Advances- The Monthly Newsletter for AAAS Members October 2005
Message to Members: Marking the 20th Anniversary of Project 2061
AAAS in Action: News to Note
AAAS at Work: Programs at the Forefront
AAAS Announcements: Items of Interest
Read On, Online: Science Sites
This month's Advances is sponsored by the AAAS Online Store
The new AAAS online store offers AAAS/ Science branded merchandise such as shirts, backpacks, and pens. AAAS members save 10% on all purchases. Obtain your discount by entering coupon code ADA5 prior to processing your completed order at http://aaasstore.epromo.com/.
Message to Members
MARKING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROJECT 2061
Dear AAAS Member,
The advancement of science begins in the classroom, where future practitioners and proponents first experience the excitement of discovery.
Project 2061, established by AAAS to significantly help reform kindergarten through grade 12 science education, is now sharing 20 years' experience in advancing science literacy with international educators and policy makers. At conferences in China and Trinidad this past year, Project 2061 presented resources including the AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy which laid the groundwork for standards-based U.S. teaching and, like other Project 2061 materials, is being translated into numerous languages. The international collaboration serves to address global issues such as economic development, scientific and technical innovation, preparation for globalization, and health awareness while also broadening the perspective of Project 2061's U.S. initiative.
The long-term, far-reaching AAAS program was introduced in 1985, the year Halley's Comet was last visible from Earth, and is named for its return in 2061-a reminder that today's education will shape the lives of those who come of age amid the profound scientific change of the 21 st century. Read more about the project at http://www.project2061.org/research/goals.htm and its global context at http://www.project2061.org/publications/2061Connections/2005/2005-05b.htm.
Thank you for your support in advancing science through improved science education.
Sincerely,
Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS
P.S. See our Historic Milestone of the Month articles on Vaccination, part of a series honoring the 125 th birthday of Science .
AAAS in Action
NEWS TO NOTE
Participating in Voting Reform
After nearly six months of meetings, public hearings, and research, an elite U.S. bi-partisan voting reform commission headed by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III released their 19 September report calling for broad improvements before the 2008 U.S. election. Commission member Shirley Malcom, head of Education and Human Resources at AAAS, joined in presenting recommendations during meetings at the White House and on Capitol Hill. Access the full report or read a summary of the findings: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0919votingtech.shtml. Link to an interview with Shirley Malcom who cites a growing "crisis of confidence" among voters: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0920votingtechQA.shtml.
Continuing to Fight for the Integrity of Science Education
AAAS Fellow and Kansas State University science education professor John Staver delivered a statement on 13 September to the Kansas State Board of Education expressing AAAS's very strong concerns about recent changes in proposed science education standards. Staver noted that these changes, which include irrelevant or misleading facts that will confuse students, will serve to discredit the theory of evolution and to redefine science. Read the statement made on behalf of AAAS members including 600 who live in Kansas : http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0913kansas.shtml. In addition, over the past two weeks, AAAS has been quoted widely in the media in support of keeping religious beliefs, like Intelligent Design, out of the science classroom. To provide support to the parents suing the Dover , PA , school board to keep intelligent design out of their children's science education, AAAS has published op-ed pieces in the York (PA.) Dispatch http://www.yorkdispatch.com/search/ci_3089223 (Dover's local paper) and the Allentown Morning Call http://www.mcall.com/business/local/all-leshneroct09,0,3209157.story?coll=all-businesslocal-hed
Awarding Expertise in Art as Applied to Science
Capturing the essence of a scientific idea through accurate and handsome visuals is critical to the communication of research results and phenomena. Nine masters of this art have been honored in the 2005 Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge, sponsored jointly by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Science /AAAS. The winning entries in illustration, information graphics, photography, interactive and non-interactive media were shown in the 23 September issue of Science and may be seen online at http://www.sciencemag.org/sciext/vis2005/.
AAAS at Work
PROGRAMS AT THE FOREFRONT
Serving Early Career Scientists: Science 's Next Wave
The weekly online publication Next Wave is celebrating 10 years of reporting on scientific training, career development, and the science job market. Read how several young scientists first interviewed during Next Wave's early years have benefited from this online resource both in their lives and careers. Also, read an introductory essay by editor Jim Austin about how issues over the past decade have remained strikingly similar as careers have changed: http://nextwave.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2005/10/06/1. Find out about the site's various country home pages and special-focus portals: http://nextwave.sciencemag.org/.
Improving Teacher-Training: UNESCO Forum
AAAS participated in UNESCO's International Forum on Reform and Innovation in Science and Engineering Education in the Asia Pacific Region held in Seoul , Korea in September. Shirley Malcom, head of Education and Human Resources, addressed the conference, stressing the preparation of teachers at the primary and secondary levels to engage student interest early for future recruitment into science and engineering fields. She said that systematic global efforts are required to pursue a modern "learning revolution" that can benefit not only economic growth and development but also help solve the crucial environmental and diplomatic challenges that confront the world. Read more: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0912korea.shtml.
