Charleston Leader

Last week, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, participated in a Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the president’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget request for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

During the hearing, Senator Capito questioned NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan on the importance and future of West Virginia’s Green Bank Telescope (GBT). She also questioned NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on the role of the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Facility and inspiring interest in science through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

Senator Capito emphasized the significance of West Virginia's Green Bank Telescope: “You know, I've implored previous directors to not mothball that Green Bank Telescope... The new director, Dr. James Jackson, started a few years ago. I just think we ought to talk about and tell everybody about the possibilities... What role do you believe radio astronomy, and specifically Green Bank... what role do you see there? Where do you see the future?”

Director Panchanathan responded: “GBT is a tremendous asset... GBT continues to be the cutting-edge resource that we have got for advancing science... It’s also being integrated into the next generation of radio astronomy that you talked about... It is an integral part of the planning of what we do with the next generation Very Large Array.”

Senator Capito added: “I look forward to working with you on that and I am working to set up that visit to that beautiful part of our state.”

Director Panchanathan replied: “I would love to come with you.”

Regarding IV&V and EPSCoR's roles in inspiring future science leaders, Senator Capito stated: “We have the IV&V center in West Virginia, which is critical to every NASA mission. But we also have the EPSCoR program that is important to institutions like our West Virginia University and others – Marshall, I do believe. Where do you see EPSCoR in terms of growing and being able to get more and younger people interested in science?”

Administrator Nelson responded: “We take it very seriously. We are making a direct effort beyond EPSCoR... For example, [reaching] rural parts of the country. And this is all a part of our trying to be very inclusive with how we spend our research and development money.”

Senator Capito further queried about public-private partnerships at IV&V: “[W]hat kind of coordination you have with the private sector at IV&V?... Can you talk about the public-private partnership there?”

Administrator Nelson detailed: “Yes, there are 60 direct civil servants matched with 364 contractors... The economic effect extends beyond that into 700 jobs.”

Senator Capito concluded by highlighting local engagement efforts: “[T]hey do internships and cooperative arrangements with Fairmont but also West Virginia University... again to spur [the] next generation workforce onto this.”