Science Policy Highlights: 2011 Year in Review

Now that 2011 has drawn to a close, it is a great time to reflect on the year's notable science policy developments at the White House, in the Capitol, and across the nation.

It was a year of political highs and lows. Among the highlights:

• Congress nearly shutdown the federal government in April by failing to reach a compromise on fiscal year 2011 spending. A last minute spending deal cut budgets for nearly all federal science programs.
• President Obama signed into law a reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act.
• Federal agencies developed policies to ensure scientific integrity.
• In July, a federal judge dismissed a case brought against the federal government that had previously halted federally funded research involving human embryonic stem cells.
• Dr. John C. Wingfield was named the new Assistant Director for NSF's Directorate for Biological Sciences.
• The congressional deficit reduction Super Committee failed to reach a deal to reduce the nation's deficit, triggering $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts to discretionary funding beginning in FY 2013.

Read the full summary of science policy highlights from 2011.