Science is back! So listen to some AC DC!

After 16 days of shutdown


Science is back.



Yes- things (mostly websites) are back- up and running...
for example: http://www.nsf.gov

the same goes for NIH, NOAA etc.



Judge me if you will but the song 'Back in Black' is running through my mind...

As great as it is and as much as I'd love to stay in the AC/DC 'mood' not all the truth is that not everything is going to be immediately okay and some damage is permanent.

There are for example long term studies that have been ruined by the the shutdown or time-sensitive research that was unable to occur.  

For example: what about Antarctic researchers?

“With the partial government shutdown now ended, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will restore the planned 2013-14 austral summer U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) activities to the maximum extent possible.”  Posted on the NSF website


NSF is asking for patience as it gets things back up and running (see Cora Marrett's memo):

"In an Important Notice to the community, I described some of the effects of the funding lapse on our activities and asked for patience and support as we focus on the actions necessary to restart NSF activities. Additional detailed guidance on assistance and contract-related policy and systems issues will be provided to you, as well as the community, as soon as possible. These communications will help us set expectations for both ourselves and the community as we recover from the shutdown and transition to normal operations. A copy of the Important Notice is attached.
It will take time and extra effort to work through the backlog of activities. We are establishing priorities that will enable us to resume normal operations as quickly as possible while minimizing extra burden on our already hardworking staff. It’s important for us in this timeframe to focus on re-establishing core functions, such as receiving, reviewing and awarding/declining proposals, as well as oversight and management of existing awards. We will strive for consistency in extending deadlines and addressing other delays or cancellations caused by the shutdown. We will also consider the impact of our actions on other NSF offices engaged in start-up operations and foster creative solutions, consistent with NSF policy, to recover operations and activities impacted by the shutdown."