Short Takes

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking feedback regarding 132 candidates who have applied to serve on its Science Advisory Board. Public feedback must be received by 28 September. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt makes the final decisions about the appointments. The U.S. Senate voted to reauthorize the National Sea Grant College Program on 14 September 2017. S. 129 passed by voice vote. President Trump had proposed to cut the program's budget in half in fiscal year 2018, but the Senate bill would thwart that plan. Sea Grant provides extension, education, and research resources to coastal states. With the rapid expansion of the urban landscape, successfully managing ecosystems in built areas has never been more important. However, our understanding of urban ecology is far from complete, and the data at hand are often patchy, leaving stakeholders without the tools they need to successfully manage human-affected ecosystems. Recent BioScience author Chris Lepczyk, a biologist working at Auburn University, was interviewed for the newest episode of BioScience Talks to discuss the future of urban biodiversity, highlighting trends and raising questions whose answers will be crucial for successful "green" management and healthy urban ecosystems. Listen at http://bioscienceaibs.libsyn.com/the-benefits-and-pitfalls-of-urban-green-spaces. The Ecological Society of America will host a webinar on 21 September 2017 about the National Science Foundation MacroSystems Biol...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news