Find out about the extensive work of AAAS Education and Human Resources: http://www.aaas.org/programs/education/.
Enhancing Public Policy, Advancing Science Careers: S&T Policy Fellows
A group of 130 Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers, eager to apply their insight and skills to U.S. public policy, have begun work in Washington , D.C. as new AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows. The class, second largest in the 32-year-old highly competitive program, began nine days of orientation on 7 September before joining Congressional offices and federal agencies for their fellowship year. While the Fellows provide government entities with solid facts and new perspectives on issues, they gain problem-solving experience far from their previous positions in the lab, academia, industry, or non-profit settings. Read about the diverse interests and talents of the new class: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0909fellows.shtml. The fellowship program, which was launched in 1974 with seven participants, has produced a network of more than 1,700 former Fellows. Read more about this vital AAAS initiative: http://www.fellowships.aaas.org/.
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AAAS Announcements
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Historic Milestone of the Month: Vaccination
As part of the 2005 celebration of the 125 th 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 Case for Vaccination" ( Science , 24 July 1903) by C.-E.A. Wilson at http://promo.aaas.org/kn_marketing/pdfs/Science_1903_0724.pdf and "Control of Influenza and Poliomyelitis with Killed Virus Vaccines "( Science , 4 March 1977) by Jonas Salk, Darrell Salk at http://promo.aaas.org/kn_marketing/pdfs/Science_1977_0304.pdf.
AAAS 2006 Annual Meeting: "Grand Challenges, Great Opportunities"
Register Now Online
From 16 to 20 February in St. Louis , Missouri , one of the world's largest and most innovative general science conferences will convene to define global problems and potential solutions as the grand challenges of today lead to the great opportunities of tomorrow. Register in advance and take advantage of special offers for new members: http://www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting.
Submit a Poster Abstract
The deadline for submission of posters that present research is 7 November. Categories are General Posters (post docs and professionals), Student Posters (under grads and grad students), and American Junior Academy of Science Posters (high school students). Submit a poster that will be seen and discussed by peers as well as leading scientists from all over the world: http://www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting/02_PE/Posters.shtml.
Become a Student Session Aide
Graduate and undergraduate students who volunteer as session aides get an insider's perspective as an important part of the AAAS meeting. Those who volunteer a minimum of 8 hours and receive free meeting and poster registration. Those who volunteer 16 hours will receive free meeting and poster registration as well as a free one-year subscription to Science. Go to http://www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting/02_PE/Student_01.shtml.
Participate in the Annual Election of AAAS Officers
Vote-2005 Election
Ballots for AAAS president-elect, members of the Board of Directors and Committee on Nominations, and section officers are being mailed to all active AAAS members for voting and return by 28 November. If you do not receive a ballot by the end of October, contact Linda McDaniel at http://eloop.goldlasso.com/redir.php?s=3714&u=631743&f=2&url=mailto%3Almcdanie%40aaas.org.
Members Affected by Hurricane Katrina: The U.S. Postal Service is not delivering mail to areas with zip codes beginning with 395, 396, 700, 701, and 704. Members in these areas must e-mail Ms. McDaniel for a ballot.
Nominate-2006 Election
AAAS members can suggest nominees (including themselves) for president-elect and the Board of Directors for next year's election. Send your nominee's curriculum vitae no later than 30 November to Gretchen Seiler, AAAS Executive Office, 1200 New York Avenue, NW , Washington , DC , 20005 .
Don't Miss the NIH Job Fair
On 20 October, during the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Festival, Science will join exhibitors at the annual Job Fair for NIH Postdoctoral, Research, and Clinical Fellows. Attendees will meet representatives from leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms, the academic community, and other employers. For information, go to http://www.training.nih.gov/jobfair/.
Join a Town Hall Meeting on Life Form Patents in Palo Alto , California
On 26 October, BayBio and Science host a town hall discussion led by Mark E. Andrews of BioTech Nation and National Public Radio. To attend "The Patenting of Life Forms: 25 Years Since the Chakrabarty Patent" featuring speakers Dr. Ananda Chakrabarty and Elizabeth Howard, go to http://www.baybio.org/wt/home/The_Patenting_of_Life_Forms.
Attend Special Events During the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting
Find Out How to Get Published in Science Magazine .
On 14 November, editors from Science will present a "how to" overview, from submitting a paper to review to publication, explaining what types of papers are suitable for publication in Science as opposed to a specialty journal. SFN Annual Meeting (registration required), Washington , DC Convention Center, Room 206, 6:30-7:30 pm: (http://apu.sfn.org/am2005/index.cfm?pagename=satellite_indexListingDetail&maineventID=262).
