Comment from Sean Peters

[200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, 200.450] To Whom it May Concern: I am a visiting assistant professor specializing in volcanology and planetary science. I am an early career researcher. 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. Visiting conferences is a necessity for networking, collaborating, and recruiting students in the scientific enterprise. Furthermore, it is our duty to disseminate our publicly funded research to the public. Section §200.432 would hinder the ability to perform science, communicate research, and recruited talented individuals to do the work. Professional society membership is critical to attend many conferences which function as a channel of scientific collaboration and career advancement. Section § 200.454 fully politicizes this essential aspect of the scientific progress. Because my research sits within 2 disciplines (i.e., volcanology and planetary science), it is critical I attend conferences relevant to those specialties when said conferences arise. Those conferences provide opportunities to present my research, bring students to present our collaborated research, recruit future students, and network with other scientists. If grants cannot fund conference attendance per section 200.432, then we will lose a tremendous ability to recruit talented individuals, share our work within the community, and further scientific collaborations. My fields of research are constantly advancing thanks to a suite of technologies. As a result, it is important to know the work which has been done in order to identify knowledge gaps for future research. This prevents myself, students, and collaborators from "reinventing the wheel" and pushes us in more productive directions. Having access to a complete scientific record is critical to understanding the progress in the field. In the last 2 years as a visiting professor, I have published 3 papers in academic journals with 3 papers currently submitted an under review. Papers are currency in academia and the scientific progress. Publishing these papers has helped secure employment, secure grant funding, recruit students, and increased the number of collaborations. While there is a case to be made for reducing publication costs, section 200.461 would reduce my ability to publish and therefore destroy my chances at long-term employment at a college or university and reduce my scientific progress and professional reputation. I am deeply concerned that the proposed policy will strip my ability to conduct scientific research, share said research, and negatively impact my long-term employment.