and hands-on activities which were a big hit.  The demo of plants growing hydroponically was great. SSSA went high-tech with electronic media explaining the importance of soil and soil science. View President Obama’s talk on the event at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDxTw1sUKvk

Responding to Congressional resistance on climate change and energy legislation, President Obama has announced plans to push through legislation addressing a renewable electricity standard, fuel efficiency and green buildings as part of a piecemeal approach to working with Republicans to address climate and energy policy next year.  This strategy apparently is being well-received by Democrats, Republicans and a skeptical public worried about any policy "perceived as reducing job growth," Obama told National Journal in an interview published on Monday.

Despite the efforts of almost 200 nations attending the Convention on Biological Diversity to establish targets to slow the rate plant and animal species and habitats are disappearing, reports on the United Nations negotiations suggest that little progress has been made half way through the two-week meeting. No surprise that the frequent friction between developed and developing nations has stalled negotiations. Specifically, nations appear to be deadlocked over the "access sharing and benefits" protocol. One of the lead developing nations at the convention, Brazil, has said there will be no overall agreement unless consensus is reached about how developing nations can equitably share the profits Western companies enjoy from the natural resources originating in developing countries, such as wild plants used in medicines. For now, negotiators continue efforts to hash out what resources would be included and if the deal would be retroactive.

Sources: Congressional Quarterly; E&E Publishing; Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC; National Journal; National Science Teachers Association

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.