Posted inResearch & Developments

NSF Plans to Abolish Divisions

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) plans to abolish dozens of divisions across all eight of its directorates and reduce the number of programs within those divisions, according to Science.

A spokesperson for NSF told Science that the reason behind the decision was to “reduce the number of SES [senior executive service] positions in the agency and create new non-executive positions to better align with the needs of the agency.”

Posted inResearch & Developments

Trump Administration Moves to Weaken PFAS Rules

President Donald Trump’s EPA is considering a rule that would weaken regulations limiting chemicals harmful to human health in consumer goods, The Guardian reports.

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a group of chemicals added to consumer products, oftentimes for their water- and stain-resistant properties. Exposure to PFAS is known to raise the risk of certain cancers, kidney and liver disease, and complications surrounding reproductive health. The chemicals are omnipresent in everyday life and contaminate drinking water across the United States.