In this issue:

Message to Members: S&T in the 2008 US Presidential Election

News to Note: Closer Ties with UK and Ireland, State Education Leaders Address Workshop, Teaching Smarter in Ohio, Gender Bias in S&T, Digital Library Boosts Biology Education, Minority Faculty Members Navigate Career Paths

Advancing Science, Serving Society: Diverse Range of Summer Interns

Science Careers: Career Fair Preparation, Science Writers Panel

Announcements: Sign Up for Annual Meeting Updates, Science Signaling Offers Free Research, Call for Student Posters, Project 2061 Fall Workshops, CFC Campaign, Caribbean Division Annual Meeting

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Message to Members

S&T in the 2008 US Presidential Election

Dear AAAS Member,

While the economy, climate, energy, national security, and health care top the concerns of Americans during this presidential election, it is the employment of science and technology to meet these challenges that will be the test of presidential leadership.

To bring the critical role of scientific research into the political debate, and to keep the scientific community and the public abreast of the candidates’ positions, AAAS has published commentaries in major newspapers and is co-sponsoring on 18 September a dialogue with campaign spokespeople. We also offer a comprehensive information resource through our dedicated website, http://election2008.aaas.org/. You will find comparisons of positions on competition and innovation, STEM education and the work force, health care, energy, environment and climate change, security, and governance. A monthly newsletter reports election updates, polls, surveys, and other news. Links connect you with the candidates’ statements and other S&T presidential information.

With S&T playing an increasingly important role in national and global policy, and the health and well-being of people worldwide, AAAS is providing a nonpartisan venue for public education and discussion. We urge our members to join the debate, as part of our continuing mission to advance science and serve society.


Sincerely,


Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS

P.S. You can sign up to receive updates on new information related to science, technology, and the 2008 presidential election by sending your name and e-mail address to congress_center@aaas.org under the subject line: "Election."

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News to Note

AAAS Meetings Forge Closer Ties to UK, Ireland
Strengthening links on science issues was the goal of a three-day mid-July visit to the UK and Ireland by AAAS President James J. McCarthy and AAAS Director for International Cooperation Tom Wang. In Dublin, AAAS and top scientists and government officials discussed the importance of strong cross-Atlantic collaborations. In Cambridge and London in the UK, the discussion focused on new and enhanced partnerships in communicating the findings of science and educating the public. Also in July, AAAS officials visited Barcelona, Spain, organizing symposia at the EuroScience Open Forum to reinforce the bond between science in Europe and the United States. Read more.

Top US State Education Leaders Address AAAS Workshop
Long a leader in the education field, AAAS’s Project 2061 sponsored a late-July workshop where 11 top state education officials heard from colleagues about the challenges they face on the front lines on science education. The workshop focused on developing new ways to promote broad science literacy through well-designed curricula to drive first rate science teaching and learning essential in the workplace, the economy, and the wider culture. Read more about the pioneering initiatives of Project 2061 and the resources available to educators.

AAAS Sponsors Discussion on Gender Bias in the S&T Work Force
US laws prohibiting discrimination have led to more subtle -- but still insidious -- gender bias in today’s work force. The situation was discussed by participants from academia, federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations in a recent workshop at AAAS. The session cited social science research that provides evidence of continuing discrimination—and offered background information on laws promoting diversity and strategies to induce innovation and change in academia, which lags behind industry in diversity. Read more and learn about the paper, "Bias Literacy," which is the basis for the workshop.

AAAS Ohio Workshop Teaches Educators How to Teach Smarter
During a mid-July workshop, a group of 16 veteran science teachers from the US Midwest learned the surprising lesson that less is more -- and teaching fewer, more important ideas and how these ideas relate is smarter and more effective. The Columbus, Ohio, workshop continued a series that began in 2002, introducing AAAS’s Project 2061 tools and strategies for standards-based learning from kindergarten through 12th grade. Read more about how science educators are teaching smarter and see Announcements, below, for information on upcoming workshops.

