Message to Members: R&D Funding Trends
AAAS in Action: News to Note
AAAS at Work: Programs at the Forefront
AAAS Science Careers: Events, Tools, Advice
AAAS Announcements: Items of Interest
Read On, Online: Science Sites

This month's Advances is sponsored by Office Depot
AAAS members in theUnited States receive discounts by shopping online at Office Depot. Take advantage of this benefit at the AAAS member website: http://aaasmember.sciencemag.org/misc/officedepot.dtl.


Message to Members
R&D FUNDING TRENDS

Dear AAAS Member,

As a service to scientists, engineers, and policymakers, AAAS provides timely, comprehensive, and independent analyses of R&D funding in the U.S. federal budget.

A new AAAS analysis of the proposed Fiscal Year 2007 budget shows that R&D funding for most nondefense agencies is projected to drop between 10 percent and 30 percent over the next five years. Weapons development and space exploration, as well as physical sciences, show gains while the National Institutes of Health budget remains flat. Read more at www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/0310rd.shtml.

For continuously updated coverage of budget debates in the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch, go to www.aaas.org/spp/rd/fy07.htm. A book-length report on R&D in the FY 2007 budget will be released at the AAAS Forum on S&T Policy on 20-21 April.

AAAS continues to speak out, both directly to policymakers and in public forums, urging sound science policy backed by the R&D investment in critical areas such as security, health, and energy resources that is necessary to advance innovation to benefit U.S. and global society. We thank our members for supporting these critical actions.

Sincerely,

Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS

P.S. Symposium proposals are due 8 May for our 2007 Annual Meeting, "Science and Technology for Sustainable Well-Being," 15-19 February in San Francisco, California. To submit a proposal for a symposium in the areas of health, environment, energy, development, security, or other sustainability-related topics, go to www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting/2007_San_Fran/2007_index.shtml.


AAAS in Action
NEWS TO NOTE

AAAS Speaks Out About R&D Investment
In a commentary published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, AAAS CEO Alan I. Leshner and AAAS Chair and past President Gilbert S. Omenn applauded recent U.S. competitiveness initiatives while calling for federal budget support to turn the aspirations into actions. Click the link above to read the full commentary, "America Can't Afford to Lose Its Edge," which urged investment that will invigorate research, strengthen science education, and nurture innovation in all fields.

Panel Seeks Global Guidelines on Stem Cell Research
AAAS convened a panel of experts to discuss the disparity of international laws governing stem cell research and the difficulty of achieving a global consensus. Instead, the panel called on scientists and policymakers to draw ethical guidelines that researchers can adhere to across borders. Click the link above to read about the suggestions and a previous U.K. meeting of experts from 14 nations.

Science Journalist Wins India's Top S&T Prize
Pallava Bagla, an expert on science and technology in South Asia and a veteran contributor to Science and other publications, won the highest award given by the Indian government for S&T communications in print media. The award recognizes his body of stories and photographs published since 2000, which range from the first new monkey species discovered in a century to India's nuclear negotiations with the United States.

AAAS Council Approves Resolutions on Censorship and Katrina
The AAAS Council, which meets annually to establish general policies for the association, approved two new resolutions. The first resolved that censorship, intimidation, or other restrictions on the freedom of scientists who are employed or funded by government organizations to communicate unclassified scientific findings are inimical to the advance of science. The second called upon federal research agencies to extend previous funding and renewal deadlines for faculty members at New Orleans institutions whose operations were disrupted by Hurricane Katrina. Read the text of the resolutions by clicking on the link above.

Protecting Fact and Faith in South Carolina and Michigan
In a recent commentary in The Greenville (S.C.) News, AAAS CEO Alan I. Leshner and the Rev. Baxter M. Wynn say that proposed changes to South Carolina's public school biology standards could undermine the state's record of excellence in science education and create an artificial conflict between science facts and faith. A second commentary by Dr. Leshner and AAAS Chair Gilbert S. Omenn in the Detroit News warns that a line slipped into a Michigan education reform undermines the teaching of evolution and religious freedom and is code language for proponents of intelligent design.


