Weekly news Roundup May 27 2016
News
Federal Science & Engineering Funding for Academic Institutions Sees First Increase in 5 Years
May 19, 2016 | The National Science Foundation
Federal agencies obligated $30.8 billion to 996 academic institutions for science and engineering (S&E) activities in FY2014, the most recent year for which such information is available, a 6 percent increase over the previous year and the first increase in such funding since FY2009. The Department of Health and Human Services, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense together provided 85 percent of all federal academic S&E obligations.
- Learn about the public funding of neuroscience at SfN.org.
Winners and Losers Emerge in U.K. Funding Shake-up
May 20, 2016 | Nature
Funds dedicated for research on developing-world problems will eat into the core science grants of the United Kingdom's research councils over the next five years, documents released by the councils show. After enduring years of flat funding, scientists had celebrated as government committed to increasing science spending, but although the science budget will rise in line with inflation, some of it will be diverted into other programs. The remaining portion that research councils hand out on the basis of competitive applications from scientists will still fall.
- Find out about worldwide neuroscience initiatives at SfN.org.
Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology Wants More Government Funds
May 24, 2016 | VietnamNet
The proposal, part of a national program on science and technology development towards 2020, has been submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology has announced a new proposal on building a national program on science and technology towards 2020. Under the proposal, the State budget will provide up to 50 percent of funding for technology improvement activities, experimental production and technology projects, as well as projects on national products.
- Watch advocacy webinars on about how to communicate your science at SfN.org.
Articles of Interest
NFL ‘Improperly Attempted to Influence’ Concussion Research Funding
May 23, 2016 | Stat News
The NFL “improperly attempted to influence” how NIH chose a grant recipient for a $16 million study on concussion and brain trauma, according to a congressional report released this week. The $30 million grant based on funding from the NFL was eventually awarded to Robert Stern at Boston University — but not before NFL-affiliated scientists, including one who had applied for the grant money himself, raised persistent concerns about the neutrality of Stern’s research.
- Read more about concussion and traumatic brain injury at BrainFacts.org.
1,500 Scientists Lift the Lid on Reproducibility
May 25, 2016 | Nature News
Nature surveyed over 1,500 researchers about the issue of reproducibility in research. The survey questions asked the researchers about whether there is a reproducibility crisis, if they have failed to reproduce an experiment, if they have established protocols for reproducibility, and other topics.
- Watch webinars about scientific rigor and data reproducibility on Neuronline.
Opinion
We Mightn’t Like It, but There are Ethical Reasons To Use Animals in Medical Research
May 25, 2016 | The Conversation
Scientists, institutions, and the media often hesitate to mention the animals used in research, but research using animals is behind many big scientific advances and has big ramifications for human health. Omitting this information can prevent the public from knowing about the importance of animals in research, and it is important to emphasize ethical reasons animals are needed in research.
- Find resources about the use of animals in research on Neuronline.
As Research Funds Dry Up, Science Doctorates Make a Beeline for Data Jobs
May 21, 2016 | Reporting Texas
The number of science and engineering doctorates going into academia has dipped by more than 5 percent over the last decade, even as the rate has increased in non-scientific disciplines, according to NSF. While the number of tenure-track positions has stayed about the same, more science and engineering PhDs are graduating and competing for such positions, while at the same time federal funding for higher education research has come down by over 10 percent in just the last five years, after accounting for inflation. These challenges are pushing scientists away from the university and into the industry, where they find it much easier to get jobs.
- Join the advocacy network to stay informed on issues of science policy at SfN.org
