Hi everybody, Frank N. Foode™ here, with a special request. We came upon a program that you might be interested in. It’s the White House Office of Science & Technology Open Science Champions of Change – and I would like to humbly ask that you consider nominating us for it! Here is the description:
“Let the nominations begin!”
On June 20, the White House will host a Champions of Change event to highlight outstanding individuals, organizations, or research projects promoting and using open scientific data and publications to accelerate progress and improve our world. The White House Champions of Change program highlights individuals, businesses, and organizations whose extraordinary stories and accomplishments positively impact our communities.
Access to scientific research can help fuel entrepreneurship, innovation, and scientific breakthroughs. Freely available data generates new ideas, builds new businesses, and generates economic growth that impacts the lives of Americans every day.
That’s why, in February 2013, OSTP Director John P. Holdren issued a memo to the heads of Federal agencies that aims to increase public access to the results of federally-funded research—including scientific data and publications.
Open sharing of research results is a proven strategy for driving positive change. For example, the rapid and open sharing of genomic data from the Human Genome Project revolutionized biomedical research, spurred major growth in the biotechnology industry, and provided $140 in economic returns for every dollar of public investment. And, the Federal Government’s liberation of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite data led to an explosion of geospatial information systems and the creation of many companies, smartphone apps, and car navigation systems.
We are asking for your help to identify “Open Science” Champions of Change—outstanding individuals, organizations, or research projects promoting and using open scientific data for the benefit of society. For example, a Champion’s work may involve:
Providing free access to data or publications generated from scientific research; or
Leading research that uses publically available scientific data.
What are we working on that could qualify for this event? Why, our GENetic Engineering Risk Atlas, of course! Please consider taking a moment to nominate us as an Open Science Champion of Change, and tell them why you think we would make a good fit.
Here is some information which can help you fill out the form: Nominee Name: Biology Fortified, Inc. Nominee City: Middleton Nominee State: Wisconsin Nominee Email: contact @ biofortified . org Nominee Occupation: Scientists! Reason for Nominating: Mention GENERA, and give them a link to our site to help them find the good stuff. Tell them in your own words why you think we deserve it!
Nominations close Thursday May 23 (tomorrow!), so if you want to nominate us, please do it soon! Thanks very much!
The team of scientists at Biofortified is working very hard to create open science communication on issues related to plant science and agriculture. This is a topic rife with misinformation, and their efforts to connect people with the science is hugely necessary. They are also collecting relevant science literature in a database called GENERA to help people find quality information.
They are a team of champions for change.
Thanks, Mary! Hopefully many others will nominate us as well. This would be a great way to get BFI recognized.
I definitely think GENERA fits the suggested topics 🙂
We aim to providing access publications generated from scientific research, and to make that research easier to find and understand. The project also will allow more research that uses the research, including identifying gaps in the literature and allowing more thorough meta analysis.
Ok, I have submitted my nomination! Here’s my entry in case it helps anyone write their nomination faster:
Karl and the other volunteers of the non-profit Biology Fortified, Inc (BFI) have been working to create an open-source repository of scientific journal articles about biotechnology – called the GENetic Engineering Risk Atlas, or GENERA for short.
The goal of the project is to provide access to the hundreds of publications generated from scientific research on the safety and efficacy, risks and benefits, of biotechnology. GENERA will also make the research easier to find and understand by providing summary information and easy-to-use search capability. The project also will allow new research that uses these papers, so scientists can identify gaps in the literature and conduct more thorough meta analysis.
Biology Fortified, Inc was recently recognized by the American Society of Plant Biologists with a grant to develop GENERA. BFI is currently in the process of finding and categorizing publications, and will have a database ready for public access by the end of the year. Please learn more about GENERA at the BFI website: https://biofortified.org/genera/
BFI is an independent educational non-profit without any industry ties. BFI’s mission is to strengthen the public discussion of issues in biology, with particular emphasis on genetics and genetic engineering in agriculture. BFI is staffed with passionate scientists that volunteer their time to write articles and develop special projects such as GENERA. Please learn more about BFI: https://biofortified.org/about/mission/
Biofortified 
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Thanks, Mary! Hopefully many others will nominate us as well. This would be a great way to get BFI recognized.
I definitely think GENERA fits the suggested topics 🙂
We aim to providing access publications generated from scientific research, and to make that research easier to find and understand. The project also will allow more research that uses the research, including identifying gaps in the literature and allowing more thorough meta analysis.
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Ok, I have submitted my nomination! Here’s my entry in case it helps anyone write their nomination faster:
Karl and the other volunteers of the non-profit Biology Fortified, Inc (BFI) have been working to create an open-source repository of scientific journal articles about biotechnology – called the GENetic Engineering Risk Atlas, or GENERA for short.
The goal of the project is to provide access to the hundreds of publications generated from scientific research on the safety and efficacy, risks and benefits, of biotechnology. GENERA will also make the research easier to find and understand by providing summary information and easy-to-use search capability. The project also will allow new research that uses these papers, so scientists can identify gaps in the literature and conduct more thorough meta analysis.
Biology Fortified, Inc was recently recognized by the American Society of Plant Biologists with a grant to develop GENERA. BFI is currently in the process of finding and categorizing publications, and will have a database ready for public access by the end of the year. Please learn more about GENERA at the BFI website: https://biofortified.org/genera/
BFI is an independent educational non-profit without any industry ties. BFI’s mission is to strengthen the public discussion of issues in biology, with particular emphasis on genetics and genetic engineering in agriculture. BFI is staffed with passionate scientists that volunteer their time to write articles and develop special projects such as GENERA. Please learn more about BFI: https://biofortified.org/about/mission/
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Sent in a nomination today.
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