Message to Members: Reforming the U.S. Voter System
Voice Your Opinion: Electronic Voting Technology
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,
AAAS is calling for the public funding of new scientific research into reforms that can overcome the vulnerability of the U.S voter system.
On 17-18 September, AAAS convened an 18-member panel of cybersecurity and voting machine experts, social and behavioral scientists, election officials, and representatives of public interest groups. The panel concluded that a foundation of new scientific research into voting technology and voting behaviors is central to reforms that can ensure voter trust, counter disenfranchisement, and guarantee the integrity of election results.
In the U.S. election this November, we will see the effects of the new touch-screen voting technology that was stimulated by Florida 's contested 2000 presidential tally. To overcome voter-system vulnerability in future elections, the AAAS workshop panelists' made recommendations in four specific categories: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/0921evoteIntro.shtml .
With the support of our members, AAAS will continue to work toward scientific solutions for a range of pressing issues.
Sincerely,
Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS
P.S. The 2003 AAAS Annual Report is now available online. Read about our achievements: http://www.aaas.org/publications/annual_report/
Submit your vote. See last month's poll comments: http://promo.aaas.org/kn_marketing/poll0904.shtml
U.S. Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Update
The U.S. Federal government's new fiscal year began 1 October but only four of the 13 appropriations bills to fund programs have been signed into law. Only the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security have received their final budgets. All other R&D funding agencies are operating on last year's funding levels through 20 November. The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate still have to reconcile their respective versions of the bills. For example, the House would make steep cuts to R&D programs in agencies such as the National Science Foundation while the Senate would provide increases. The House would give the National Institutes of Health a 2.6 percent increase while the Senate has proposed a 4 percent increase. Full updated analyses of R&D in FY 2005 appropriations are available at http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd .
Public Discussion on Darfur , Sudan
On 20 October, the role of scientists in the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is the topic of a public discussion from 1 to 5 p.m. in the AAAS auditorium in Washington , D.C. Learn more about the current situation, how scientific advances are being used to document human rights abuses, and how satellite imagery and remote sensing are tracking massive refugee flows. To RSVP (reservations are due by Monday, 18 October, as space is limited), go to: http://shr.aaas.org/darfur/index.shtml .
How to Talk to the Media
On 5 November, at the National Press Club in Washington , D.C. , EurekAlert! will host a seminar for public information officers and public relations managers. The seminar, Communicating Research News to National and International Media, will feature a panel of reporters who specialize in science, health, and technology coverage for major news outlets. For information and to register: http://www.eurekalert.org/seminar .
U.S. Presidential Candidates' Positions on S&T
What are the candidates' views about the role of science in public policy? What about climate change, space exploration, stem cell research, energy and alternative fuels? Representatives of the Bush and Kerry U.S. presidential campaigns presented sharply different views during a recent AAAS Candidates' Forum on Science & Technology Policy. Read about the campaigns' statements and the Q&A session: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/1001forum.shtml . Follow the election issues concerning science and technology: www.aaas.org/election .
Science Merges with Art
View the winning entries in the annual Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and administered by Science . To see outstanding examples of the use of visual media to promote understanding of research results, go to http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/0923sevc.shtml .
Protecting Diversity in S&T Fields
Standing Our Ground: A Guidebook for STEM Educators in the Post-Michigan Era was released 4 October by AAAS and the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME). The guidebook clarifies legally defensible options for protecting diversity in science and engineering programs following this year's dual rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court. Read more about the proposed principles and listen to the audio of AAAS President Shirley Ann Jackson's press briefing: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/1004diversity.shtml .
AAAS CEO Nominated for U.S. National Science Board
Alan I. Leshner, AAAS CEO, and Kathryn D. Sullivan, AAAS Board Member, are among eight nominees for the prestigious U.S. National Science Board of the National Science Foundation. Read the complete list recently sent by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Senate for confirmation: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/09/20040923-13.html and http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/0924nsb.shtml .