Celebrate a Bigger, Better ScienceCareers.org Also on 14 November, following the workshop, help us celebrate the merging of the ScienceCareers.org and Science 's Next Wave sites from 7:30 to 8:30 pm . The new site's editors and staff will show you how to navigate your way to the job of your dreams via improved site resources and expanded search options. Refreshments will be served.
AAAS Delegation Joins S&T Forum in Kyoto , Japan
AAAS President Gilbert Omenn led a top-level delegation of AAAS officials to the Science and Technology in Society Forum, 11 to 13 September in Kyoto . The Forum brought together some 550 world S&T leaders from 68 nations to discuss sustainability, capacity-building, security, and other crucial issues. Read how this important global forum promotes international cooperation on complex ethical, educational, economic, and environmental issues involving science, business, and political leaders from developing and developed nations: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0926kyoto.shtml.
U.K. Science Adviser Urges Action On Climate Change
During a meeting of science policy organizations at AAAS on 14 September, Sir David King stated that nations should act now to reduce emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases to help prevent long-term impacts such as the irreversible melting of the Greenland ice sheet. Read the remarks from the chief scientific adviser to the British government at http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0916king.shtml.
Capitol Hill Reception Opens Undergraduate Research Workshop
AAAS and NSF hosted a two-day workshop on the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program 20 to 21 September. Representatives from more than 60 REU programs shared best practices on how to engage students in hands-on science research. Read about the Capitol Hill Reception and poster session, the workshop at NSF headquarters, and the ten-week summer program at several hundred U.S. colleges and universities: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0928hill.shtml.
DoSER Lecture Discusses a Second Genesis on Mars
A NASA research scientist and a rabbinical scholar discussed the possibility of a Genesis beyond the Earth in a 22 September lecture organized by AAAS's Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER). Read about the scientific and theological implications of life evolving on Mars billions of years ago, long since killed by ultraviolet radiation but with microbial specimens possibly preserved by the deep cold of Mars' permafrost: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/1004mars.shtml.
Designate AAAS in the U.S. Combined Federal Campaign
The AAAS 2005 CFC campaign number is 9850, listed in the booklet among national and international organizations who are participating. Thank you for supporting AAAS and promoting the Association in your workplace during the official solicitation period from 1 September through 15 December. For more information go to: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0901cfc.shtml.
Put Yourself on the Cover of Science
Put photos of yourself, your friends, or your kids on the cover of Science and print out a collection for a fun display. Choose marine, space, laboratory, and other lively backgrounds in this free online game at the Science for Kids site on EurekAlert! Go to http://www.eurekalert.org/beonthecover.
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Meet Up at Upcoming Events
Stop by the AAAS booth to pick up your member pin.
BioTechnica 14 th International Trade Fair for Biotechnology
18-20 October, Hannover , Germany . Information: http://www.biotechnica.de/homepage_e?x=1.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) 2005 Research Festival
18-21 October, Bethesda , Maryland , U.S.A. Information: http://researchfestival.nih.gov/.
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)Eastern Area Convention
20-22 October, Hartford , Connecticut , U.S.A. Information: http://nsta.org/conventiondetail&Meeting_Code=2005HAR.
American Society for Human Genetics Annual Meeting
25-29 October, Salt Lake City , Utah , U.S.A. Information: https://genetics.faseb.org/ashg05r/.
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Midweastern Area Convention
2-4 November, Chicago , Illinois , U.S.A. Information: http://nsta.org/conventiondetail&Meeting_Code=2005CHI.
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Annual Meeting & Exposition
6-10 November, Nashville , Tennessee , U.S.A. Information: http://www.aapspharmaceutica.com/meetings/annualmeet/am05/index.asp.
Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting
12-16 November, Washington , DC , U.S.A. Information: http://apu.sfn.org/am2005/.
Additional Meetings of Interest
The 21st Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water
17-20 October, Amherst , Massachusetts , U.S.A. Information: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/cgi/show/5741/5741xM24105-L463587.
Gene Therapy in the 21st Century, International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy Cancer
9-11 December, Shenzhen , China . Information:
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/cgi/show/5743/5743xM25805-R111003.
From Physics to Biology: The Interface between Experiment and Computation, The Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems, BIFI
8-11 February 2006, Zaragoza , Spain . Information: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/cgi/show/5742/5742xM24405-M521151.
Third International Conference Ubiquitin, Ubiquitin-Like Proteins, and Cancer
9-11 February 2006, Houston , Texas , U.S.A. Information: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/cgi/show/5726/5726xM10405-O581908.
Conference on Neural Control of Behavior: Convergent Principles from Divergent Model Systems
9-11 February 2006, Los Angeles , California, U.S.A. Information: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/cgi/show/5741/5741xM22305-O583785.
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/.