Kenny Evans

With federal research funding uncertain, states debate new science initiatives A handful of states are considering initiatives to increase funding for scientific research as uncertainty around federal dollars has grown.

amid uncertainty from the fed govt, states are toying around with the idea of implementing their own funding initiatives

the moves feel necessary to researchers in those states, but some policy experts cautioned it could feed rhetoric about not needing federal $

www.statnews.com/2026/02/20/s...

US grant applicants surge at prestigious European research agency Rush for funds to relocate laboratories to Europe is latest hint of a US brain drain.

Rush for funds to relocate laboratories to Europe is the latest hint of a US brain drain.

go.nature.com/45S5Mvz

A Texas-Sized, Texas-Shaped Approach to Biomedical Research Texas voters have approved billions to study cancer and dementia, embracing the idea that biomedical research is a force for public good.

“Learning that Texas champions a progressive funding regime for biomedical research may come as a surprise,” @kennethmevans.bsky.social, Kirsten Matthews, & Heidi Russell write. But the state’s bipartisan funding model can help other state-led social contracts for science. issues.org/texas-resear...

A Texas-Sized, Texas-Shaped Approach to Biomedical Research Texas voters have approved billions to study cancer and dementia, embracing the idea that biomedical research is a force for public good.

I'm very excited to share our new article "A Texas-Sized, Texas-Shaped Approach to Biomedical Research" in @issuesinst.bsky.social issues.org/texas-resear... @stpolicy.bsky.social @bakerinstitute.bsky.social

The “Terrible Engine of Destruction” That Inspired Federal Science Funding What can we learn about the relationship between science and the American public from the story of plagues of locusts in the 1870s?

Terrific article that offers a different and much needed perspective on the development of the US social contract for science, and also previews our upcoming article on Texas state biomedical research policy in @issuesinst.bsky.social issues.org/locusts-fede...

Trump’s second term is reshaping US science with unprecedented cuts and destabilizing policy changes The Trump administration is rewriting the 80-year-old American social contract for science research.

Trump is far from the first president to be deeply skeptical of the academic research community. But his actions this year went far beyond the precedent. buff.ly/C7WkXkq

Disruption to science will last longer than the US government shutdown The consequences of the shutdown extend far beyond a lapse in funding.

The consequences of the shutdown extend far beyond a lapse in funding.

All government shutdowns disrupt science − in 2025, the consequences extend far beyond a lapse in funding The Trump administration is not just reforming the US research system – it is trying to remake it.

All government shutdowns disrupt science − in 2025, the consequences extend far beyond a lapse in funding buff.ly/0mrVXNf

Adding Your Photos to the Story of Science is Now Easier Than Ever

AIP’s 30k+ image collection began with scientists’ personal snapshots 📸. That tradition lives on—now with a one-page digital upload tool built for how we shoot & share digital photos today. Help build this shared collection by submitting a photo for consideration -> www.aip.org/library/ex-l...

Trump Proposed Slashing the National Science Foundation’s Budget. A Key Senate Committee Just Refused. Legislation approved on Thursday by the Senate Committee on Appropriations would preserve nearly all of the NSF’s funding.

ICYMI: I covered the Senate approps committee's vote to preserve the NSF's funding. While far from a done deal, research advocates celebrated the news.

“For now, dodging an existential cut is a big win in light of everything that’s going on.” - @kennethmevans.bsky.social

#AcademicSky #HigherEd

US senators poised to reject Trump’s proposed massive science cuts Committee gives first hint that policymakers might preserve, rather than slash, funding for US National Science Foundation and other agencies.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations gave the first signs Congress will push back on Trump's proposed budget cuts to science and instead keep funding flat, though an unrelated issue (the location of the FBI headquarters) stalled any vote today.

@alexwitze.bsky.social and I report:

Trump proposes unprecedented budget cuts to US science Huge reductions, if enacted, could have ‘catastrophic’ effects on US competitiveness and the scientific pipeline, critics say.

Not much room for science in 'skinny' budget.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

NSF slashes prestigious PhD fellowship awards by half US National Science Foundation announces lowest number of Graduate Research Fellowship Programme recipients in 15 years.

The NSF's flagship fellowship program typically gives offers to 2,000+ young scientists. This year, in the face of looming budget cuts, that number was halved: only 1,000 received an offer. Our story on what that means for the science talent pipeline: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

The White House Frames the Past by Erasing Parts of It (Gift Article) As the Trump administration pulls government websites and data offline, it is selectively stripping away the public record, letting the president declare his own version of history, archivists and his...

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/t...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: The Right to Know: Protecting and Expanding Access to Public Records. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. In a democratic society where access to government information is vital for informed civic engagement, barriers to transparency remain a persistent challenge. This panel, featuring Dr. David Cuillier ...

I am very excited to participate in the panel discussion "The Right to Know: Protecting and Expanding Access to Public Records," hosted by the @americanlibrary.bsky.social next Wed 3/19 at 11am CST. Learn more and register here!!
ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Trump team orders huge government layoffs: how science could fare Nature talks with scientists inside US agencies about what the latest directive could mean for their staff members and budgets.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Science and the American Presidency | Baker Institute Science and technology play a critical role in addressing the complex challenges facing our world, from climate change and public health to national security and economic competitiveness. In this cont...

Please join us at the @bakerinstitute.bsky.social on March 5 for "Science and the American Presidency," a panel discussion with three former presidential science advisors. Register here! www.bakerinstitute.org/event/scienc...

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy provides in-house science advice for the president Headed by the president’s science adviser, OSTP serves as a one-stop shop for everything science and innovation inside the White House.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy coordinates the government’s massive R&D system. As Trump selects Michael Kratsios as science adviser, an expert in the U.S. science advisory system examines its role shaping science policy: https://buff.ly/4jifOLn Kenneth Evans, Rice University 🧪

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy provides in-house science advice for the president Headed by the president’s science adviser, OSTP serves as a one-stop shop for everything science and innovation inside the White House.

theconversation.com/white-house-...

Trump’s science advisers: how they could influence his second presidency The president-elect quickly nominated confidantes with a focus on AI, but their recommendations for the rest of science remain unclear.

Lots of uncertainty, but a few clear takeaways:
-policy experts are placing their hopes for sustained R&D funding on Kratsios
-even something like AI regulation is potentially a front of the culture war
-unofficial science advice (e.g. Musk) may matter quite a bit
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Trump’s science advisers: how they could influence his second presidency The president-elect quickly nominated confidantes with a focus on AI, but their recommendations for the rest of science remain unclear.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Thank you!! Y'alls collection has been so valuable to our work. Looking forward to reading this one

Celia Merzbacher Thomas: This is Will Thomas with the American Institute of Physics. The date is September 11th, 2024. I’m at the Quantum World Congress in Tysons, Virginia, and I’m speaking with Celia Merzbacher. Did...

Of potential interest to you: we recently posted an interview with Celia Merzbacher, in which she discusses her OSTP role standing up NNI and as executive director of PCAST: www.aip.org/history-prog...

For anyone curious about the Kratsios and Sacks appointments last week, we give some historical context and analysis on the role of outside experts. Lots of data from our archive whitehousescientists.rice.edu

Frontiers | Public advocates, private advisors: the autonomy, function, and influence of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

We've got a new paper out this week on White House science advisors! Open access here: doi.org/10.3389/frma...