Science for Sustainable Development, The Watershed Project
From Russia to South America, West Africa to Southeast Asia, The Watershed Project assembles international teams to help build science and policy communities that can realistically address local sustainability issues. Each watershed encompasses related ecosystems, natural resources, population groups, and political entities. By incorporating four distinctly different watersheds, the project provides a diverse comparative framework for sharing information and evaluating lessons learned for use in future studies in additional locales.
Scientifically sound local solutions will improve resource management, securing millions of livelihoods within the watersheds and enabling a sustainable future for humanity. Read more about this initiative: http://www.aaas.org/programs/international/ssd/ .
Help Elect AAAS Officers
Vote-2004 Election
Ballots for the 2004 election of AAAS officers were recently mailed to all AAAS members. Please remember to return your ballot by 15 November. If you have not yet received a ballot, contact Linda McDaniel at lmcdanie@aaas.org .
Nominate-2005 Election
AAAS members can nominate candidates (including themselves) for president-elect and the Board of Directors for election in the fall of 2005 for terms beginning in February 2006. 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.
2005 AAAS Annual Meeting: Register Early Online
The Nexus: Where Science Meets Society is the topic of the five-day annual meeting which begins 17 February 2005 . AAAS members can register early online to assure rooms in one of our two partner hotels in Washington , D.C. , historically the most popular venue for this event. Sessions will cover scientific and public policy topics such as risk taking in research, the safety of the nation's food supply, and the future of newborn screening. Global research will be discussed at sessions including science in the Arab world and scientific exchange in an insecure environment. A presentation of the latest discoveries from planetary explorations and physical science frontiers of research, as well as special events, will celebrate the World Year of Physics 2005. A Science Career Fair includes career-enhancing workshops. Information: http://www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting . To register online: http://registration.expoexchange.com/showAAA051
'Tis the Season to Give the Gift of Science
Give a membership to the largest general science society in the world at a special rate of $99. Your gift includes 51 issues of the weekly journal Science and online access to Science archives, new research, career information, discounts on books, and more. As our thank you, you'll receive our popular limited edition AAAS shirt. For details and to order, go to http://promo.aaas.org/kn_marketing/winter.html.
Now, It's Easier to Renew Your AAAS Membership
When your membership is due for renewal, you'll receive new forms with demographic and professional information that may be easily updated. It's also now more convenient to renew online, by phone, by mail, or by fax. Please e-mail any questions or feedback to memuser@aaas.org .
Last Chance to Show us “Where Do You Read Your Science ?”
Show us and you could be featured in a future advertisement. All you have to do is describe where you normally read your personal edition of Science , and then show us by sending a digital picture. We'll select the 10 most interesting stories and images to feature in advertisements for AAAS in the coming months. All winning submissions will receive a 128mb memory stick. Please send images, including brief descriptions, to memuser@aaas.org by 31 October 2004 .
Writing a resume? Negotiating a salary?
You can rely on ScienceCareers for guidance. We've partnered with a professional moderator and two well respected advisers, who along with your peers, field career-related questions. Visit http://www.ScienceCareers.org today and start an online dialogue.
Attend the Proteomics Congress in China
From 25 to 27 October, AAAS/ Science is a sponsor of the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) 3rd Annual World Congress in Beijing , China . Join bioscientists in promoting global cooperation in cutting-edge discoveries during “Proteomics: Decoding the Genome.” For information, go to: http://www.hupo2004.cn .
Meet Up at Upcoming Events
Stop by the AAAS booth to pick up your member pin.
Neuroscience 2004 Annual Meeting , San Diego , California , U.S.A. 23-27 October. Booth #3008—Stop by and receive a free AAAS Luggage tag and information about out “How to Get Published in Science” seminar.
Information: http://web.sfn.org/AM2004Splash.cfm .
The American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting , Toronto , Canada , 26-30 October. Booth # 411.
Information: http://genetics.faseb.org/genetics/ashg/menu-annmeet.shtml .
American Association for Pharmaceutical Sciences Annual Meeting , Baltimore , Maryland , U.S.A. 7-11 November. Booth #1610.
Information: http://www.aapspharmaceutica.com/meetings/annualmeet/am04/index.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/ .