News and updates

91探花Hosts NSF Director & Rep. DelBene for “Opportunity Everywhere” Forum

Posted on April 7, 2023April 21, 2023

This week, the 91探花hosted the National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Panchanathan, Representative DelBene, and higher education leaders from across the state for the CHIPS and Science 鈥淥pportunity Everywhere鈥� Forum. The forum brought together researchers, university leaders and students to discuss how Washington will be competing for Chips and Science funds, including plans to bring chip manufacturing to the U.S., train the workforce, and expand Washington鈥檚 leadership in AI and quantum.

To kick off the day, Director Panchanathan met with young 91探花faculty followed by an AI and machine learning roundtable to discuss recent research developments. The group then made their way to tour the Rachel Carson research vessel where they discussed marine science research made possible through NSF and NOAA funding while onboard. Washington Representative DelBene, staff from Senator Cantwell鈥檚 office, as well as leaders from Washington State University, Bellevue College, Central Washington University, Western Washington University and several community and technical colleges joined later in the day for important discussions around the future of CHIPS funding followed by a tour of the UW鈥檚 quantum facilities. Director Panchanathan concluded the day with a discussion about diversity in STEM, moderated by UW鈥檚 Dean of Engineering Nancy Allbritton. The 91探花looks forward to continuing our partnership with the federal government to accelerate transformative scientific research.

91探花Partners with White House OSTP to Host Climate Change Solutions Forum

Posted on March 24, 2023

Representatives from approximately 80听colleges and universities听met in Washington D.C.听on March 8th听and 9th for an exciting two-day forum co-hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the 91探花 to discuss how to leverage the capabilities of colleges and universities to catalyze climate solutions in communities across the country. The attendees represented a cross-section of American higher education from almost all 50 states, including those from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions. 91探花was represented by Maya Tolstoy, Dean of the College of the Environment and Meade Krosby, University of Director of the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (pictured below). 听

The first day of the forum was held at the White House campus where higher education professionals were joined by government officials for three panels to discuss the various ways that higher education and the federal government can partner together to showcase听how campuses can听act as proving grounds for new climate solutions and pathways to net-zero emissions; provide essential climate extension services to states, municipalities, and indigenous communities; and ensure that students have the knowledge and skills to lead in the clean industries of the future.听听The meeting听also听included听remarks from听prominent speakers including the White House Deputy National Climate Advisor Mary Frances Repko;听OSTP Deputy Director for Energy Sally Benson;听National Science Foundation Assistant Director for Geosciences Alexandra Isern; OSTP Chief of Staff for Climate and Environment and Assistant Director for Climate Resilience Laura Petes;听and UW鈥檚 very own Maya Tolstoy,听who delivered final remarks听for the day.听听

The attendees then headed to the听University of the District of Columbia for Day 2 which included a full day of panels and breakout听sessions where attendees discussed strategies听and experiences around four themes: campus sustainability听and听resilience,听providing听climate services to communities, living laboratories for climate solutions, and climate action in the classroom. The forum听ended听with a call for action to continue this momentum and听maintain听a strong听channel of communication between higher education and the federal government to advance climate change solutions.听听听

To learn more, click听听for the White House Read Out of the event and听听to watch the full live stream of Day 1.听

FY24 Appropriations Process Is Underway: President’s Budget Request is Released

Posted on March 23, 2023April 3, 2023

Earlier this month, the (PBR) was released outlining the administration鈥檚 priorities for the coming fiscal year. The overall request is self-described as a blueprint to build on the past two years to “grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out by investing in America, lowering costs for families, protecting and strengthening Medicare and Social Security, and reducing the deficit by nearly $3 trillion over the next decade”.听

The FY24 PBR included: 听听

$8,215 per Pell Grant award (an $820 increase over FY23)听听
$21 billion in discretionary spending for CHIPS & Science-authorized activities including $1.2 billion for the Directorate of Technology Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) 听
$48.26 billion for NIH (an increase of 1.7% over FY23)听听
$2.5 billion for ARPA-H (a $1 billion increase over FY23) 听
$27.2 billion for NASA (a 7.1% increase over FY23), and 听
$11.3 billion for NSF (an 18.6% increase over FY23 enacted level of $9.5 billion) 听

Now the House and Senate will review the request and vote on a Budget Resolution that decides on topline numbers for discretionary funding. Here is where things could get tricky as the new divided Congress will likely have trouble coming to an agreement.听

Check out a more complete list of programs and accounts on our updated appropriations tracker, including the FY24 budget request numbers, . We will continue to add to this once more budget justifications are released and as the appropriations process continues. 听听

91探花& WSU Engineering Deans Visit with Washington Delegation in D.C.

Posted on February 13, 2023February 16, 2023

Last week, the UW’s College of Engineering Dean, Dr. Nancy Allbritton, met with Washington’s congressional members and staff in Washington, D.C. (including with Senator Cantwell pictured above!)听 Dr. Allbritton was accompanied by Washington State University’s Dean of Engineering, Dr. Mary Rezac, for a few of the meetings to discuss how federal investment in research is helping lead Washington state to the forefront of scientific knowledge and discovery in areas from quantum and AI to clean energy and aerospace.

For more information about visiting the district and setting up meetings with congressional offices, please click here.

House Still Making History

Posted on January 4, 2023

The House of Representatives is still making history today, failing to elect a Speaker after a fifth round of voting, which concluded just a few minutes ago.听 The last time the voting for Speaker among the House Members went beyond the first ballot was a hundred years ago.听 The level of opposition to Kevin McCarthy of California among the House Republicans actually grew between the first and the fifth votes.

Read more about the developments , , and .