NASEM - Biological Collections Need National Strategy, Increased Investment
According to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), biological collections - living and natural history specimens, biological materials, and data in museums, stock centers, research centers, and universities - are in need of long-term financial sustainability, digitization, recruitment and support of a diverse workforce, and infrastructure upgrades. (Source: AIBS News)
Source: AIBS News - September 28, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
Global Biodiversity Goals Not Being Met, Says UN Report
A new report from the United Nations (UN) concludes that the world has not met any of the targets set 10 years ago by the Convention on Biological Diversity for protecting nature. (Source: AIBS News)
Source: AIBS News - September 28, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
Congress to Pass Stopgap Measure to Avoid Shutdown
With negotiations over COVID-19 pandemic relief stalled, lawmakers are looking to pass a stopgap funding bill to keep the government operational in the new fiscal year which starts on October 1. A stopgap funding measure is required because the House and Senate have not yet agreed on and passed appropriations bills to fund the government in fiscal year 2021. (Source: AIBS News)
Source: AIBS News - September 28, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
American Society of Human Genetics Denounces Unethical Use of False Genetic “Theories”
The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) has issued a statement reinforcing facts about human genetics and expressing strong opposition to efforts that bend genetics knowledge for social or political ends. (Source: AIBS News)
Source: AIBS News - September 28, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
Community Statement Opposing ICE Guidance on Foreign Students
The biological sciences research and education community is deeply concerned by the July 6, 2020, guidance from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that would force international students to leave the country if they do not participate in in-person instruction during the fall 2020 semester. The new ICE guidance should be rescinded immediately.
At a time when the United States has recognized the importance of safeguarding and strengthening our bioeconomy and protecting our intellectual property, one must ask: Why is the Administration implementing policy that will weaken the United States by forcing the...
Source: AIBS News - July 10, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
BioScience Impact Continues to Increase
The 2019 Journal Citation Reports® (Source Clarivate, 2020) have been released and the American Institute of Biological Sciences and Oxford University Press are excited to reveal that the Impact Factor for BioScience has risen to 8.282, up from 6.591 last year. This is the 4th highest Impact Factor among biology journals.
“This is a great reflection of the important scientific research, education, and science policy content published in the journal every month. We thank the dedicated work of our editorial staff, editorial board members, peer-reviewers, production staff, and of course the many scientists from around...
Source: AIBS News - July 10, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
Bias and Forensic Science
As lawmakers across the United States grapple with how to reform law enforcement agencies, they should consider where forensic science laboratories are administratively housed and from where their funding is derived according to many experts. In most jurisdictions, these crime laboratories are housed within law enforcement agencies and derive their funding from police budgets. This structure can create bias toward law enforcement agencies. In an important Feature article, Is Forensic Science Scientific, in the May issue of BioScience, many have argued that crime labs should be independent organizations that are not depende...
Source: AIBS News - June 8, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
AIBS Responding to COVID-19 Crisis
During the COVID-19 crisis, AIBS has continued to support our clients, partners, and members in our collective efforts to promote informed decision-making that advances science for the benefit of society. We continue to work to help the biological sciences community respond the effects of disruptions arising from COVID-19, and to prepare for continued impact and effectiveness as we all prepare for new models of operation.
AIBS is proud to have:
Helped science educators identify and develop resources to enable science instruction to continue in online formats.
Worked with research funding organizations to supp...
Source: AIBS News - June 8, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
COVID-19 Impacts on Biodiversity Science Collections
Survey Results Identify Concerns
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), Biodiversity Collections Network (BCoN), Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSC Alliance), and Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) surveyed individuals affiliated with US biodiversity science collections to better understand the effects of COVID-19 disruptions and closures on biodiversity research and education collections, and the people who use and care for these scientific resources. The survey was conducted in April 2020.
Biodiversity collections hold a tremendous amount of data and suppor...
Source: AIBS News - May 19, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
New Resource for Spotting COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories
The COVID-19 pandemic provides fertile ground for the emergence and spread of new conspiracy theories, often with significant negative implications for public health and well-being. A new resource has been developed by experts in communications and the spread of misinformation to help people spot and respond to conspiracy theories.
"How to Spot COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories," was developed by Stephan Lewandowsky, John Cook, Ullrich Ecker, and Sander van der Linden.
According to the authors: "When people suffer a loss of control or feel threatened, they become more vulnerable to believing conspiracies. For example, t...
Source: AIBS News - May 11, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
Science Community Resources for Online Education
Most of the scientific community are rapidly endeavoring to identify how courses can be taught completely online or how meetings can be reorganized and re-envisioned for a virtual environment. We know that many of our member societies and organizations are or have already developed resources that may be of use to others.
To help, we have started to facilitate information sharing with others in our community and have created a list of resources we have collected.
We will continue to add resources so feel free to send us any you would like to add. Please check back regularly for any new updates.
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Source: AIBS News - April 27, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
AIBS Receives Award for Science Policy Advocacy
The American Institute of Biological Sciences is honored to receive a Special Service Award for advocacy on behalf of scientific collections from the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC). The Award was presented on May 31, 2019, in conjunction with the SPNHC annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois. Sharing the recognition with AIBS is the Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSC Alliance).
"On behalf of everyone affiliated with AIBS, I thank SPNHC for this recognition. Many current and former staff members have worked hard to advance strong public policy that promotes new investments in scie...
Source: AIBS News - June 4, 2019 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
AIBS Member Donates $13,000 to Support Graduate Student Leadership
An American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) member has anonymously donated $13,000 to help endow the AIBS Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award program. The award recognizes graduate students who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential at the intersection of biology and science policy.
Thirsty-one individuals have been recognized with the Award and an additional 23 scientists have received Honorable Mention recognition since the program was launched 16 years ago.
Award winners join a growing network of leaders who will advance the biological sciences for years to come through the promotion of effecti...
Source: AIBS News - February 21, 2019 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
American Institute of Biological Sciences Welcomes New Board Members
Scientists from South Dakota State University, University of Florida, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Denver Museum of Nature and Science Join Board of Directors
Washington, DC: The Board of Directors of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) ratified election results during its 7 December 2018 meeting. Beginning in January 2019, Dr. Charles B. Fenster, a Professor in the Department of Biology and Microbiology at South Dakota State University, will serve as President. Also joining the Board of Directors are Dr. Pamela Soltis, a Distinguished Professor and Curator at the Florida Museum of Natural Histo...
Source: AIBS News - December 22, 2018 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
AIBS eNewsletter, September 2013
Click here to view the September 2013 Newsletter
(Source: AIBS News)
Source: AIBS News - October 5, 2018 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
