Oversight

Although USDA Agencies that Relocated to Kansas City Have Recovered from Staff Exoduses, Their Diversity Hasn’t

The Agriculture Department’s Economic Research Service and National Institutes of Food and Agriculture shed more than half their workforces following their relocation from Washington to Kansas City.

Oversight

America’s Biggest Museums Fail to Return Native American Human Remains

The remains of more than 100,000 Native Americans are held by prestigious U.S. institutions, despite a 1990 law meant to return them to tribal nations. Here’s how the ancestors were stolen — and how tribes are working to get them back.

Workforce

National Science Foundation Spearheads New Funding to Improve Diversity in AI Workforce

In collaboration with six other federal groups, the NSF will focus on expanding minority-serving university offerings in artificial intelligence and machine learning education.

Oversight

FDA 'Failed' the Public and a Whistleblower By Ignoring Science

The agency has tweaked its tobacco product review process and also pledges to better resolve scientific disputes after whistleblower alleges reprisal.

Tech

Artemis Launch Delay Is the Latest of Many NASA Scrubs and Comes from Hard Lessons on Crew Safety

After its fourth delay, the Artemis 1 launch is now scheduled for Nov. 16, 2022. NASA has a history of missing launch deadlines, but the private sector is slowly making launches more reliable.

Management

I Was a Presidential Science Adviser – Here Are the Many Challenges Arati Prabhakar Faces as She Takes Over President Biden’s Science Policy Office

The director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy plays a critical role in achieving the president’s science goals. Facilitating cooperation among the dozens of research agencies is key.

Tech

Women Are Better at Statistics Than They Think

Female statistics students had higher final exam grades than their male peers, even though they had less confidence in their statistics abilities at the start of the semester.

Management

Medicinal Marijuana Research at Agencies Gets A Boost from Bipartisan Bill

The measure is likely to sail through the Senate and could give federal physicians more latitude in discussing medical cannabis with their patients.

Management

To Prevent Another 'Sharpiegate,' House to Vote on Elevating Protections for Career Scientists at NOAA

An infamous incident under President Trump prompts lawmakers to look to better shield experts at NOAA from political interference.

Management

American Public Health Institutions Need to Rebuild Public Trust, University of Idaho Research Finds

Throughout the pandemic, many have spread false and misleading information about coronavirus vaccines and treatments.

Workforce

EEOC: Women Still Lag Far Behind Men in the Government’s STEM Workforce

A new report from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission digs into women in the government’s STEM workforce, showing gaps in overall participation, leadership and pay.

Tech

White House Sounds Alarm on Threat from Quantum Computers

New directive orders the government to work with industry on security that can stand up to tomorrow’s quantum-powered decryption tools.

Oversight

USDA Had a Plan for Determining the Best Place to Relocate Two Science Agencies. It Didn’t Follow It.

GAO finds the department's approach to relocating its Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture to Kansas City in 2019 had "significant limitations."

Tech

Opinion: Biden’s Plan to ‘End Cancer’ Borrows From an Old, Flawed Playbook

The President’s new health research enterprise is eerily reminiscent of Richard Nixon’s ill-fated war on cancer.

Tech

GovExec Daily: The NSF Director Says Science Is Leading the Way

Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan joins the podcast to discuss the agency's efforts to promote STEM education and to unlock the potential in all American communities.

Management

White House Charts Course for Better Protections of Civil Servant Scientists

New report calls for improved policies prohibiting interference and clearer punishments for those who meddle in scientific work.

Tech

There’s No Cheap Way to Deal With the Climate Crisis

Warming will bring enormous economic costs. Cutting emissions now will save money later.