March 2019
SfN Capitol Hill Day 2019 Review
On March 7, 2019, SfN brought together 48 neuroscientists and coalition partners for its 13th annual Hill Day. Neuroscientists from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Egypt, and India participated in 83 meetings and collectively walked 400 miles.
Opening remarks were given by SfN President Diane Lipscombe and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, co-chair of the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus. SfN's 2019 Hill Day was attended by members of SfN’s Government and Public Affairs Committee, Global Membership Committee, and the new class of Early Career Policy Ambassadors (ECPAs). They were joined by a broad spectrum of colleagues, including SfN’s advocacy key contacts and partners from the Coalition for Life Sciences, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the American Neurological Association, and the Canadian Association for Neuroscience.
SfN would like to thank all who participated this year on the Hill and who continue to connect with policymakers locally, nationally, and abroad.
Federal News Roundup
- The Spanish government passed reforms to the nation’s scientific system that will make it easier for public research institutions to hire staff, and for scientists to buy equipment and return to a science career after taking maternity or paternity leave.
- Read Kelvin Droegemeier's first interview with Science Magazine in his new role as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
- The BRAIN Initiative Multi-Council Working Group convened to discuss updates in areas of neuroethics and the general progression of the BRAIN Initiative. Catch up with meetings from the Neuroethics Working Group (agenda) and Multi-Council Working Group (agenda).
- President Trump’s administration released its budget proposal for FY 2020. The proposal calls for significant budget cuts to science funding agencies – 13 percent to NIH and 12 percent to NSF. Congress now begins their work on creating the federal budget for scientific research funding in FY 2020. As in years past, Congress is likely set their own funding priorities through bi-partisan negotiations.
SfN Initiative to Foster Global Collaboration
In a recent statement from SfN, President Diane Lipscombe continues to affirm the organization’s support for global collaboration in neuroscience with a new Science Knows No Borders initiative. This initiative provides opportunities for scientists who have been denied a U.S. travel visa to be able to present their research at Neuroscience 2019 remotely.
Droegemeier AAAS Speech on Federally Funded Research
During his first public appearance as OSTP Director, Kelvin Droegemeier addressed a large audience at the 2019 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting. He broadly described the need to rethink how federal research programs are governed and expressed his aim to address sexual harassment in science and the administrative burdens that impede research.
SfN Advocacy Resources
- Contact your legislator about research funding via the Advocacy Action Center.
- Learn how to engage your members of Congress and persuasively advocate for science.
- Engage your lawmakers directly by calling them to schedule an in-person meeting or lab tour.
- Get involved in global advocacy.
- Talk to the public about the importance of animal research.
- Download the SfN Advocacy App for your Apple or Android device to have all your advocacy resources in one place.
