Untitled Document

Message to Members: Advancing Scientists with Disabilities
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 the AAAS Member-Get-a-Member Program
No one knows the value of AAAS better than our members. That's why we are asking you to refer a friend or colleague to help AAAS do even more to advance science and serve society. Bring in just one new member, and receive a AAAS/Science umbrella. Three members equal a travel bag; five members, a USB memory stick; 10 members, an iPod Shuffle; 50 members, a trip for two to the AAAS Annual Meeting; 100 members, an iMac computer. Start earning your rewards through our newest member benefit program. Go to http://promo.aaas.org/mgam. For details, visit http://promo.aaas.org/mgamtc. Promotion ends 31 December 2008.

Message to Members
ADVANCING SCIENTISTS WITH DISABILITIES

Dear AAAS Member,

AAAS has made significant contributions to a strong and inclusive science and technology work force through our Education and Human Resources Programs. This year, we mark the 30th anniversary of the AAAS Project on Science, Technology and Disability and the first decade of internships through our ENTRY POINT! initiative.

In partnership with major public and private organizations, AAAS identifies, screens, and places talented undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities who are pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in paid summer internships across the United States. The program has supported some 300 interns with real-world skill building, mentoring, and assistive technologies, such as screen readers, magnifying software, and communication devices, to facilitate their transition from the academic environment to competitive employment.

Read about the program's partners and the stories of participants such as a leading engineer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) who is blind and a project manager at IBM who works in a wheel chair due to a spinal cord injury. A new brochure, "Thirty Years of Changing Lives: The AAAS Project on Science Technology and Disability," is now available online at http://www.entrypoint.org/. If you would like more information about the program or a print copy of the publication, contact Virginia Stern at mailto:ystern@aaas.org.

Thanks to the support of our members, AAAS continues to help expand the pool of technical talent critical to maintaining scientific advances.

Sincerely,

Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS

AAAS in Action
NEWS TO NOTE

AAAS Urges Defeat of Oklahoma Science-Ed Bill
In a letter and a commentary published in The Oklahoman, CEO Alan I. Leshner urged legislators in the U.S. state of Oklahoma to reject a measure that would undermine the integrity of the science classroom. Dr. Leshner stressed that efforts to thwart the teaching of evolution create an artificial conflict between science and religion, and divide and distract us in a time of unprecedented national and global challenges. Read the full text of the commentary and letter: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/0322ok.shtml.

AAAS Hosts a Conversation with the Ayalas
The multidisciplinary scientific power-couple shared their passion for life and knowledge during an animated conversation at AAAS on 23 March. Hana Ayala gave a tour of exotic Fiji and Panama where she is working on a visionary economic development model, Pangea World, which combines tourism, conservation, and scientific research. Francisco Ayala, a scholar in evolutionary genetics, theology, and logic, gave his insight into the antievolution forces working to undermine sound science education in some U.S. public school districts. He is a past president of AAAS and University Professor at the University of California, Irvine. To read more about the event and view the video on demand, go to http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/0331ayala.shtml.

New International Officer Joins AAAS
Dr. Vaughan Turekian has joined AAAS as Chief International Officer, Director of the Office of International Initiatives, and Director of the Center on Science, Technology and Sustainable Development. He will coordinate the broad range of AAAS global activities and serve as liaison to the international scientific community using his expertise in global issues such as clean energy, sustainable development, climate change, and avian flu. Dr. Turekian has held positions with the U.S. State Department and the National Academy of Sciences.

TV News Covers AAAS's "Green Building"
NBC4-TV in Washington, D.C., focused on the AAAS headquarters building for a news story about environmentally sensitive architecture. Watch the news clip about design and engineering: http://www.nbc4.com/video/8322873/index.html?taf=dc.

AAAS at Work
PROGRAMS AT THE FOREFRONT

DoSER Public Lecture: The Vatican Astronomer
The Rev. George V. Coyne, director of the Vatican Observatory, spoke about the harmony between science and faith at a recent lecture sponsored by AAAS's Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER). Read about his lecture, "The Dance of the Fertile Universe: Chance and Destiny Embrace," his thoughts as a scientist on the evolution of the cosmos, and how scientific knowledge enriches his faith as a Jesuit priest: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/0330coyne.shtml.

Past DoSER Lectures: Audio Now Available Online
DoSER brings scientists, ethicists, and theologians together in public lectures that increase understanding of the cultural context in which science operates. Now, the content of past lectures can be accessed online. Listen to lively discussions of a second genesis of life in our solar system, the evolution of biological complexity, solving Alzheimer's disease, and other important topics from 2005 and 2004: http://www.aaas.org/spp/dser/.

