In this issue:

Message to Members: Advancing the Public Dialogue on Science and Technology

News to Note: Geospatial Analysis in Ethiopia, Fighting Antiscience Legislation, Australia’s New Innovation Minister, Community Wireless Networks, Science Advice for the Next US President, Middle-Grade Teachers’ Master’s Programs, Final Reports from the S&T Forum

Advancing Science, Serving Society: AAAS Center for Science, Technology, and Security Policy
Science Careers: New Postdoc Survey

Announcements: Nominations for Annual Meeting Lecture, Awards for Young Women Scientists, Science & Policy Director to Lead Academy, 2008 AAAS Awards Nominations Deadlines, and other announcements.

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Message to Members

Advancing the Public Dialogue on Science and Technology

Dear AAAS Member,

A more open and active dialogue between AAAS and the public is giving voice to public perspectives about issues such as global climate change and energy policy, embryonic stem cell research and genetic medicine, and evolution in science education. Scientists and researchers are responding to these views, going beyond peer-reviewed publishing to communicate their results directly to a broader public audience.

AAAS recognizes that many researchers never receive formal training in how to clearly and effectively communicate their work to the public. The AAAS Center for Public Engagement with Science and Technology aims to fill this gap. In conjunction with the National Science Foundation, the center created a new website and workshop initiative called Communicating Science: Tools for Scientists and Engineers. Online resources from this program include webinars, how-to tips for media interviews, strategies for identifying public outreach opportunities, and more. Additional workshops for scientists and engineers interested in learning more about science communication tools and techniques are in development for the coming academic year, after the success of two pilot workshops in San Jose, California and Raleigh, North Carolina this past spring.

AAAS fosters public understanding of science in other ways as well. We sponsor an award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology that honors scientists and engineers who make outstanding contributions to this dialogue. Our prestigious science journalism awards and sought-after Science magazine internships foster excellence in general science reporting. The journal itself has won 13 major awards in the past few years for compelling news stories that also reach far beyond our membership as many are cited in articles in the mainstream media. We continue to call for a science debate between the 2008 US presidential candidates to focus wider public attention on critical research and funding issues.

Add your voice to the public dialogue on S&T. Together, we can build a partnership to further advance science and serve society. Thank you.

Sincerely,


Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS

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News to Note

AAAS Geospatial Analysis Confirms Attacks in Ethiopia
Attacks on tens of thousands of ethnic-Somali Muslims living in eight remote locations in eastern Ethiopia have been corroborated by an analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery. The images and analysis, showing burned villages and towns, are incorporated into a report released by Human Rights Watch on 12 June, following a four-month investigation. AAAS has pioneered the use of geospatial technology in human rights cases to document events in places that deny entry to on-the-ground investigators. Read more and access the AAAS report on the S&T issues surrounding the use of this instrument for monitoring human rights.


Australia’s New Innovation Minister Presents Revitalization Plans
Kim Carr detailed the Australian government’s plans to revitalize the national science infrastructure and research programs at a recent briefing of the Washington Science Policy Alliance, an informal group that includes AAAS and other science-related institutions. Soon after last November’s election, the country ratified the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. Policy goals include increased funding for basic research, upgraded university teaching and research facilities, and greater collaboration between private industry and public research. Read more.


Community Wireless Networks Could Work for the Public Good
The universal human right to receive and impart information can be enhanced by wireless access for all, experts stated at the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks, hosted by AAAS in late May. Some 20 nations were represented by 175 wireless leaders, innovators, and proponents who presented different models for deploying wireless networks, the available technology, and proposed use in the promotion of human rights and community cohesion. Read about the efforts in the United States and other countries, and the opportunities and difficulties involved, including privacy protection.

Final Reports from the AAAS Forum on S&T Policy
Three additional presentations from the major annual US science policy meeting are now available online.

John H. Marburger III Looks Back--and Forward to the Next Administration
After nearly seven years as White House science adviser, Marburger’s keynote address reviewed the record on R&D spending, noted that some major initiatives have yet to take off, offered advice to his successor, and urged scientists and engineers to serve in the federal government.

Demographic Expert Richard Jackson Addresses "Graying" of Developed Countries
A massive demographic riptide looms, warned Jackson, as the population in most developed countries stagnates or even declines, creating economic and social challenges. The coauthor of a new report, "The Graying of the Great Powers," discussed geopolitical implications.

