The Penn State community is invited to attend a conversation hosted by Penn State Senior Vice President for Research Andrew Read at 1:45 p.m. on May 28 at the University Park campus and live online. The conversation will provide an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to engage in dialogue with Read about the status of recent executive actions and federal agency communications that affect Penn State’s research enterprise, and how the university is monitoring and responding to those actions. Assistant Vice President for Federal Relations Amanda Wintersteen will join Read in the discussion.
The conversation follows a previous event that was hosted by Read on Feb. 28, which focused specifically on the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH’s) proposed 15% cap on indirect cost reimbursements for federally funded research. Since then, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Energy (DOE) have proposed similar caps.
“As one of America’s leading research universities, Penn State depends on funding from the federal government to conduct research that benefits the nation and world,” said Read. “The precariousness of this funding is deeply concerning, and I know many members of the Penn State community share this concern. I hope the event on May 28 provides an opportunity for us to come together in solidarity of our shared values of conducting high-quality research and educating our students.”
Read noted that while he may not have answers to all the community’s questions, he looks forward to sharing more about the University’s efforts. For example, Penn State recently submitted a declaration in support of a lawsuit filed by the Association of American Universities, the American Council on Education, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, along with 13 research universities, to seek to halt the NSF's proposed 15% indirect cost rate.
“This declaration serves as an additional way that Penn State is contributing to the national discussion around funding agency policy changes and advocating for the continuing need to conduct critical research at the previously negotiated rates,” he said.
During the May 28 event, Read and Wintersteen will answer questions that have been submitted in advance (please submit questions here), and attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions live during the event, as time allows.
For background, Read’s previous announcement about the proposed NIH cuts is online, while a brief video explaining facilities and administrative costs is available here. Regular updates appear on the website of the Penn State Office of the Senior Vice President for Research. In addition, the Office of Strategic Communications and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research have launched a campaign, titled “Research or Regress” to convey the impacts of research on the health and well-being of Pennsylvanians and beyond. Story ideas for inclusion in the campaign are welcome and can be submitted here.
Penn State faculty, staff and students can attend in-person at 100 Life Sciences Building, or online via Microsoft Teams (click to join meeting).
- Registration is not required. Penn Staters can join via Microsoft Teams meeting.
- If you do not have Microsoft Teams, please select “Watch on the web” to be able to access the meeting.