Politics calls neuroscientists

linkurl:Get involved in politics;http://www.the-scientist.com/2008/9/1/73/1/ to ensure that the new Obama administration makes research a high priority, policy makers urged researchers yesterday at the linkurl:annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.;http://www.sfn.org/am2008/ Former NIH director linkurl:Harold Varmus,;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/55173/ Wendell Primus , senior advisor to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and former Congressman and lobbyist linkurl:John Porter;http://www.the-scientist.com/2008/9/1/34/1/ predicted the major funding hurdles facing the science research community in the coming months. Of course the economy is likely to top the bill, said Primus, with employment insurance and the federal food stamp program getting first priority to new funding. He added that despite the linkurl:$1 billion NIH boost proposed in the $100 billion dollar stimulus package;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/55202/ currently being debated by Congress, any further funding for biomedical research will be unlikely to pass. Who Obama appoints as the new science advisor, and whether that position will be a legitimate cabinet placement, within close proximity to the president's office (President George W. Bush moved the current office out of the administration building) will be important things to look for in the first months of the new administration, said Porter. And be sure to listen to Obama's first State of the Union Address, he added, since this will set the tone for his administration's views on science. Porter passionately beseeched the researchers in the room to reach out to local state representatives and senators, volunteer to advise them on scientific issues, and convince them of the importance of science to the community and health of the economy. Porter told scientists to ask their representatives to secure $25 billion in funding for science research to make up for six years of flat funding. He acknowledged that talking to the community may not be in the nature of some researchers but told the room to "get out of your comfort zone, that's when things get done."

Politics calls neuroscientists

The Scientist ARCHIVES

Become a Member of

Meet the Author

Andrea Gawrylewski

Related Research Resources

Why Do Some People Get Drunk Faster Than Others?

Research Resources

Podcasts

Webinars

Videos

Infographics

eBooks

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

New Approaches for Decoding Cancer at the Single-Cell Level

Organoids as a Tool for Tissue Regeneration Research

Products

Product News

Understanding the Nuts and Bolts of qPCR Assay Controls

Takara Bio USA Holdings, Inc. announces the acquisition of Curio Bioscience, adding spatial biology to its broad portfolio of single-cell omics solutions

Sapio Sciences Announces Enhanced Capabilities for Chemistry, Immunogenicity, GMP and Molecular Biology

Biotium Unveils the Most Sensitive Stains for DNA or RNA with New EMBER™ Ultra Agarose Gel Kits