This week: $8 billion for hydrogen innovation, patient safety and social sciences leadership
In depth: US faculty’s purchasing power has taken a severe hit in the past year, according to the latest annual wage survey from the American Association of University Professors.
Full story: Survey finds biggest drop in US researchers’ real wages
Also this week from Research Professional News
Nasa pulled up over spiralling costs of major projects—Cost overruns and delays reach worst levels in more than a decade of analysis
G7 agrees on ‘need to foster R&D preparedness’ for pandemics—Economic powers to “step up, align and track” preparedness efforts
Wishful thinking—Budget battle commences again in Congress
Here is the rest of the US news this week…
DOE pushes ahead with $8bn clean-hydrogen project
The Department of Energy has announced its intention to open applications for an $8 billion Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub programme in September or October. Funding for the H2Hubs will be dependent on Democrats and Republicans reaching agreement on the Bipartisan Innovation Act, which is being negotiated by bicameral conference. The hubs are intended to play a role in developing standards for clean hydrogen, as well as demonstrate its production, storage and end use, with a view to creating a national clean hydrogen network.
Research institutes push for more input on patient data
The Council on Governmental Relations, an association of research institutions, told the National Institutes of Health it should convene experts to advise researchers on the best techniques and practices for stripping health data of elements that could be used to identify patients. The council also asked the NIH to create and manage data repositories with controlled access to sensitive data, saying the cost of maintaining these resources would “extend well beyond the end of the grant, and no other ready source of funding for such repositories is available”.
NSF lines up experienced head of social sciences
The National Science Foundation has selected Kellina Craig-Henderson to lead its Social, Behavioural, and Economic Sciences Directorate. Craig-Henderson is a former psychology professor and has held several leadership roles at NSF. “For more than 16 years, Kellina Craig-Henderson’s intellect and expertise have helped guide our Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate, providing steady leadership in several important roles,” said NSF director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “I am delighted to have someone with her track record of excellence taking on this role.”