Panel Outlines Development of Human Enhancement Tools
Noting profound ethical and integrity issues, along with health effects, the panel discussed the use of pharmaceutical human enhancement tools by athletes, students, and soldiers alike, and emerging compounds that could modify the genetic code.

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Advancing Science, Serving Society

Featuring: AAAS Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy (CSTSP) AAAS’s CSTSP programs advance the integration of science and public policy for national and international security by establishing communication links among scientists, policy analysts, and policy makers. A series of recent briefings organized by the center provided expert information on security policy:

Global Security Scholars: United States Seeks Military Domination of Space
Experts told a Capitol Hill briefing that the United States is now actively studying ways to achieve full military dominance of space, having refused for the past 30 years to negotiate equitable rules for peaceful use by all countries. This is in violation of established international rules and could cause other nations to take self-protection measures that threaten other countries, according to the experts. Read more.

Climate Experts: Even a Regional Nuclear War Could Have Broad Climate Impact
During a briefing for reporters and a second briefing on Capitol Hill, an atmospheric scientist and a climatologist emphasized that a regional nuclear war--for example, between India and Pakistan--could disrupt world agriculture for decades and threaten starvation for a billion people or more. Read about the computer climate models that predict tons of black soot particles from burning cities could soar into the upper stratosphere, blocking sunlight and producing average surface temperatures colder than the last ice age.

Nuclear Weapons Experts: How Many? Thousands, Hundreds, or Zero?
At a recent conference, three speakers debated the complex nuclear strategies that America must develop for the 21 st century to influence the behavior of other countries to reduce the international risk of atomic warfare while also maintaining national security. Read more about the search for the "sweet spot" in new nuclear policy.

2009 Proposed Biodefense Budget: Some Cuts and Overall Growth
As many US hospitals remain unprepared for terrorist attacks or major disease outbreaks, President George W. Bush’s proposed biodefense budget would cut support for hospital preparedness by 15 percent and state and local capacity-building efforts by 18 percent. The proposals call for a 39 percent increase in bioweapons, prevention, and defense. Leading experts at a June Capitol Hill briefing provided perspectives. Read more about the Capitol Hill briefing, planned by CSTSP, the AAAS Center for Science, Technology, and Congress, and the Congressional R&D Caucus.

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Science Careers

Read the latest career features from Science Careers. You can also search jobs, get career advice, find grant information and much more on www.sciencecareers.org - all for free.

Science ’s annual Postdoctoral Survey publishes 29 August 2008
Don’t miss this exciting annual feature with thousands of postdocs weighing in on what makes for a good postdoc experience, in the 29 August issue of Science and online at ScienceCareers.org.
Recruiting the best and brightest postdocs? Advertise your positions in this issue to reach more than 95,000 Ph.D. scientists. Contact Daryl Anderson at danderso@aaas.org or +1 202-326-6543.

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Announcements

John P. McGovern Award Lecture in the Behavioral Sciences: Nominations Deadline 1 August
AAAS invites nominations of prominent behavioral scientists to deliver the John P. McGovern Award Lecture in the Behavioral Sciences at the 2009 Annual Meeting in Chicago (12-16 February). The lecture, first delivered in 1990, honors outstanding behavioral scientists from around the world. For more information and to send your nominations, e-mail Anne Moraske at amoraske@aaas.org or call +1-202-326-6636.

Young Women Scientists Receive US$40,000 Award
Five young researchers have been selected from among nearly 200 applicants for the 2008 L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science in a competition managed by AAAS. Read about the winners: a neuroscientist, physicist, chemical oceanographer, computational neuroscientist, and aerospace engineer.

The Art of Science Wins Major Awards
Science ’s 2007 Breakthrough of the Year cover, cleverly illustrating "Human Genetic Variation" as a T-shirt, was recently recognized by a bronze award in the prestigious EXCEL awards of the Society of National Association Publications. The cover attracted hundreds of requests for the actual T-shirt which was then produced from the art and recently cited with a design award in the 59 th Annual Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington competition. A second Science cover, illustrating last year’s special issue on immunology, also received an EXCEL award, winning first place in the journal cover illustration category. Read more about the awards.

New AAAS Exhibit: Viruses and Rocks
Inspire Works of Art
Two virologists and a geologist display artworks based on their science in an exhibit featuring viruses depicted in beadwork and geologic forms illustrated as paintings. The AAAS Gallery in Washington, D.C., open to the public Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm, features the show through 5 September. Read about the scientist artists and their creative process.

New Science /AAAS Webinar:
CNVs vs SNPs: Understanding Human Structural Variation in Disease – Recorded Live on 16 July
12 noon Eastern Time (9 am Pacific, 5 pm GMT ).
Copy number variations (CNVs) have been shown to be associated with several complex and common disorders. Improvements in array-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) techniques allow for exploration of the genome for sources of variability beyond SNPs that could explain the strong genetic component of a number of these disorders. Join our expert panelists to learn more about SNP and CNV technologies and how these can be applied in disease research and ask questions of the speakers.
Register today for the live 16 July event, or view anytime on demand after 21 July: www.sciencemag.org/webinar.
Produced by the Science /AAAS Business Office and sponsored by Agilent.

Submit Papers to Science Signaling
Formerly known as Science ’s STKE, Science Signaling is adding original research beginning in September. Each week, leading-edge findings will be published in addition to current features. Researchers are invited to submit papers that provide new concepts and new understanding of biological signal transduction for publication consideration. Science Signaling also welcomed the new Chief Science Editor, Michael B. Yaffe, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Submit your work here.
Subscribe to Science Signaling

Participate in the Screening for AAAS Science Journalism Awards
Scientists who will be in the Washington, D.C. area between mid August and mid September are invited to review entries in this year’s prestigious AAAS Science Journalism Awards. More than 400 journalists have been honored for science reporting since 1945.

Application Deadline for the GE and Science Prize for Young Life Scientists – 1 August
A prize worth US$25,000 will recognize research in molecular biology by an outstanding graduate student. The deadline for applications is 1 August. Full details.


2008 AAAS Awards Nominations Deadlines

2008 AAAS Mentor Awards: 31 July
The AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award and the AAAS Mentor Award honor individuals who, during their careers, demonstrate extraordinary leadership to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the science and engineering Ph.D. work force. These groups include: women of all racial or ethnic groups; African American, Native American, and Hispanic men; and people with disabilities. For questions, contact Jessica Kunkler at jkunkler@aaas.org or call +1-202-326-6671.

2008 AAAS Science Journalism Awards: 1 August
The AAAS Science Journalism Awards, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. (J&JPRD), represent the ultimate achievement in the field of science reporting. Prizes are awarded in seven categories: large and small newspapers, magazines, television, radio, online media outlets, and children’s science news. For more information contact Earl Lane at + 1-202-326-6431, e-mail elane@aaas.org.

2008 AAAS Award for Public Understanding of S&T: 15 August
The AAAS Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology recognizes working scientists and engineers who make outstanding contributions to the "popularization of science." For more information contact Stacey Pasco at +1-202-326-6645, e-mail spasco@aaas.org.

2008 AAAS Philip Hauge Abelson Award: 1 September
The AAAS Philip Hauge Abelson Prize is awarded either to a public servant, in recognition of sustained exceptional contributions to advancing science, or to a scientist whose career has been distinguished both for scientific achievement and for other notable services to the scientific community. For more information contact Stephen Nelson at +1-202-326-6600, e-mail snelson@aaas.org.

2008 AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility: 1 September
The AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility honors scientists, engineers, and their organizations whose exemplary actions, sometimes taken at significant personal cost, have served to foster scientific freedom and responsibility. For more information contact Deborah Runkle at +1-202-326-4950, email drunkle@aaas.org.

2008 AAAS Award for International Scientific Cooperation: 1 September
The AAAS Award for International Scientific Cooperation recognizes an individual or a limited number of individuals for making extraordinary contributions to further international cooperation in science and engineering. For more information contact Linda Stroud +1-202-326-6650, email lstroud@aaas.org.

Call for Posters for AAAS Student Competition: Deadline Thursday, 16 October.
The competition is open to college undergraduate and graduate students only. Winners receive a cash prize, a framed certificate, and a one-year AAAS membership including a subscription to Science. The names of first-place winners and honorable mention entrants will be published in Science. For more information go to www.aaas.org/meetings.

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