Call to preserve research, cut social science funding, breast cancer prevention…

This week in USA in brief: Obama reiterates call to preserve research; Republican leader says cut social science funding; ‘Urgent need’ for breast cancer prevention; DOE chief says no to second term; NSF director Subra Suresh departs.

Obama reiterates call to preserve research

The president again called for protection for “job-creating investments in science and innovation” during his State of the Union address, arguing that they should not be cut as part of a national deficit-reduction strategy. “Now is the time to reach a level of research and development not seen since the height of the space race,” he said.