"One of the first sessions of the American Meteorological Society’s annual conference in Phoenix this weekend seemed like just the sort to attract plenty of government scientists: “Building Resilience to Extreme Political Weather: Advice for Unpredictable Times.”

But the conference, where more than 700 federal employees had been expected, will have few federal scientists in attendance. Many are barred from participating during the partial government shutdown, just one of the numerous consequences for the science community during the capital’s latest spending standoff.

“It’s a huge opportunity lost,” said Daniel A. Sobien, the president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization and a forecaster in the agency’s office near Tampa, Fla."

Alan Blinder reports for the New York Times January 5, 2019. [2]