Comment from Clare Yu

[200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, 200.450] To Whom it May Concern: I am a Distinguished Professor of Physics at the University of California, Irvine. In particular, I am a theoretical physicist specializing in quantum computers, magnetic systems and cancer. 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. Being a member of professional societies allows me to attend scientific meetings to learn about the latest research and to meet with colleagues to exchange ideas. It also allows me to receive publications that inform me about the current scientific research results. Scientific conferences are an important part of the communication between scientists that fosters collaborations and furthers research. Conferences are where scientists can exchange ideas and become aware of the latest research findings. Virtual meetings do not foster this sort of informal communication as was abundantly clear during the Covid pandemic. Conferences have furthered my career by allowing me to give talks and present my results. It has been helpful to receive feedback from peers and to discuss research with them in person. I have been able to meet with people who offered me a faculty job. I have also interviewed potential postdocs. Without access to journal articles it would not have been possible to do my research. I need to know what has been done so I can build on that research. Science is not done in a vacuum. Over my career I have published over 90 papers in academic journals. These have helped advance my career, e.g., getting tenure and being elected a fellow of learned professional societies such as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. My research results have helped to advance our understanding of disordered materials such as glasses and how dynamic defects in these materials are detrimental to qubits which are the fundamental building block of quantum computers. Communication between scientists at conferences and in the form of journal articles is crucial for scientific progress. Those articles also are important in the career advancement of early career scientists who can point to articles that they co-author as evidence of their productivity. In short, allowing grant funds to be used to defray the expenses of attending conferences in person is crucial for the advancement of science and should be part of grant funding as it has been in the past.