Communicating
The 2024 edition of our post-election briefing, held at the American Association for the Advancement of Science headquarters in Washington, D.C. featured an engaging panel deftly moderated by Laura Barrón-López, White House Correspondent for The PBS News Hour. Americans clearly voted for change in the recent election; what does that mean for researchers and research advocates? One takeaway from the panel discussion (which you can watch here) was the importance of developing – or deepening – relationships with members of Congress, including new members, communicating the benefits of research to communities across the nation.
Speaking of Communicating: According to a report released today by the Pew Research Center, 76% of Americans surveyed say they have confidence in scientists to act in the best interests of the public, a finding consistent with a similar survey Research!America commissioned earlier this year and up slightly from last year. That said, trust in scientists still lags behind pre-pandemic levels. The Pew report found that 89% surveyed say scientists are intelligent, but only 45% of respondents say scientists are “good communicators,” a drop from a previous year. These findings reinforce the importance of assuring that more scientists, including those in training, must become familiar with the public context of science, and become more proficient in communicating beyond academia. Improved communication requires more listening, and more humility.
On The Hill: Next Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 10 AM ET, NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli, MD, will testify before the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee. You can watch the testimony live HERE. No registration is required.
About NIH: Our own Ellie Dehoney, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy, spoke to NPR about the possibility raised by Project 2025 of Congress block-granting NIH dollars to states. Her quote was spot on: “Why would you want to dismantle an institution that is the leading research institute in the world? It would be like saying, ‘Let’s undo our national defense and block grant it.’ There’s no reason to take a successful institution and dismantle it.” Listen to the full segment here.
More On The Hill: The fate of the FY25 appropriations bills remains unclear. Research!America is continuing to advocate for Congress to complete the funding process by the current Dec. 20 deadline and include boosted funding for NIH and our nation’s other science and technology agencies. Remember, the stakes are particularly high for NIH: another continuing resolution means flat-funding, while finalized funding would mean a likely increase of as much as ~ $2 billion. Use this editable action alert to urge Congress to pass the FY25 budget by Dec. 20. Would you rather make a good old-fashioned phone call? Those can still be particularly impactful. Locate your House Rep’s phone number here and Senators’ numbers here.
You Are Why Our Alliance Has Impact: Our nation’s R&D and public health ecosystem faces daunting funding challenges in the next administration and Congress. The Research!America alliance is a leading force in the advocacy arena, and regardless of the challenges ahead, if we work together, across sectors, we can achieve the funding and policy environment needed for accelerated scientific, medical, and public health progress. As you plan your year-end giving, please consider a gift to Research!America to help us do even more to ensure medical and scientific progress. Arguably, the future of the mission we all share has never been at greater risk, which is why your support – at any amount – will make a world of difference.
Mark Your Calendars: A reception hosted by the Science and Technology Action Committee and the National Science Board will feature leaders of the VAST initiative and other science and technology leaders on Wednesday, Dec. 4, in SD-B48 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET. Register here.
ARPA-H’s PATIO: If your organization is a member of the Research!America alliance, join us on Monday, Nov. 18, at noon ET, for the next session in our alliance member-only ARPA-H series, featuring Melissa Antman, Deputy Director of ARPA-H’s Project Accelerator Transition Innovation Office (PATIO). PATIO helps innovators at ARPA-H move their ideas from early-stage breakthroughs to real-world products, guiding them through regulatory approvals, market needs, and customer understanding. Email Jacqueline Lagoy for the registration link to this event.
Did you know… that more than 35 million people in the U.S. live with a chronic lung disease? Despite the prevalence of lung (also known as pulmonary) diseases, there are daunting, unmet challenges in both research and treatment of these ailments. Join Research!America on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m. ET, for a discussion about the burden of pulmonary diseases and efforts to meet the challenges they pose to individuals and public health.