Message to Members: 2007 Annual Meeting: Sustainable Well-Being AAAS in Action: News to Note AAAS at Work: Programs at the Forefront AAAS Science Careers: Events, Tools, Advice AAAS Announcements: Items of Interest, Events Member Benefit: Free Subscription to Innovations Read On, Online: Science Sites This month’s Advances is sponsored by Biocompare Why waste time searching through product catalogs? Biocompare’s online buyer’s guide allows life scientists to easily search for products and compare product specifications side by side to find the best tools for their research. Biocompare also includes the most recent research news, product reviews, webinars, and videos on the latest technologies. To save time, visit http://www.biocompare.com/ . Message to Members 2007 ANNUAL MEETING: SUSTAINABLE WELL-BEING Dear AAAS Member, The character of the challenges to the human condition--including energy, water, health, climate, security, and development--cry out for the interdisciplinary approaches that are the hallmark of AAAS. You are invited to join the interaction among disciplines as we seek strategies and solutions during the 2007 Annual Meeting, 15-19 February, in San Francisco , California . "Science and Technology for Sustainable Well-Being" explores economic, sociopolitical, and environmental conditions in a broad range of activities including nearly 180 symposia and plenary and topical lectures. A special Town Hall event, "Communicating and Learning about Climate Change," delves into the dialogue among scientists, teachers, students, policy makers, business leaders, and the general public and presents a compelling video partially shot on location in an arctic Alaskan village. Career events are planned for students and young scientists and Family Science Days welcomes the general public to our popular free event. Please join thousands of your peers at the world’s largest and most innovative interdisciplinary science conference. I hope to see you there. Sincerely, John P. Holdren, President, AAAS P.S. You can register online and, for the first time, develop your own program itinerary at http://www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting/ . AAAS in Action NEWS TO NOTE Kudos to the Eppendorf/ Science Prize Winner: Doris Tsao Brain researcher Doris Tsao has won the prestigious 2006 International Prize in Neurobiology, awarded by Science and Eppendorf AG. The prize recognizes outstanding neurobiological research by a young scientist performed in the last three years and described in a 1,000-word essay. Read about Tsao’s experiments with monkeys that show the brain has specialized regions devoted to face recognition, and research by the other two finalists: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/1005eppendorf.shtml . Russian Scientist Details International Nuclear Fuel Plan A top Russian scientist presented a plan to develop an international center for the delivery of nuclear fuel as a way to permit wider global use of nuclear energy while limiting access to enrichment and recycling technologies that could allow the spread of nuclear weapons. The mid-October briefing for congressional staff and others was organized by AAAS’s Center for Science, Technology, and Security Policy. Read more about the event and a joint U.S.-Russian study addressing the issue: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/1027nuclear.shtml . The Iranian Struggle for S&T Rebirth Officials in Iran , recognizing that they lag a half-century behind the West in scientific development, are embracing a campaign to recapture the nation’s prestige, according to Iranian physics scholar and science policy leader, Reza Mansouri. Speaking at a forum co-sponsored by AAAS’s Center for Science, Technology, and Security Policy and the National Academy of Sciences, Mansouri also said that while many Iranians see a nuclear program as the apex of scientific practice, there is broad confusion in Iran about the nature of science, its methods and its aims, and science remains largely subservient to theology. Read more: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/1016iran.shtml . A New Vision for Engaging the Public in Science Issues "Simply lamenting the tension or protesting attacks on the integrity of science and science education won’t work," wrote AAAS CEO Alan I. Leshner in a commentary published in The Chronicle of Higher Education on 10 October . Rather, to overcome public skepticism on issues ranging from climate change to stem cell research, science organizations and individual scientists must reach out to local news media and religious, community, and school groups. Read about a workable new approach to public engagement: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/1012engage.shtml . "Framing" is Shaping Science Policy Debate A mid-October seminar sponsored by AAAS Science and Policy and the Washington Science Policy Alliance examined how humans, as "cognitive misers," seek shortcuts for understanding massive amounts