Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics wins reprieve in government reorganization bill

Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics wins reprieve in government reorganization bill

Jul 11, 2018 | News

Future of Research recently joined a number of other U.S. and international scientific organizations and professional societies in sending a letter to Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló, urging him to keep the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics (PRIS) autonomous and independent. There has been good news: the component of a government reorganization bill dismantling PRIS was removed in final conference deliberations hours before the midnight deadline of June 30 ending the legislative session. There were frequent references to 47 scientific organizations urging Puerto Rico’s governor not to dismantle statistical agency and we are very glad to have been able to add our support to this cause. Join us on social media to thank the Puerto Rico legislature and especially Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz (@trschatz51) and House Speaker Carlos ‘Johnny’ Méndez Núñez (@JohnnyMndez36) along with the conference committee using the hashtags: #FactsMatterPR & #CuentasClarasPR. You can also read news items about the development from the Royal Statistical Society and the American Statistical Association. We received the following from the coordinators of the effort: “We were pleasantly surprised by the development with each new version of the reorganizational plan remaining fixed on dismantling PRIS and the final House and Senate passed versions earlier in the week both containing the provision. Despite the seemingly slim chance for success, the broad community fighting for PRIS’s independence kept up the pressure through media, social media, and grassroots…The conferenced and approved bill has this language (translated by Google Translate): “However, it is clarified that this Legislature has determined to address issues related to the Institute of Statistics in a subsequent legislation.” Please stay tuned.” Many thanks to all who...
Call for applications to serve on Future of Research’s Board of Directors 2018-20: Applications Close July 10th

Call for applications to serve on Future of Research’s Board of Directors 2018-20: Applications Close July 10th

Jun 18, 2018 | News

*We have extended applications to July 12th*   Future of Research is looking to recruit new members to serve on our Board of Directors from 2018-2020.   Members of the Board serve for two years. We are looking for people interested in taking a lead on small projects, or in working groups, to support the work of the organization and help us in our goal of helping junior researchers organize local meetings; increasing transparency about the academic system; and generally advocating for change for junior researchers.   In particular, this year we are gearing up to focus on: empowerment of early career researchers, through recognition of their scholarly efforts in peer review, and to advocate for more ECRs on the boards of organizations in the research community; incentivizing and rewarding good mentoring, and calling out egregious behavior and sexual harassment in academe; and fundraising efforts to help sustain the work of the organization going forward. Applications from anyone able to commit to work on these projects will be particularly favorably viewed.   The time commitment expected is 1-2 hours per week, usually working over video calls. We would be happy to receive applications from anyone interested in helping us, regardless of field, career stage or location.   Please spread the word! To apply, fill out the form here and send a brief CV to info@futureofresearch.org – feel free to contact us for more information! The applications are open until July 10th....
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report on sexual harassment in academia to be released June 12th

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report on sexual harassment in academia to be released June 12th

Jun 11, 2018 | Ideas for change, News, NIH, NSF, Policy

  From the National Academies site:   “The study scope will include the following:  Review of the research on the extent to which women in the fields of science, engineering, and medicine are victimized by sexual harassment on college and university campuses, in research labs and field sites; at hospitals/medical centers; and in other academic environments; Examination of existing information on the extent to which sexual harassment in academia negatively impacts the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women pursuing scientific, engineering, technical, and medical careers, with comparative evidence drawn from other sectors, such as the military, government, and the private sector. Identification and analysis of policies, strategies and practices that have been the most successful in preventing and addressing sexual harassment in these settings. For purposes of this study, the definition of sexual harassment includes unwanted sexual advances and requests for sexual favors and other unwelcome conduct that is sexual in nature, as well as those situations in which the work or study environment is made intimidating or offensive as a result of actions that are gender-based and that interfere with an individual’s academic or work performance, opportunities for advancement, and morale.   Report Release Event Public Report Release Event June 12, 2018, 11 am – 12:30 pm ET Washington, DC To attend in person or via webcast: Webcast will be made live on this page on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 11:00 AM ET. How can academic institutions improve in the #MeToo era? Join the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on Tuesday June 12, 2018, 11 am – 12:30 pm ET, for the public release of...
Watch live today: Release of National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report on STEM Graduate Education

