An Oakland University professor spent a day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and talked with politicians to support federal allocations for science last Tuesday and Wednesday.

Professor Rasul Chaudhry, of Oakland University’s department of biological sciences, is one of handful of scientists selected from the United States by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for this event on March 24-25.

This was a unique opportunity to plead for increasing the budget for federal agencies, specifically the National Science Foundation, which sponsors the majority of basic science, math, and engineering research, he said.

“Science funding has suffered greatly during the past several years and US has been losing its edge while many other countries are gaining lead with increase in funding for science and R&D,” Chaudhry said.

The event was arranged by the ASBMB in collaboration with other professional societies including the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and the American Mathematical Society.

Chaudhry has benefitted from NSF funding and has served on various scientific review panels which have made him aware of chronic poor funding available for advancing the knowledge base in science and technology, he said.

During his time in Washington D.C., Chaudhry met individually and with two other members of the ASBMB, five senators, two members of Congress or their legislative staff in eight different meetings, he said.

“The purpose of these meetings was to thank Congress and the Administration on behalf of the ASBMB for the significant funding for NSF, as well as NIH, in Public Law 111-5, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Appropriation Act,” he said.

According to Chaudhry, the funding will allow the NSF to broaden its research and enhance the nation’s capability to make new discoveries, leading to new innovations.

 NSF-supported science, mathematics, and engineering research and education projects are critical contributors to technological innovation in USA,” Chaudhry said.

An increase in the FY2010 NSF budget as proposed by President Obama will enable the NSF to continue the funding of peer reviewed worthy projects that promote transformational and multidisciplinary research, as well as scientific infrastructure, and contribute towards preparing a globally engaged science, technology, engineering, and mathematics trained workforce, he said.

“President Obama has promised to change the trend by improving funding for federal agencies that provide support for basic science and scholarly activities,” Chaudhry said.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi attended the exhibition in the evening and expressed her admiration for the commitment and dedication of researchers involved in science, technology, and biomedical research sponsored by the NSF and NIH, according to Chaudhry.

Chaudhry also had the opportunity to meet with several staff members of Congressman Gary Peters, Senator Debbie Stabenow and Senator Carl Levin to discuss support for Oakland University through appropriation funding to bring federal tax dollars back to Michigan.

     “All members of the congress from Michigan or their staff whom I met were very knowledgeable and supportive of the issues concerning the scientific enterprise in the U.S.,” Chaudhry said. “In addition, they assured their support for the President’s budget for the NSF and NIH.”