of information including embryonic stem cell research, climate change, and the teaching of evolution. Political strategists, scientists, and the news media can take advantage of our tendency to create mental shortcuts and influence public opinion using thought organizers, or "frames," which package complex information by focusing on certain interpretations, according to Matthew Nisbet, an assistant professor in the School of Communication at American University . Read more and watch the PowerPoint presentation: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/1018framing.shtml . AAAS at Work PROGRAMS AT THE FOREFRONT Science NOW Science News: A Decade of Breaking Ground The pioneer of online science news, Science NOW, is celebrating 10 years of daily dispatches ranging from new discoveries to public policies. Short, intriguing news stories cover everything from ancient bird and bee fossils to the dwarf planet "Xena," stem cell research to small pox research, plus startling photographic shots of science history-in-the-making. The site is distinguished by in-depth reporting of what happened, its importance to society, and the method behind the science. Find out more: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/1024sciencenow.shtml . Established in 1996, Science NOW is freely accessible to students, teachers, and the general public, attracting 70,000 individual visitors each week. Check today’s news now at http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/ . Education and Careers: Boosting Women in S&T The future direction AAAS will take to advance science-related education and careers for women was the focus of a recent high-level strategy planning meeting hosted by the AAAS Committee on Opportunities in Science. Read about the recommendations that will comprise an interim report in December and guide the final planning session next February: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/1030wistem.shtml . The Committee and the AAAS Center for Advancing Science & Engineering Capacity work toward the full global participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, including those with physical disabilities and those who are racial or ethnic minorities. Find out more about the program and international collaborations: http://www.aaas.org/programs/centers/capacity/ . AAAS Science Careers EVENTS, TOOLS, ADVICE For job listings and career development, see http://www.sciencecareers.org/ . Tools for Researchers: A Career Development Workshop 2 December, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm , Sweden This full-day training workshop for researchers offers parallel sessions for PhD students and postdocs, including sessions about establishing your own research group, working in the pharmaceutical industry, alternative careers, and opportunities to meet prospective employers. For details and to register, go to http://tinyurl.com/yfuexk Putting Your PhD to Work: Symposium Report from 26 October, Medical College of Wisconsin , Milwaukee , Wisconsin Garth Fowler, outreach coordinator for ScienceCareers.org, addressed attendees at the daylong event stressing a greater sense of urgency in helping scientists push their research skills beyond university to private industry, while also commending Wisconsin ’s efforts to expand its science and technology work force. Read more about the event at http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/1027milwaukee.shtml . You can also listen to a related interview with Fowler on WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio at: http://www.wuwm.com/view_le.php?articleid=59 . Take your next career step with confidence ScienceCareers.org offers thousands of searchable job postings . In addition, you can get great career advice from the Career Forum where advisors field your questions -everything from negotiating a salary to career transitions. Be sure to also read our latest special section titled Top Employers in Biotech and Pharma . Find out what exciting career opportunities these top companies can offer you. All these resources are available for free at www.sciencecareers.org Additional Career Resources from AAAS The Center for Careers in Science and Technology, and the AAAS Office of Education and Human Resources also deliver information and resources for scientists and engineers at every career stage. See the portal on the AAAS website: http://www.aaas.org/careercenter/ AAAS Announcements ITEMS OF INTEREST Give the Gift of Science and Save Say happy holidays all year by giving the gift of knowledge and discovery each week--51 issues of Science plus all the benefits of AAAS membership. Get the special gift subscription rates (Professional: US$99; Student/Postdoc: US$50). Order a print subscription of Science , or order Science Digital when sending a gift outside the U.S. Save 10% on Holiday Gifts at the AAAS Online Store Check your list and fill it in one stop with special AAAS/ Science branded merchandise: tees, shirts, jackets, and