Message to Members: Visa Processing Update
Voice Your Opinion: UN Cloning Resolution
AAAS in Action: News to Note
AAAS at Work: Programs at the Forefront
AAAS Announcements: Items of Interest
Read On, Online: Science Sites

 Dear AAAS Member,

On 11 February, the U.S. Department of State announced revisions in the clearance process known as Visas Mantis, allowing more freedom for international students and scholars to study and work in sensitive scientific and technical fields. In a press statement dated 19 February, the Office of the Spokesman gave the details of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report citing the significant reduction in visa processing time to less than 14 days. In addition, the validity of clearance for an academic program is extended to a maximum of four years, and for a work appointment to a maximum of two years.

AAAS had spoken out for these changes. In May 2004, we joined two dozen science, engineering, and educational organizations representing 95 percent of the research community in a statement to the U.S. Administration and the U.S. Congress which addressed the visa quagmire and its damage to the global scientific community. Among the recommendations made and adopted were additional staffing for more efficient processing, updated training for consular staff to assure consistent treatment, and extension of the validation of the Visas Mantis security clearance. To read the GAO report on progress and needed future refinements, go to http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-198 .

With the support of our members, AAAS will continue to work to assure a timely, transparent, and secure visa system that helps advance the global scientific enterprise.

Sincerely,
Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS

P.S. Be sure to read our Historic Milestone of the Month articles below on penicillin from 1944 and 1947!

 Advancing Science and Engineering Capacity
In a continuing effort by AAAS to increase participation in science by members of underrepresented minorities, Shirley Malcom, director of Education and Human Resources, announced the opening of the new Center for Advancing Science & Engineering Capacity. The Center is under the direction of Daryl Chubin, a U.S. expert on expanding and diversifying the science and engineering work force who served with the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Read about the program, funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation: http://www.aaas.org/programs/centers/capacity/ .

 Securing the U.S. through R&D
A recent seminar at AAAS sponsored by the Washington Science Policy Alliance focused on the U.S. budget for FY 2006 and plans for R&D in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Dr. Penrose C. "Parney" Albright, Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology, DHS, provided an overview. The discussion included the critical role of science and engineering in solving U.S. and global security concerns. Read more: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0307albright.shtml.

 Supporting Women in Science and Engineering Fields
Recent discussions about the position of women in S&E fields have led the AAAS Board to reaffirm the long standing commitment to increasing the presence of women in a diverse scientific community. Read the statement, approved by the Board on 5 February, citing the fact that while gender has predicted participation in science, it has never predicted aptitude in science: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0208board.shtml .

Eureka! Science Reporting for Kids
The new EurekAlert! Science for Kids portal presents family-friendly breaking news, special features, and science, technology, and health resources. The lively and engaging content is provided by hundreds of universities, medical centers, and other research organizations worldwide and is freely accessible to parents, children, teachers, and the media. Check out the newest portal from the AAAS science news service: http://www.eurekalert.org/kidsnews/ .

Healthy People Library Project: HIV and AIDS
AAAS joins in providing some 16,000 U.S. public libraries with free, reliable health information to help answer the public demand for current biomedical research and to enable minority groups and other consumers to make healthier choices. HIV/AIDS: The Science Inside, the latest edition in the series, covers how the diseases are spread, how they may be prevented, how they are treated, what groups are most at risk, and what current research reveals. To order copies, send an email to: healthlit@aaas.org. Please include your full address and the number of copies you would like in your email. To find out about other topics in the series and additional health resources, go to http://www.healthlit.org .

The Healthy People 2010 Library Initiative is funded by a Science Education Partnership Award from the National Center for Research Resources as part of the broad Healthy People 2010 initiative, a 10-year set of health objectives for the U.S. 

Historic Milestone of the Month: Penicillin
As part of the 2005 celebration of the 125th anniversary of Science, last December's Voice Your Opinion Poll asked AAAS members to name the leading scientific breakthrough since 1880. Their top choices have been selected for a monthly free-access reprint from the archives of the journal Science, courtesy of JSTOR. Read "Penicillin" (The Scientific Monthly, June 1944) by Albert L. Elder at: http://promo.aaas.org/kn_marketing/penicillin1.pdf and "The Chemical Study of Penicillin: A Brief Study" (Science, June 27, 1947) by The Editorial Board of the Monograph on the Chemistry of Penicillin at: http://promo.aaas.org/kn_marketing/penicillin2.pdf .

AAAS Fellows: Call for Nominations
Current AAAS Fellows who are members are invited to nominate other AAAS members for election as Fellows, defined as those “whose efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished.” Nominations with complete documentation must be received by 13 May. To download nomination forms or to request a hard copy, go to http://www.aaas.org/news/newsandnotes/inside116.shtml .

Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge: Call for Entries
31 May is the deadline for international entries in the 2005 annual competition, sponsored by AAAS and the National Science Foundation. Awards for outstanding examples of the use of visual media to promote understanding of research results and scientific phenomena will be given in five categories: photography, illustration, informational graphics, interactive media, and noninteractive media. For full details, go to http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/events/sevc/enter.htm

Future Histories of Science: Cambridge, UK
On 23 March, during the Cambridge Science Festival, AAAS/Science sponsors a lecture and audience discussion on the most significant milestones of science in the next 50 years, including nanotechnology, planetary science, and computing. For details, go to http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/science/events/index.cgi?page=23_march&cat=date . 

Physics After Einstein: Coventry, UK
From 10 to 14 April, one of the 2005 Worldwide Year of Physics major events, Physics 2005, A Century After Einstein, takes place at the University of Warwick. In addition to sponsoring scientific lectures, AAAS/Science partners with the university and the Institute of Physics to host the 10 April gala Welcome Reception featuring a private recital by world renowned pianist John Lill, a winner of the Moscow International Tchaikovsky Competition. For information, go to: http://www.physics2005.iop.org/ .

 AAAS Annual S&T Policy Forum: 30th Year
On 21-22 April, 500 of the top U.S. science and technology experts will convene in Washington, D.C. Since 1976, the annual forum has grown into the major U.S. public meeting to discuss and debate budget and other S&T policy issues. For details on the program and to register, go to http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/forum.htm .

Fourth Annual Pharmaceutical Achievement Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for these prestigious awards. Sponsored by AAAS, the awards recognize the significant accomplishments of individuals and organizations in the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in the areas of science, business, and corporate generosity. For more information and to download nomination forms, visit www.pharmawards.com/ .

Meet Us at Upcoming Events
Stop by the AAAS booth to pick up your member pin.

National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) National Convention, 31 March-3 April, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. Stop by the AAAS/Science booth for your free Milestones of Science poster! Information: http://www.nsta.org/conventiondetail&Meeting_Code=2005DAL .

15th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), 2-5 April, Copenhagen, Denmark. Information: http://www.akm.ch/eccmid2005/ .

Experimental Biology 2005 , 2-6 April, San Diego, California, U.S.A. Information:
http://www.faseb.org/meetings/eb2005/call/default.htm .

British Society for Cell Biology and British Society for Developmental Biology, Joint Meeting, 6-9 April, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK . Information: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/kis/schools/life_sciences/biomed/bscb/meetings/index.html .

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, 16-20 April, Anaheim, California, U.S.A. Information: http://www.aacr.org/2005am/2005am.asp .

AAAS News & Notes appears in Science in the last issue of each month. Or access http://www.aaas.org/ or http://www.scienceonline.org/ .