AAAS Advances
AAAS/Science

AAAS Advances - A Monthly Newsletter for AAAS Members • October 2003


Message to Members: Covering the Cosmos
Voice Your Opinion: Funding for Manned Space Travel
AAAS in Action: News to Note
AAAS Announcements: Items of Interest
AAAS at Work: Programs at the Forefront
Read On, Online: Science Sites


Message to Members:
COVERING THE COSMOS

Dear AAAS Member,

The universe of AAAS/Science is ever-expanding as we cover key scientific research and breaking news internationally and into the cosmos beyond.

When the Galileo spacecraft launched in 1989, we covered its roundabout route to achieve the necessary gravity boosts. More than 4.6 billion kilometers later, we followed the story to the final plunge into Jupiter (http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2003/922/2).

Back on Earth, AAAS people work to foster a view of humanity and the environment in an independent, universal relationship—among them is the notable Dr. Peter Raven, past chairman of the board of AAAS, who recently won the prestigious International Cosmos Prize for 2003 (see News to Note below).

With the support of members, AAAS is able to cover the expanding cosmos. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS


Voice Your Opinion

A U.S. Senate funding panel recently rejected President George W. Bush's request to boost NASA's budget in 2004, warning that significant increases "will likely be very difficult to sustain." In light of the Columbia disaster earlier this year, should NASA use its limited available funds to boost spending for manned space travel?

Submit your vote.


Help Elect AAAS Officers

Vote-2003 Election
Ballots for the 2003 election of AAAS officers were recently mailed to all AAAS members. Please remember to return your ballot by 14 November. If you have not yet received a ballot, contact Linda McDaniel at lmcdanie@aaas.org.
Nominate-2004 Election
AAAS members can nominate candidates (including themselves) for president-elect and the Board of Directors for election in the fall of 2004 for terms beginning in February 2005. Please send any nominee's curriculum vitae no later than 30 October to Gretchen Seiler, AAAS Executive Office, 1200 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20005 U.S.A.


AAAS in Action:
NEWS TO NOTE

Former AAAS Chairman Honored
One of the world's leading botanists, Dr. Peter Raven, has won the prestigious International Cosmos Prize for 2003. Described by Time magazine as a "Hero for the Planet," Dr. Raven is director of the Missouri Botanical Garden and past chairman of the board of AAAS. Read more about the award: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2003/0904raven.shtml.

Tracking the R&D 2004 Budget
On 1 October, the U.S. Federal Government's FY 2004 began, but the budget is far from complete. Signed into law: Department of Defense received a record $12.6 billion for science and technology programs; Department of Homeland Security received $1.05 billion for Project BioShield. Read other updates, including a special analysis of a total $3.4 billion proposed for Homeland Security R&D: http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd. Read how the AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program contributes to informed public discussion regarding federal support for R&D: http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/aboutrd.htm.

Taking New Teaching Skills Back to School
AAAS sponsors DC ACTS, a series of summer institutes with year-round value for teachers and students. Read how math and science educators in the Washington, D.C. public school system went back to school inspired by fascinating new lesson ideas: http://www.aaas.org/news/newsandnotes/inside100.shtml

Abusing Human Rights: Report from Peru
A new AAAS report, "How Many Peruvians Died?—An Estimate of the Total Number of Victims of the Internal Armed Conflict, 1980-2000," was publicly released in August. Staff members of the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program traveled to Peru for a panel discussion on the use of scientific methods in documenting human rights abuses. Read about the report's findings: http://www.aaas.org/news/newsandnotes/inside99.shtml.


AAAS Announcements:
ITEMS OF INTEREST

Announce Your Meeting in the 2004 Science Events Calendar
Take advantage of a free listing in a special pullout calendar of scientific meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops scheduled to take place in 2004. The calendar will appear in the 5 December issue of Science. The deadline for entries is 31 October. Go to www.sciencemeetings.org and click on Submit Your Free Event Listing.

Read About Award Winning Young Scientists
Look for the announcements of the winners of two prestigious awards in upcoming issues of Science: The Amersham Biosciences & Science Prize for Young Scientists (24 October) and The Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology, providing support for promising neurobiologists (31 October).

Enjoy a Special Showing of The Life of Galileo
AAAS members, families, and friends are invited to a special showing of the Bertolt Brecht play, adapted by renowned playwright David Hare. Join us for the show and reception at the Studio Theatre, Washington, D.C., Sunday, 7 December, 2:30 pm. For details and to order discount tickets for this date only, visit http://www.aaas.org/spp/galileoplay.

Attend a Symposium on Oncogenomics
The Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO) Symposium on the Molecular Taxonomy of Cancer is scheduled for 3-6 February 2004 in Madrid, Spain. The symposium focuses on the application of fundamental advances in oncogenomics to the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. AAAS members receive a 10 percent discount. Registration and information: http://www.cnio.es/symposium. Other inquiries: symposium@cnio.es.

Meet Up at Upcoming Events
Stop by the AAAS/Science booth at these meetings and receive your free AAAS member pin.
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Annual Meeting & Exposition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 27-29 October: http://www.aaps.org.
American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, Calif., 5-7 November: http://www.ashg.org.
Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, New Orleans, La., 9-12 November: http://www.sfn.org.


AAAS at Work:
PROGRAMS AT THE FOREFRONT

Science Talk: Become an Expert Source
We're pleased to announce another benefit for our members: the AAAS Experts & Speakers Service. You can help advance science as an expert source by registering with Science Talk, our online listing of members available for speeches, seminars, symposia, and other engagements. For information on your alphabetical and specialization listings, go to: http://www.aaas.org/ScienceTalk/. To submit your bio, e-mail sciencetalk@aaas.org. Join the AAAS effort to become an even stronger voice of the scientific enterprise.


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/.


This issue of AAAS Advances is sponsored by Barnes & Noble.com:

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Special through the end of October: Take advantage of an additional 10 percent off already discounted prices on two timely books:

Our Final Hour: A Scientist's Warning: How Terror, Error and Environmental Disaster Threaten Humankind's Future in this Century on Earth and Beyond, Martin Rees: http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=43945&sourceid=0039599664&isbn=0465068626 - With the additional 10 percent AAAS member discount, you will save a total of 40 percent off this title.

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