Association of American Universities President Barbara R. Snyder said on Apr. 26 that she is deeply troubled by reports that President Trump has dismissed all members of the National Science Board.
The issue is significant because the National Science Foundation has been without a director for more than a year, and the board plays an important role in guiding the foundation’s work. Snyder said, “I am deeply troubled by the administration’s reported decision to dismiss all members of the National Science Board, particularly given the fact that the National Science Foundation has been without a director for more than a year. The NSB — composed of many of the nation’s leading scientists and engineers from academia and industry — plays a critical role in setting NSF’s strategic direction, approving major research priorities and providing independent advice to the president and Congress on the health of the United States’ research and innovation enterprise.”
Snyder also warned about possible consequences if both leadership positions remain vacant: “Without a board or a confirmed director, the foundation is rudderless at the very time when clear direction and strategic oversight for the NSF are essential to maintaining America’s global scientific leadership. At a time when China is investing heavily in science and has matched or surpassed the United States in several key fields, dismantling the NSB’s independent voice sends exactly the wrong signal. It risks undermining the research, workforce development, and scientific leadership essential to U.S. competitiveness, national security, and economic growth.”
The Association of American Universities was founded in 1900 and consists of leading research universities across America. According to AAU, its member institutions receive most federal funding awarded through competitive processes for research that aims to improve public health, address national challenges, strengthen economic performance, as well as educate future leaders.
AAU states that its member universities help shape higher education policy while promoting best practices in undergraduate and graduate education.