Short Takes

The Society for the Study of Evolution, American Society of Naturalists, and the Society of Systematic Biologists have sent a statement to the Environmental Protection Agency expressing "significant concerns regarding the proposed EPA rule" on the use of scientific data in decision-making. The three organizations, who collectively represent more than 4,600 scientists, warned that the proposed limitations and restrictions on the kind of data that can be used to guide decision-making would "bias the data used by EPA...". President Trump has nominated Mary Neumayr to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which coordinates environmental policy and regulations across agencies. She is currently the Chief of Staff and highest ranking official at the council and has previously served as Deputy Chief Counsel of Energy and Environment, Senior Energy Counsel, and Counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee. She has also worked at the Department of Justice and Department of Energy in advisory roles. The Department of State has announced its five "science envoys" for 2018-19. Started in 2010, the program names prominent scientists and engineers as science envoys for a year to "leverage their expertise and networks to forge connections and identify opportunities for sustained international cooperation." The five science envoys appointed this year are Michael Osterholm, Director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Poli...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news