News & Updates

Science is s world-wide community. What affects one area of the world, affects all. Below is a short list of resources offering support for Ukrainian scientists and how you can lend your support.

May 16–19, 2022

Dr. Prakash Nagarkatti, Chair of the EPSCoR/IDeA Foundation Board, with his wife Dr. Mitzi Nagarkatti, Chair of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, recently had an article entitiled, “What is the new COVID-19 variant BA.2, and will it cause another wave of infections in the US?” published in The Conversation on March 24.

The DOE has announced the winners of the American-Made Solar Forecasting Prize. The five winning teams, who will each receive $50,000, had the best-performing forecasting models and strongest plans to accelerate the adoption of probabilistic forecasts. The two runners-up will receive $25,000 each.

(March 28, 2022) The Biden-Harris administration has submitted to Congress the President's budget request for Fiscal Year 2023. The President’s budget, which includes $10.5 billion for the U.S. National Science Foundation, details his vision to expand on the historic progress the country has made over the last year and deliver the agenda he laid out in his State of the Union address – to build a better America, reduce the deficit, reduce costs for families, and grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out.

NSF Director Panchanathan announced a new NSF directorate during his SXSW 2022 session, “Reinvigorating Science and Technology for the Future of US Innovation.”

The new Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, or TIP, is a critical first step in accelerating the development of new technologies and products that improve Americans' way of life, grow the economy and create new jobs, and strengthen and sustain US competitiveness for decades to come.

NSF is repositioning much of its existing innovation and translation portfolio into the directorate and will be creating new programs to support breakthrough technologies, address societal and economic challenges, accelerate research results to market and society, and prepare future STEM leaders.

(ASCB, March 16, 2022) — The budget was supposed to be completed by last October 1, when the 2022 fiscal year officially began. But when it comes to excuses for not completing work, Congress is as expert at making excuses as it is at actually crafting a trillion-plus federal budget.

Dr. Prakash Nagarkatti, Chair of the EPSCoR/IDeA Foundation Board, has received the 2022 SOT Distinguished Toxicology Scholar Award for his role in advancing the field of immunotoxicology and his outstanding efforts in mentoring early career researchers.

Dr. Nagarkatti will deliver the 2022 SOT Distinguished Toxicology Scholar Award Lecture during the SOT 61st Annual Meeting and ToxExpo on March 29 in San Diego.

The NASA EPSCoR Caucus Spring Meeting took place on March 2 in Arlington, VA. Attendees heard NASA EPSCoR program updates from Jeppie Compton, NASA EPSCoR National Project Manager, and Mitch Krell, the Deputy NASA EPSCoR Project Manager, as well as a presentation on the development of an MSI Senior Advisory Council from Constance Meadors, a faculty member from the University of Arkansas currently on an IPA with the NASA Office of STEM Engagement. EIF Executive Director Jessica Molesworth participated in a panel discussion on issues, best practices, and strategies for enhancing aerospace industrial and economic development in the NASA EPSCoR jurisdictions alongside the Hawaii NASA EPSCoR Director Luke Flynn and Susie Schowen, the Director of Workforce Initiatives for Louisiana Economic Development (LED).

In March, we're celebrating all of the incredible women who have influenced STEMM in our newsletters. The women highlighted in our newsletters so far include: