Message to Members: The Nexus: Where Science Meets Society
Voice Your Opinion: 125 Years of Science
AAAS in Action: News to Note
AAAS at Work: Programs at the Forefront
AAAS Announcements: Items of Interest
Read On, Online: Science Sites


Message to Members:
THE NEXUS: WHERE SCIENCE MEETS SOCIETY

Dear AAAS Member,

AAAS has become a vital link between advancing science and serving society. We'll explore that link at our 2005 Annual Meeting, 17-21 February in Washington, D.C.

The Nexus: Where Science Meets Society will bring the world's premier researchers together to present the breadth in science, engineering, and technology experienced in no other scientific meeting. Join us for exciting and energizing symposia and lectures in 17 session tracks ranging from reproduction and regeneration science to public safety; emerging diseases in developing countries to disappearing cultures; genomics to planetary explorations. Two-day seminars will explore nanotechnology, the inundation of data, school science, and microarray gene expression.

For information, including exhibitors and events such as Family Science Days, and to register go to: http://www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting/ . Last year's meeting attracted 10,000 participants and the 2005 meeting is expected to be even larger.

Thank you for your support as we head into another year of challenge and discovery.

Sincerely,
Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS

P.S. Share your opinion on the leading scientific breakthrough of the last 125 years in our opinion poll!


Voice Your Opinion
2005 marks the 125th anniversary of Science. Tell us what you think is the leading scientific breakthrough of the last 125 years. Vote here.

See last month's poll comments: http://promo.aaas.org/kn_marketing/poll1104.shtml .


AAAS in Action:
NEWS TO NOTE

The Need to Improve Science & Technology Education
AAAS President Shirley Ann Jackson recently led off the Council on Foreign Relations' new discussion series, “The Nexus of Science and Foreign Policy.” Dr. Jackson cited the need to boost student performance in mathematics, engineering, and computing to meet the increasing importance of S&T in foreign policy issues ranging from defense and security to trade and global climate change. Read more about her remarks: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/1115jackson.shtml

The Pinnacle of Excellence for Science Reporters
A plague of killer germs is defeating antibiotics. Ancient Polynesian mariners crossed the sea to California . Junk DNA is being found in genes. These and three other articles won a 2004 AAAS Science Journalism Award recognizing outstanding reporting for a general audience. Read about the winners in the categories of large and smaller newspapers, magazine, TV, radio, and online: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/1118sja.shtml .

New AAAS Report Explores E-Voting
“Making Each Vote Count: A Research Agenda for Electronic Voting” was released just prior to the intensely fought 2004 U.S. presidential election. The report calls for extensive research to define problems and possible solutions, culled from input during a two-day seminar that brought technology and cyber-space experts, election officials, social and behavioral scientists to AAAS. Read the full report and watch a video of the discussions:
http://www.aaas.org/spp/sfrl/evoting/report2.pdf .


AAAS at Work:
PROGRAMS AT THE FOREFRONT

 R&D Budget and Policy Program
The science, engineering, and policy-making communities have benefited from AAAS's timely, comprehensive, and in-depth analyses of R&D funding trends in the U.S. federal budget since 1976. Each spring, the Program hosts the annual AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy, the premier U.S. conference devoted to S&T policy. The next Forum is 21-22 April 2005 in Washington , D.C. Please visit the website at www.aaas.org/spp/rd .

The AAAS analysis of R&D in final FY 2005 appropriations is now available. The record-breaking $132.2 billion U.S. R&D portfolio, up 4.8 percent, gives most of the increase to defense. The National Science Foundation (NSF) budget declines by 2 percent overall with education and human resources programs falling by 10 percent. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget is up just 2 percent, well behind the projected inflation rate for biomedical research. The Department of Energy (DOE) will see an increase of 2.8 percent. Read the full analysis, including historical trends, highlights of agency R&D portfolios, and impact on science and engineering disciplines in the AAAS publication, Congressional Action on R&D in the FY 2005 Budget , scheduled for release the week of 13 December: http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/upd1104.htm.


AAAS Announcements:
ITEMS OF INTEREST

New Member Benefit: A Rebate from Apple
Now it's easier to take your research on the road. Take advantage of an Apple rebate, exclusive to AAAS members: Purchase a 12-inch, 15-inch, or 17-inch PowerBook G4 anytime before 31 January 2005 , and receive $100 back, via mail-in rebate. For more information on this and other AAAS member benefits, go to http://aaasmember.sciencemag.org

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 and global research and also celebrate the World Year of Physics 2005. Information: http://www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting/ . To register online: http://registration.expoexchange.com/showAAA051 .

AAAS Annual Meeting: Career Opportunities
On 21 February, Annual Meeting attendees are invited to the free Science Career Fair to meet with employers representing biotechnology, pharmaceutical, government, and manufacturing organizations. You can also attend a free networking breakfast for women and minorities, career-building and exhibitor workshops, and panel discussions. Go to: http://www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting/02_PE/PE_06_Careers_home.shtml .

Working on Career Development in Stockholm
Tools for Researchers: A Career Development Workshop was presented 6 November in Stockholm , Sweden , by the Junior Faculty at the Karolinska Institute and Science 's Next Wave. An international audience of more than 100 delegates attended sessions including academia vs. industry careers and grant writing. Read more: http://nextwave.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2004/09/30/5#panel .

Nanotechnology Cyber Chat
Please join us for our cyber chat series on nanotechnology. The next chat, which will feature experts in the medical applications of nanotechnology, will take place on January 12th, from 10am to noon ET. All are welcome to participate. Details are available at http://www.eurekalert.org/nanotalk

Contribute to the Advancement of Science
The yearly “Fund for Excellence” campaign generates private support for new AAAS initiatives and priorities, in addition to the membership dues which provide critical program support. Donations from members and friends may be directed to a specific programmatic area or remain unrestricted. You may contribute at
http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/giving/levels/fund.shtml . Thank you. 

See the Answer: “Where Do You Read Your Science?”
We've compiled a collection of members' photos revealing the fun, interesting, and surprising places they've chosen to read their copy of Science. http://promo.aaas.org/kn_marketing/where_submissions.shtml .

Writing a resume? Negotiating a salary?
You can rely on Science Careers for guidance. We've partnered with a professional moderator and three well-respected advisers, who along with your peers, field career-related questions. Visit http://www.ScienceCareers.org today and start an online dialogue.

Double Discount at Barnes & Noble Online
Until 20 December, AAAS members receive an extra 5 percent off, for a total 10 percent discount, on all purchases at the AAAS/ Barnes and Noble.com bookstore. Make your must-read list and go to: http://www.aaas.org/bn .


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 AAAS Member Services
Give a membership to the largest general science society in the world at a special discounted rate. 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/winter2.html .