In this issue: Congress Passes NSF, Department of Energy Office of Science Reauthorization Bill The bill increases authorized funding for the National Science Foundation to $18.9 billion over the next five years. Senate Releases FY 2023 Spending Bills Bill includes an over 10% increase for discretionary, non-defense spending. Congress Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)…

You’re probably excited to be seeing colleagues for the first time in a long time at our first in-person meeting in three years—we certainly are. But you might also be nervous about being around so many people at the same time in enclosed spaces, especially now that there are recent upticks in COVID-19 cases (including BA.5). We take the health…

In this issue: Congress House is expected to pass all fiscal year 2023 spending bills before the August recess. Executive Branch Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management seeking comments on the definition of old growth forests. Courts Court strikes down Trump administration Endangered Species Act regulations. States Virginia Governor appoints former EPA Administrator to regulatory office. International IPBES releases…

Elise Gornish is a life member of ESA and a founder of the Ecological Restoration Section. She was elected an Early Career Fellow of the Society in 2019. In June, she published her first children’s book, what she believes is the first children’s book on ecological restoration. A Kids’ Guide to Ecological Restoration is available via Amazon. ESA: What was…

In this issue: ESA Decries the Supreme Court’s West Virginia v EPA Decision The Supreme Court decision severely hinders the efforts of the United States to reduce emissions. ESA, Scientific Societies Submit Amici Curiae Brief in Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court Case Supreme Court will hear Clean Water Act case in October 2023. House Appropriations Bills Include Increases for Ecological…

The Ecological Society of America, representing 8,000 research ecologists and environmental scientists, is greatly concerned about the recent United States Supreme Court decision in West Virginia v. EPA. At stake was the ability to reduce carbon emissions under the auspices of the Clean Air Act that gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) power to regulate “the best system of reducing…

In this issue: Apply for a Badge to Attend COP27 as an Observer via ESA ESA is accepting expressions of interest from members to receive an ESA “observer status” badge to attend COP27 in Egypt. Congress House passes Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Executive Branch President Joe Biden is set to name new Office of Science and Technology Policy Director. States…

In this issue: Apply for a Badge to Attend COP27 as an Observer via ESA ESA is accepting expressions of interest from members to receive an ESA “observer status” badge to attend COP27 in Egypt. U.S. Global Change Research Program Seeks Comments about Decadal Strategic Plan, Review Editors for National Climate Assessment Nominations for review editors must be submitted by…

In spring 2022, the ESA SEEDS program took a regional field trip to the NEON field sites in Puerto Rico. It was the first SEEDS in-person event since September 2019, when SEEDS hosted a Leadership Meeting at the Virginia Coastal Reserve.

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), in collaboration with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, is requesting comment from the public on its draft Decadal Strategic Plan.  USGCRP is a federal program mandated by Congress to coordinate federal research and investments in understanding the forces shaping the global environment, both human and natural, and their impacts…

In this issue: NSF Biological Sciences Advisory Committee Meets Recordings of the meeting and key takeaways are now available.  Apply for a Badge to Attend COP27 as an Observer via ESA ESA is accepting expressions of interest from members to receive an ESA “observer status” badge to attend COP27 in Egypt. Congress Senate confirms Asmeret Asefaw Berhe as the director…

NSF’s Biological Sciences Directorate (BIO) Advisory Committee met May 11-12. The recording of the meeting is available on YouTube (Day 1 and Day 2) and the meeting agenda is online here. The committee, composed of biological and ecological scientists from across the research enterprise, typically meets twice a year. Highlights of the meeting include: Three of the meeting’s panels focused…