Science Policy Insider

That is a new Substack by Jim Olds, here is the introduction:

How science funding really works—from someone who ran the machinery at NSF and NIH.

I’m Jim Olds, former head of the National Science Foundation’s $750M Biological Sciences Directorate (2014-2018), NSF lead for President Obama’s BRAIN Initiative, and co-chair of the White House Life Sciences Subcommittee.

Over three decades in Washington D.C., I’ve seen how science policy actually works—not from the sidelines, but from inside the decision-making rooms. I’ve reviewed thousands of grants, managed billion-dollar budgets, and worked with everyone from Nobel laureates to members of Congress.

What you’ll get here:

– The real story of how funding decisions get made

– Insider analysis of science policy debates and initiatives

– Practical insights on what makes big science succeed or fail

– Honest perspectives on the challenges facing research funding

This isn’t speculation or critique from the outside. It’s the view from someone who was in the room where it happened.

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