AAAS at Work
PROGRAMS AT THE FOREFRONT

Science Education: Evolution on the Front Line
Nearly 150 years after Charles Darwin developed the modern theory of evolution, supported by a century and a half of fossil and other evidence spanning millions of years, the argument continues. AAAS is a leading voice in the debate, most recently in the American states of South Carolina and Michigan, responding to efforts to compromise the teaching of evolution and defending the integrity of science in public school classrooms.

Our website, www.aaas.org/news/press_room/evolution/, gives public access to comprehensive evolution-related information including in-depth resources and news reports. Now, we are making available to teachers and other educators a packet that was distributed to attendees at a special evolution event during our recent Annual Meeting. Evolution on the Front Line: An Abbreviated Guide for Teaching Evolution, prepared by Project 2061, our U.S. science education reform initiative, includes additional resources, benchmarks for evolution knowledge at various grade levels, and an evaluation of high school biology textbooks.

To download the Teacher Packet and see videos of the event introduction and presentations, go to www.aaas.org/programs/centers/pe/evoline/index.shtml.


AAAS Science Careers
EVENTS, TOOLS, ADVICE
For job listings and career development, see: www.sciencecareers.org/.

Is the Future of Science in Denmark?
The 28 April issue of Science includes a special careers feature focusing on Denmark's innovative strategies for making its world-class core competencies in science truly global. In this article, the Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, Helge Sander, unveils the most important proposals under consideration by the Globalization Council of Denmark to solidify the country's position in breakthrough research in the life sciences. Denmark will be increasing the number of research positions and attracting more scientists from abroad than ever before.

To access this important article and read about job opportunities, go to http://www.sciencecareers.org/ after 28 April. To place a recruitment or branding ad in the 28 April issue, contact Svitlana Barnes: sbarnes@science-int.co.uk.


ScienceCareers.org Outreach Events
The Outreach Program began the year with several major events. In February, young scientists attending the AAAS Annual Meeting and others from local university and research institutions participated in an Interviewing Skills Workshop sponsored by Kelly Scientific, hearing HR professionals and Ph.D. researchers from industry discuss what companies look for in an interview applicant.

On 1 March, Garth Fowler, Ph.D., Outreach Program Manager for ScienceCareers.org in North America, was a featured panelist at the National Cancer Institute's Center for Cancer Research Retreat. Fowler presented tips on networking and developing professional links to the research fellows and young investigators as part of the Career Development series. Young scientists had the opportunity to continue the discussion over lunch and dinner with a panelist of his or her choice.

GrantsNet
Your one-stop online funding resource gives you the latest updates on research grants, scholarships, fellowships, and internships including opportunities for postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates. Listings cover U.S. government and international funding. Sign up for weekly updates at www.grantsnet.org/gnetexpress_register.cfm.


AAAS Announcements
ITEMS OF INTEREST

Science Sponsors Panel at the Cambridge Science Festival
On 23 March, AAAS/Science is sponsoring an evening panel discussion, "Priorities for Planet and People," chaired by Tim Radford, The Guardian's former science editor. Cambridge-based participants will cover medical and environmental topics. For more information on the festival, 15-26 March in Cambridge, U.K., go to http://www.cambridgescience.org/.

Attend a Presentation on Science and Culture in Washington, D.C.
"A Harmonious Commitment to Science and Culture," an evening conversation with Drs. Hana and Francisco J. Ayala, will be held on 23 March at AAAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. Hana Ayala heads PANGEA WORLD, an economic development company with a visionary plan to make tourism, business, and science partners in global conservation. Francisco J. Ayala is a past president of AAAS, University Professor at the University of California, Irvine, and a world authority in revolutionizing evolutionary theory to develop new ways to prevent and treat diseases. There is no cost for the 7:30 p.m. event, but seating is limited. A reception begins at 6:30 p.m. RSVP promptly by calling (800) 215-1969 from within the United States or by e-mailing developmentevents@aaas.org.

AAAS SWARM Division Annual Meeting: Tulsa, Oklahoma
From 5 to 8 April, the Southwestern and Rocky Mountain (SWARM) Division's 81st Annual Meeting, "Science and the Next Generation," will take place on the campus of the University of Tulsa at the Allen Chapman Activity Center. Members of AAAS, students, teachers, other scientists, and nonmembers of AAAS are invited to attend and to present papers and/or posters in all areas of the sciences. To register, click on the link above.

