Policy Concentrates POLICY
▸ Scientists call for Trump to choose adviser Thousands of scientists in late February urged President Donald J. Trump to prioritize selecting a science adviser to guide the Administration’s science strategy. Led by the American Geophysical Union (AGU), a professional society for earth and space sciences, 10,000 scientists signed a letter calling on President Trump to appoint a science adviser as soon as possible. Science “plays an integral part in our nation’s security, economic growth, public health, and infrastructure,” AGU wrote in the letter. “Appointing a Science Advisor quickly will enable the Administration to maximize investments in science and develop a strategic plan that secures America’s leadership in science.” Nature in January reported Trump met with Yale University computer scientist David Gelernter and with Princeton University physicist William Happer. Both are considered front-runners for the advisory role.—JESSICA MORRISON
GRADUATE EDUCATION
CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK
▸ Preparation for nonacademic careers can improve, report says Universities have a long way to go in preparing students for nonacademic jobs, according to a two-year study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics graduate education from the Council of Graduate Schools. The NSF-funded study included surveys of 226 institutions, interviews with hiring managers, and a workshop to explore solutions. The study found that although many schools have formal programs to prepare students for academic or teaching positions, fewer than half have programs to prepare students for nonacademic careers. Even those with these programs often don’t give students the right skills, the report says. Many focus on universal skills, such as communication, mentorship, and leadership. However, only one out of 10 programs addressed skills that nonacademic employers say students need, such as data science, project management, or experience with risk and compliance. The study recommends that graduate schools, departments, employers, and other
Some men’s hair dyes sold in the U.S. contain high levels of neurotoxic lead.
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
Groups call for ban on lead in hair dyes A coalition of public health advocates is urging FDA to ban the use of lead acetate in hair dyes sold in the U.S. The group filed a petition on Feb. 27 requesting FDA to reverse a decision made in 1980 that allows up to 6,000 ppm lead in such dyes. Lead acetate, which is neurotoxic and carcinogenic, is banned in hair dyes sold in Canada and the European Union. FDA, however, allows its use as long as the product includes a warning label and is used only on the scalp and not facial hair. Lead acetate is found in a few men’s hair dyes sold in the U.S., but it is typically not in hair dyes intended for women. The chemical darkens gray hair when used for several days. “It is unacceptable that as we struggle to remove lead contamination in our water supplies and old homes, we still allow lead in homeuse hair dyes that many people apply by hand on a daily basis,” says Eve Gartner, litigator in the Healthy Communities Program at Earthjustice, one of the groups that filed the petition.—BRITT ERICKSON
interested parties work together to make sure their goals are aligned. It also suggests universities gather more information about effective programs—it created an online database of programs to help—and evaluate the effectiveness of their programs to make sure they work.—ANDREA WIDENER
TRADE
▸ White House may ignore some WTO decisions The Trump Administration’s new “America first” trade policy means the U.S. will not necessarily comply with rulings made by the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to a report the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative sent to Congress. Challenging the authority of the WTO,
which regulates trade and resolves disputes among its members, signals a sharp break from past U.S. policy. “Ever since the United States won its independence, it has been a basic principle of our country that American citizens are subject only to laws and regulations made by the U.S. government—not rulings made by foreign governments or international bodies,” the document says. “The Trump Administration will aggressively defend American sovereignty over matters of trade policy.” The report says the Administration will work to eliminate trade barriers that unfairly block U.S. exports while strictly enforcing domestic trade laws to prevent its markets from being “distorted by dumped and/or subsidized imports that harm domestic industries and workers.” The White House will also update existing trade agreements as needed to “reflect changing times and market conditions.” Trade policy is important to the U.S. chemical industry because it is one of the largest exporting sectors.—GLENN HESS, special to C&EN MARCH 6, 2017 | CEN.ACS.ORG | C&EN
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