Watch live today: Release of National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report on STEM Graduate Education

May 29, 2018 | Grad school curriculum, Ideas for change, News, Policy, Webinar

  The National Academies will launch “Graduate STEM Education for the 21st Century” today, which you can view remotely via webcast, at 1.30pm EST. This consensus study re-visits a 20-year old report on the state of science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduate education in the United States. The study is a comprehensive look at the U.S. graduate education system, identifying policies, programs, and practices that could better meet the diverse education and career needs of graduate students in the coming years.   Those present for discussion include: Alan Leshner (chair of the study), Chief Executive Officer Emeritus, AAAS Mary Sue Coleman, President, Association of American Universities (AAU) Kenneth Gibbs, Jr., Program Director, National Institute of General Medical Sciences Suzanne Ortega, President, Council of Graduate Schools Kate Stoll, Senior Policy Advisor, MIT Washington Keith Yamamoto, Vice Chancellor for Science Policy & Strategy, Vice Dean for Research, School of Medicine, Professor of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco   You can view additional details about this project here at the National Academies website and you can view the live webcast here....
Future of Research welcomes Dr. Adriana Bankston as Associate Director of Fundraising and Strategic Initiatives

Future of Research welcomes Dr. Adriana Bankston as Associate Director of Fundraising and Strategic Initiatives

May 14, 2018 | News

We at Future of Research are very excited to announce that as of May 14th, former Board member Dr. Adriana Bankston has joined the FoR staff as Associate Director of Fundraising and Strategic Initiatives. Dr. Bankston will start with us as a part-time hire for 6 months which we hope to sustain as part of her efforts into raising funds.   As we enter the last year of our initial seed grant from Open Philanthropy, we are looking into how we sustain the efforts of Future of Research. It has become clear that this work requires dedicated time and effort, and with the enthusiasm and dedication to the organization that Dr. Bankston brings, we are hopeful that we will be able to more efficiently sustain the efforts of FoR.   Dr. Bankston is a skeletal muscle biologist by training, with the overall goal of improving the biomedical research enterprise. In 2005, she obtained her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Clemson University with a Magna cum laude distinction. She then moved onto Emory University, where she completed her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology in 2013. Her Ph.D. dissertation studies with Dr. Grace Pavlath centered around skeletal muscle growth and repair using primary muscle stem cells and rodent models. Her postdoctoral studies at the University of Louisville were initially focused on membrane trafficking, followed by the regulation of mammalian myogenesis with Dr. Ashok Kumar until September 2016.   During her postdoctoral studies, she developed an interest in training practices and policies affecting junior scientists within U.S. institutions. To this end, she co-founded and co-organized two initiatives to improve professional...
Future of Research joins other scientific organizations urging Puerto Rico’s Governor Not to Dismantle Statistical Agency

Future of Research joins other scientific organizations urging Puerto Rico’s Governor Not to Dismantle Statistical Agency

May 7, 2018 | News, Policy

  *To help us take action, please read and sign this petition urging the Governor of Puerto Rico to keep the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics autonomous and independent.*   The following is adapted from a Press Release by the American Statistical Association:   Today, Future of Research joined 46 other U.S. and international scientific organizations and professional societies in sending a letter to Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló, urging him to keep the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics (PRIS) autonomous and independent. Earlier this year, Puerto Rico’s legislature was considering a proposal that would dismantle PRIS by reorganizing the agency’s statistical functions and placing them under the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DEDC). The plan also requires the DEDC secretary to outsource all statistical functions currently performed by PRIS. Rosselló is expected to present the latest reorganization plan in the coming days, which the legislature must approve by June 30. Currently, PRIS is an independent government agency of the executive branch with many protections established by law – including having an executive director named to 10-year terms and a board of directors composed by experts – to ensure its impartial collection, production and communication of statistical data. Such protections would be eliminated under the government of Puerto Rico’s current reorganization plan. The letter sent today – led by the American Statistical Association and transmitted by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Chief Executive Officer Rush Holt – emphasizes the importance of PRIS continuing to operate independently of political influences, bureaucracy, and conflicts of interest. Experts believe inaccurate and dated statistical systems underlie many of the problems Puerto...