Join a Conference on Science and Innovation at USC
AAAS and the University of Southern California present special tours of USC's state-of-the-art facilities and a one-day conference, 10-11 April. The conference will feature some of the world's foremost scientific thinkers, futurists, and an audience vested in raising the nation's awareness of global challenges in science and innovation and will include participants Chris Matthews of MSNBC and Ray Kurzweil, inventor, entrepreneur, author, and futurist. Three interactive sessions on stem cell research, China and India, and critical aspects of science and innovation focus on America's international standing and preparedness to meet the future global challenges. The conference cost is US$35.00; the tours are free. Information: http://www.usc.edu/conference125/. RSVP at www.usc.edu/rsvp (code 4116), or call USC at +1 (213) 740-6786.

Register for the AAAS Forum on S&T Policy
On 20-21 April, the major U.S. public meeting to discuss and debate the budget and other policy issues facing the S&T community will be held in Washington, D.C. The 31st annual forum will cover R&D in 2007, energy security, global health threats, U.S. homeland security, global innovation, protecting the integrity of science, and other vital concerns. For information on speakers and to register, click on the link above.

Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge: Call for Entries
From the diagrams of DaVinci to the latest photos from the most remote galactic outback, art promotes understanding of research results and scientific phenomena. Awards for outstanding examples of visual media will recognize photography, illustration, informational graphics, interactive media, and noninteractive media. Winning entries in each category will be published in the 22 September issue of Science and Science Online and displayed on the National Science Foundation website. The deadline is 31 May for international entries by scientists, engineers, visualization specialists, and artists in the fourth annual competition, sponsored by AAAS/Science and NSF.

AAAS Pacific Division Annual Meeting: San Diego, California
From 18-22 June, the 87th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Division and its affiliated societies will be held on the campus of the University of San Diego. Membership in AAAS or its affiliated societies is not required to attend. To register, click on the link above.

Listen to a Science Podcast
Hear about disappearing ice sheets, teaching evolution, ripe tomatoes, biofuels, and more via periodic podcasts built around interesting stories published in Science and on its sister sites. Click on the link above for the latest podcast and instructions on how to subscribe.

Subscribe to the Science Update Podcast
Quirky, entertaining, and informative, Science Update is a daily, 60-second feature covering the latest discoveries in science, technology, and medicine. Now you can get a specially produced week's worth of updates delivered to your computer or MP3 device every Friday. One of our producers adds commentary that will help you get more out of the programs.

Watch Web Videos of Science Stories
See videos of AAAS members telling their stories about how they were drawn to science and their hopes for the future. Then, e-mail us your story.


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

American Chemical Society, Spring National Meeting, 26-30 March, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A., booth #1413.

16th ECCMID - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 1-4 April, Nice, France, stand #353.

Experimental Biology 2006, (FASEB), 1-5 April, San Francisco, California, U.S.A., booth #830.

American Association for Cancer Research, Annual Meeting, 1-5 April, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., booth #1418.

European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2006, 2-7 April, Vienna, Austria, booth #14.

BioIT World Conference and Expo, 3-5 April, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., booth #172.

National Science Teachers Association, National Conference, 6-9 April, Anaheim, California, U.S.A., booth #2038.

BIO 2006, Biotechnology Industry Organization, 9-12 April, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., booth #2462.

Drug Discovery and Development Summit, IBC Life Sciences, 24-26 April, Tokyo, Japan.

Additional Meetings of Interest

Life Sciences Conference + Expo 2006, (Bio-IT World), 3-5 April, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. The premier event for life science and information technology professionals in pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic organizations presents the latest technology developments and research breakthroughs from drug discovery to market delivery and includes conference tracks, keynotes from industry leaders, and educational workshops. Register using priority code BTR249 to save 25% at http://www.lifesciencesexpo.com/.

Nanotechnology & the Life Sciences, Annual Symposium, 13-14 April, La Jolla, California, U.S.A.

Short Course in Translational Biomedical Research, 1 May-28 July, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.A.

Cold Spring Harbor 2006 Meetings & Courses, 9 March - 30 November, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, U.S.A.

This month's Advances is sponsored by Office Depot
AAAS members in the United States receive discounts by shopping online at Office Depot. Take advantage of this benefit at the AAAS member website: http://aaasmember.sciencemag.org/misc/officedepot.dtl.

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