The Senate's medical research priorities are spelled out in a report accompanying the Senate Appropriations Committee's proposed increase of $605.6 million for the National Institutes of Health for fiscal 2015. Together with a $1 billion added for NIH in 2014, the $30.4 billion for NIH would make up for the 2013 sequester cuts. The appropriators would add $60 million for brain research, bringing the total to $100 million.

IMAGE IMPROVEMENT: Noting that the benefits of  mammography are less clear of late, the committee wants the National Cancer Institute "to continue validating new imaging technologies." Members also see "an urgent need"  for global health technologies. In providing $20 million more than last year for the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, appropriators want to see "initiatives targeted at neglected diseases and global health conditions, with specific focus on global health technologies and devices."

DOING SOMETHING RIGHT? Either that, or the report writers ran out of time. Appropriators had nothing to say -- no directives, no complaints -- about the National Institute of Bioimaging and Bioengineering -- except to recommend that NIBIB get about $7 million more than last year. However, the institute will presumably be expected to contribute to more reliable breast imaging.

BETTER USE OF LABS, DOLLARS: In their report accompanying the recommended agriculture appropriation, senators say universities "play a major role" in Agricultural Research Service priorities and objectives. ARS, they say, "must ensure limited research dollars are maximized and administrative costs are reduced to the fullest extent possible . . . " They also want ARS "to work cooperatively with universities to better utilize available state-of-the-art laboratory space," and find ways to better use federal labs. Citing ongoing groundwater problems in the lower Mississippi basin, the panel says ARS should "continue research on conservation practices and the incorporation of technology in farm management." And members want to see a pilot program under the Agricultural Technology Innovation Partnerships "to provide regional collaborations, technology transfer and commercialization, and innovative venture development training."

a level surface: In funding transportation, the appropriators allot $72.5 million, the amount called for in the 2012 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP 21) Act, to University Transportation Centers. (In June, that program awarded $5 million each to the University of Virginia and the University of Washington.) The committee also urges the Transportation Department " to place an increased focus" on making Small Business Innovation Research awards "to firms with fewer than 50 people."

NATIONAL ACADEMIES

TROUBLE TO COME? The gathering lines being built for shale gas are bigger and use higher pressure than older gas lines. This "has raised safety concerns among federal officials," according to the Congressional Research Service.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: The University of Maryland's engineering school will manage a test site to study "how drones may coexist with jets, helicopters, and other air traffic in U.S. airspace," the Baltimore Sun reports.

PREPARING FOR REVIEW VISITS: ABET has posted presentations from its summer Institutional Representative Days, designed to prepare deans, department heads, and faculty for upcoming review visits.

TAKING THE LEAD: The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is hosting a workshop entitled Academic Leadership for Women in Engineering at the WE14+ICWES16 Annual Conference in Los Angeles on Oct. 24 and 25. There will be a specific focus on best practices central to leadership in academia. Click here to learn more and apply to attend the workshop. Please complete the participant application by August 25. Funded through support from the Henry Luce Foundation, the workshop is free to all who are accepted. Contact learning@swe.org with any questions.

ON-LINE STEM SUSTAINABILITY LIBRARY: This on-line library of over 1700 juried articles and 300 videos was developed at James Madison University with NSF funding. The site provides resources for those researching or teaching sustainability across contexts.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE - STORIFY VERSION: ASEE's Engineering Libraries Division has put together a lively collection of photos and tweets that captures the collaboration and  camaraderie of the Indy conference. Check it out here.

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) invites engineering deans and chairs to the Third Annual Deans’ Forum on Hispanic Higher Education: Advancing Graduate School Opportunities and Success for Hispanic Students, following HACU’s 28th Annual Conference, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The forum will address issues facing Hispanic students in graduate education and highlight promising practices to enhance access and success. For more information, see http://www.hacu.net/hacu/Deans_Forum.asp.

‘PROFILES’ IS OUT: ASEE's eagerly awaited 540-page Profiles of Engineering and Engineering Technology Colleges has been published. Call ASEE (202-331-3500) to order a copy.

ASEE DIVERSITY COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER: The spring edition of the semi-annual newsletter is now available. ASEE Past President J.P. Mohsen discusses a proposed Year of Dialogue on Diversity and details on safe zone ally training at the annual conference are posted, among other items.

VIDEOS OF THE PPC: View sessions from February's Public Policy Colloquium of the Engineering Deans Council dealing with advanced manufacturing, federal R&D, and K-12 engineering.

on ASEE's Retention Project by clicking here for updates.