Message to Members: Separating Fact and Faith
AAAS in Action: News to Note
AAAS at Work: Programs at the Forefront
AAAS Announcements: Items of Interest
Read On, Online: Science Sites
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This month's Advances is sponsored by
Apple's World Wide Developers Conference 2005.
As more science professionals choose the Mac, this year is perfect timing for Apple's premier technical event, Worldwide Developers Conference 2005, 6-10, June in San Francisco. WWDC attracts scientists and researchers from around the world with a broad range of technology topics - from scripting languages on Mac OS X to building your own computing cluster using Xgrid. Technical professionals in many fields can learn more about the focus on scientific computing at Apple's WWDC. ________________________________________________________________________
SEPARATING FACT AND FAITH
Dear AAAS Member,
The teaching of evolution in
Our message is consistent and continual: The science classroom must be dedicated to the teaching of facts—in the case of evolution, based on 150 years of research covering tens of millions of years—to prepare our children for a future of great challenge and hope. Science and religion are not in opposition; many scientists are deeply spiritual and most religious leaders accept evolution. However, the place for discussions of creationism and intelligent design—based on faith—should be churches, temples, religious schools, and perhaps even public schools, but only during nonscience classes.
Recent AAAS responses include joining the Kansas science community in boycotting a Board of Education hearing likely to confuse the public: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0412kansas.shtml; and strategies for answering evolution critics presented at the recent AAAS S&T Forum: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0427forum.shtml.
The AAAS action has been reported by publications in the
http://www.aaas.org/news/newsandnotes/inside119.shtml.
AAAS will continue in this effort, inviting requests for supporting strategies from science teachers and museum leaders and speaking out to counter the suppression of science.
Sincerely,
Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS
P.S. Be sure to read our Historic Milestone of the Month articles on Quantum Theory.
NEWS TO NOTE
Recapping the AAAS S&T Policy Forum
Fiscal imbalance, global health disasters, scientific publishing, research and development in U.S. and world economies, stem cell research, evolution vs. creationism—more than 500 of the top U.S. experts on S&T policy discussed and debated these and other critical issues on 21-22 April. Read the presentations from the 30th Annual AAAS Forum on S&T Policy: http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/forum.htm.
Reporting on U.S. Research and Development
The just-released AAAS Report XXX: Research and Development FY 2006, a collaborative effort with 20 scientific, engineering, and education associations, details bare growth above 2005. Cuts to R&D programs outnumber increases, within the current climate of federal budget deficits, a costly war in
New Report on Education Reform
“A System of Solutions: Every School, Every Student,” a 22-page report commissioned by the GE Foundation, supports school systems in increasing achievement in mathematics and science. The AAAS report identifies 10
New Directory on Human Rights Actions
“Directory of Persecuted Scientists, Engineers, and Health Professionals” details interventions by the AAAS Human Rights Action Network to protect those imprisoned or harassed for their work or beliefs. The 2005 edition covers casework during 2003 and 2004 and facilitates the exchange of information among human rights groups, scientific societies, and individual scientists. To order a CD-ROM or access the report online, go to
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0419shr.shtml.
PROGRAMS AT THE FOREFRONT
EurekAlert! AAAS Online Global News Service
How do you broaden the reach of current science news? Distribute news releases from more than 500 research institutions, universities, medical centers, journals, government agencies, and corporations to some 4,400 news reporters, information officers, and the public worldwide.
EurekAlert! offers breaking news, news by subject from agriculture to technology and engineering, and news portals to marine biology, nanotechnology, diseases in the developing world, and bioinformatics. Access the premier website for science news, launched in 1996 as a public service: http://www.eurekalert.org/.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Historic Milestone of the Month: Quantum Theory
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.org. Read “The Advent of the Quantum Theory,” Albert Einstein, Science, January 1951 at http://promo.aaas.org/kn_marketing/pdfs/Quantum_Theory.pdf and
“Fifty Years of Quantum Theory,” A. Sommerfield, F. Bopp, Science, January 1951 at http://promo.aaas.org/kn_marketing/pdfs/Fifty_Years_Quantum_Theory.pdf
New Resources: National Postdoctoral Association
The NPA, sponsored by AAAS and located in our headquarters in Washington, D.C., was established in January 2003. NPA addresses issues relevant to postdocs, working closely with organizations at the local level and collaborating with professional societies and funding agencies at the national level.
Recommendations for Postdoctoral Policies and Practices urges institutions to set policies to encourage individual responsibility, foster effective mentoring, and recognize the value and contributions of postdoctoral scholars. Read the recommendations:
http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/policy/Recommended_Practices.pdf.
PDA Toolkit includes information on forming local chapters including funding, legal advice, recruitment, and networking with other PDA leaders. Access the toolkit:
http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/committees/outreach_committee/PDAtoc.
International Postdoc Survival Guide contains resources to help international postdocs navigate life and work in the
For general NPA information, and to join, visit http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/.
Donor Support: A Boost for AAAS Impact
The Fund for Excellence helps AAAS meet new challenges and achieve new goals through the private support of members and friends. Unrestricted dollars allow direct response to critical issues in science and technology through new initiatives as well as the underwriting of special meetings and briefs to address time-sensitive research and technology issues. Tax-deducible donations may be made by calling AAAS Development at 1-800-215-1969 or e-mail development@aaas.org. Thank you.
Weekly Funding List: GrantsNet Express.
AAAS members can sign up to receive weekly listings of current international science funding opportunities from private foundations and organizations and
125 Years of Science: Celebrate in the U.K.
Science and Visualization Challenge: Call for Entries
Stop by the AAAS booth to pick up your member pin.
Plant the seed of knowledge this spring with a gift membership to AAAS and Science Magazine!