caps; travel mugs and cold beverage bottles; computer and drawstring backpacks; and more. AAAS members receive a 10% discount. Go to http://www.aaas.org/publications/store . Access the U.S. R&D Funding Update The elections for the incoming 110th Congress are now over, but the old 109th Congress returns to Washington this week to finalize federal R&D appropriations for 2007. Only defense and homeland security funding have been finalized, leaving funding for most domestic programs on hold, including science agencies such as NIH and NSF. The October summary report of R&D in FY 2007 appropriations, now available on the AAAS R&D website ( www.aaas.org/spp/rd ), summarizes appropriations for federal R&D so far in the appropriations process and offers a guide to congressional action over the next several weeks. Participate in the Directory for Scientists with Disabilities The prestigious Resources Directory for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities invites individuals with disabilities who hold graduate or undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics to enter their names and bios in the fourth edition. The directory documents accomplishments and is used by educators, journalists, grant-giving agencies, speakers’ bureaus, policy makers, and others. For more information on the directory and the AAAS Project on Science, Technology, and Disability, go to http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/1010directory.shtml . Apply for a Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship For more than 30 years, the AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship has trained student scientists to become better communicators. Fellows work as science reporters for the summer at renowned mass media sites nationwide. The application deadline for the summer 2007 program is 15 January 2007 . For more information and an application, go to http://www.aaas.org/programs/education/MassMedia/ . Meet the 27 November Voting Deadline for AAAS Officers Members who have not returned their ballots for the 2006 election of the AAAS president-elect, members of the Board of Directors and Committee on Nominations, and section officers are urged to do so by 27 November. If you did not receive a ballot, contact Gretchen Seiler at gseiler@aaas.org . Consider a Year End Gift to Advance Global Well-Being While remaining steadfast in our mission to "Advance Science and Serve Society," AAAS was particularly active this year in addressing significant challenges to the overall scientific enterprise. Please lend your support to our work on the frontlines of public debate, confronting threats to the integrity of science and communicating its importance in our lives. For online donations, visit http://www.aaas.org and select "Make a Gift" in the left-hand tower. Or, for additional ways of giving, contact AAAS Development at +1 (202) 326-6636 or development@aaas.org . NEW AAAS MEMBER BENEFIT Free Electronic Subscription to New MIT Press Journal The MIT Press is offering AAAS members complimentary subscriptions to a new quarterly journal: Innovations: Technology/Governance/Globalization . Providing fresh perspectives and analysis on all angles of scientific, technological and policy change in areas as diverse as sustainability, public health, and small business growth, Innovations sparks conversation across disciplines and seeks to benefit individuals in communities around the world. Take advantage of your complimentary subscription today at http://promo.aaas.org/innovations . Meet Up at Upcoming Events: Stop by the AAAS booth to pick up your member pin. The American Society for Cell Biology 46th Annual Meeting, 9-13 December, San Diego , California , U.S.A. Information: http://www.ascb.org/meetings/am2006/index.cfm Additional Meetings of Interest Animal Health Research: Recent Developments and Future Directions, 24-26 January 2007, Cambridge, United Kingdom . More Information >> Workshop: Functional Genomics of Malaria Parasites, 18-27 March 200, Pathumthani, Thailand . More Information >> IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience, 12-17 July 2007, Melbourne, Australia . Abstract and Early Registration Deadline: 31 January 2007. Information: http://www.ibro2007.org . E-mail: ibro2007@sallyjayconferences.com.au . Find Other Meetings and Events Search our database of meetings, conferences, career fairs, career workshops, courses, and awards: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/meetings . This month’s Advances is sponsored by Biocompare Why waste time searching through product catalogs? Biocompare’s online buyer’s guide allows life scientists to easily search for products and compare product specifications side by side to find the best tools for their research. Biocompare also includes the most recent research news, product reviews, webinars, and videos on the latest technologies. Save time, visit http://www.biocompare.com/ . 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/ .