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

Careers Feature: Danish Prime Minister Announces Research Strategies
The 28 April issue of Science includes a special careers feature focusing on Denmark's innovative strategies for making its core competencies in life sciences truly global. In this article, the Prime Minister of Denmark, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and the Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, Helge Sander, unveil the most important proposals under consideration by the Globalization Council of Denmark. To access the article and read about job opportunities, go to http://www.sciencecareers.org/ after 27 April.

Career Guide: Living and Working in France
On 21 April, Science's NextWave, the editorial voice of ScienceCareers.org, will publish a complete guide to "Living and Working in France." International readers will benefit from practical advice on issues ranging from residence permits to social security, and narratives from researchers who have been through the system. To access this guide, go to http://www.sciencecareers.org/ after 21 April. To reach talented researchers who want to live and work in France, post your job ad or banner by 21 April. Contact Christina Harrison for further information. E-mail: charrison@science-int.co.uk. Tel: +44 (0)1223 326510.

ScienceCareers.org Outreach Events
On 22 April, ScienceCareers.org will participate in the National Postdoctoral Association's 2006 Annual Meeting in Bethesda, Maryland. AAAS Outreach Program Manager Garth A. Fowler, Ph.D., will moderate the panel, "Creating and Hosting Career Fairs & Career Development Events." Allison Pritchard, Recruitment Marketing Manager for Science and ScienceCareers.org, will be one of the panelists, sharing her experiences on how to create and host career fairs for young scientists. For information, or to register for the meeting, go to the NPA website: http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/annual_meeting/2006/.

AAAS Announcements
ITEMS OF INTEREST

Register for the AAAS Forum on S&T Policy
On 20-21 April, White House science adviser John H. Marburger III, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, and Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are among the scheduled speakers at the major U.S. public meeting to discuss and debate the budget and other policy issues facing the S&T community. 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, go to http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/forum.htm.

View a New Geometric Art Exhibit at AAAS
From 4 April to 16 June, acclaimed artist and geometry enthusiast Tony Robbin shows works influenced by space-time, the theory of relativity and hypercubes. See these intriguing works in the AAAS headquarters gallery in Washington, D.C., and read about the artist at http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/0405art.shtml.

SCIpharm International Conference: Edinburgh, U.K.
From 14 to 17 May, AAAS and Science will sponsor SCIpharm 2006, the International Pharmaceutical Industry Conference at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. The Society for Chemical Industry (SCI) will hold its second biennial not-for-profit conference for chemists and biologists in pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology industry, and research institutes. For more information or to submit a paper, go to http://www.scipharm.info/.

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. The Visualization Challenge awards will recognize photography, illustration, informational graphics, interactive media, and noninteractive media. Winning entries will appear in the 22 September issue of Science, Science Online, and the National Science Foundation website. The deadline for entries in the competition, sponsored by AAAS/Science and NSF, is 31 May. For full details, go to http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/scivis/index.jsp?id=challenge.

AAAS Pacific Division Annual Meeting: San Diego, California
From 18 to 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, go to http://www.sou.edu/aaaspd/SanDiego2006/Index.html.

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. For the latest podcast and instructions on how to subscribe, go to http://www.sciencemag.org/about/podcast.dtl.

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 to be shared on the AAAS member website. Go to: http://www.aaas.org/membership/stories/index.shtml.

Member Benefit of the Month: Subaru
AAAS members save up to $3,000 off the manufacturer's suggested retail price of a new Subaru through the Subaru VIP Partners Program. AAAS members can purchase or lease any new Subaru vehicle at Dealer Invoice Cost. Before visiting your local Subaru dealer, you must first contact the AAAS Member Services Office at 202-326-6417 or membership@aaas.org.

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

Drug Discovery and Development Summit, IBC Life Sciences, 24-26 April, Tokyo, Japan. Information: http://www.drugdisc.com/Japan.

Analytica 2006, 20th International Trade Fair and Analytica Conference, 25-28 April, Munich, Germany, booth A3.473. Information: http://www.analytica-world.com/id/22383/.

European Human Genetics Conference 2006, European Society of Human Genetics, 6-9 May, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, booth 150. Information: http://www.eshg.org/eshg2006/.

Additional Meetings of Interest

Second NCRI Cancer Conference, 8-11 October, International Convention Centre, Birmingham, U.K. Information

8th annual Plant Sciences Institute Symposium, 22-25 June 22, Ames, Iowa, U.S.A. Information

Workshop on Computational Methods for Spatially Realistic Microphysiological Simulations, 6-9 June, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Information

Fourth International Symposium on Cell/Tissue Injury, 17-19 May, Long Beach, California, U.S.A. Information

BASF Symposium on Bioinspired Materials for the Chemical Industry, 7-9 August, ISIS, Strasbourg, France. Information

Frontiers in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2 May, Auburn, Alabama, U.S.A. Information

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/.