Comment from Mauiro Rodriguez
Mauiro RodriguezOpposeAcademic
Summary: Mauro Rodriguez, an Assistant Professor of Engineering, opposes the proposed revisions because they would restrict professional expenses, limit the communication of scientific results, and increase scrutiny on scientists. He argues that these restrictions would hinder career advancement, impede the dissemination of research, and negatively impact the competitiveness and workforce development of American graduate students and professors.
[200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, 200.450]
To Whom it May Concern:
My name is Mauro Rodriguez, I am an Assistant Professor of Engineering.
I am writing in my personal capacity to oppose the proposed revisions to sections 200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, and 200.450 that would restrict typical professional expenses, curtail the communication of scientific results, and place excessive scrutiny on the activities of scientists.
Professional societies and associations enable me to disseminate the research ideas and results produced from the federally-funded projects. These societies have enabled my ability to grow my career and secure a tenure American faculty position. It also enables the graduate students in my research group to extend their networks for their workforce development.
Research is a nonlinear process. Flexible attendance to conference is necessary to ensure that the latest and best research is presented at the appropriate time. Attending these society meetings enable graduate students in my research group and me to learn about the latest research produced by the researchers domestically and internationally.
Having access to the scientific record is necessary to avoid re-discovering or re-producing known findings and/or results. Such activity would be an inefficient use of graduate students' and my time and efforts to solve problems aligned with federal agencies' priorities. Moreover, having access to the scientific records enables the necessary innovation by leveraging the latest research and ideas in fluid mechanics to solve the next-generation of national problems and challenges (e.g., protecting the warfighter, developing better therapies for pathogenic tissues, and improving American quality of life).
I have published five papers in top-tier academic journals. Sharing these results impacts my career as it increases the visibility of my work and quality research produced domestically. Sharing these results in fluid and solid mechanics fields elevates the career prospects of domestica graduate students in my lab and my own as I pursue a tenure position.
My concern is that this rule will limit the ability to network and expand the research visibility produced by domestic students and professors. Scientific and research efforts compete on a global level. Limitations on the ability to access and disseminate research may limit the workforce development of graduate students and professors and American competitiveness.