Digital Library Boosts Undergraduate Biology Education
As biology knowledge grows and teaching methods lean toward inquiry-based rather than lecture-style instruction, educators need more tools than a textbook. An initiative coordinated by AAAS, the BioSciNet (BEN) portal, spans 77 biology topics with links to 11,000 peer-reviewed resources in the digital libraries of 24 collaborators. During a two-year faculty professional development program, BEN scholars learn how to use and contribute research to the digital libraries. Read about this year’s scholars, who met in Washington, D.C. in mid-July, and the AAAS-managed collaboration.

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Advancing Science, Serving Society

Diverse Range of Students Complete AAAS/Science Summer Internships
The AAAS emphasis on exceptional science education includes enhancing that education with valuable summer work experience. Recently, students from across the United States completed an array of internships through AAAS/Science supported programs, including the three programs mentioned below.

AAAS ENTRY POINT!
Undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities-including physical, sensory, and cognitive-spent the summer at major corporations and government entities in a premier program to foster an inclusive science work force. Since 1994, AAAS has matched 540 students to paid summer internships with more than 90 percent of the interns going on to careers in technical fields. Recently, a group from among this summer’s 45 interns discussed the program with members of the US Congress and met for a reception at AAAS. Read more about how intelligence and diligence override disability.

AAAS Minority Writers Internships
From pitching stories to podcasting, two newly minted college graduates worked with the award-winning news team at Science and the journal’s daily online news service Science NOW. The 10-week paid summer internships, now in their fourth year, are open to minority undergraduates with a serious interest in science writing. The goal is to help budding minority journalists expand and diversify participation in science journalism as the scientific enterprise becomes more global. Read more about these enterprising interns.

AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowships
Doctoral candidates in biophysics, chemistry, earth and space science, and environmental science were among the 14 science, engineering, and mathematics students who became science reporters at major broadcast and print media organizations. For more than 30 years, the 10-week program has engaged graduate level students in writing, editing, and research with the objective to increase their effectiveness in communicating complex ideas to a general audience and, thereby, increasing public understanding of S&T. Read more about their stories.

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Science Careers

Science Careers has a new look and new features that make it easier to advance your career, whether you’re seeking a new job, advice on career advancement in your chosen field, or ways to stay current on industry trends. Some of the features you’ll find on the newly redesigned site include:

- Enhanced job searching
- Relevant job e-mail alerts
- Improved resume/CV uploading
- Search by geography
- Multimedia section.

Visit ScienceCareers.org today. Your future awaits.

Career Fair Preparation Workshop, 25 September at AAAS
The Science/AAAS Outreach Program is co-sponsoring "Getting the Most out of a Career Fair," a workshop held in cooperation with Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI). This workshop will cover topics related to how best to prepare for career fairs, writing a standout resume, and immigration issues for foreign postdocs. This event is in advance of the 16 October career fair at NIH (see item below).
Thursday, 25 September, 8 a.m.-12 noon.
AAAS Auditorium, 1200 New York Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Space is limited. Registration (free) is required and walk-ins will not be admitted.
Register now by clicking on this link.

STEM Talent 2008, 16 October, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
A Symposium and Career Fair for Postdocs in the Capital Region will cover career options for postdoctoral fellows working in federal labs and universities in the Washington, D.C., area. Recruiting employers include government and private sector entities looking for high-level science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professionals.
Thursday, 16 October, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Natcher Center at NIH, 45 Center Drive, Bethesda, Maryland.
For more information and to register, click on this link.

Science Writers Panel, 11 October, Salt Lake City, Utah
A panel discussion, Careers in Science Writing, will be hosted by Jim Austin, Editor, Science Careers. The panel, to be held during the national conference of SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science), will give guidance to minorities who are underrepresented in the field of science writing.
Saturday, 11 October, 3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
For more information, click on this link.

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Announcements

Sign Up for AAAS Annual Meeting Updates
Sign up for the 2009 Annual Meeting Updates listserv and receive periodic program notices on the meeting, to be held 12-16 February in Chicago, Illinois. The full program will be available beginning 9 October at www.aaas.org/meetings.

Science Signaling, Now with Primary Peer-Reviewed Research
Now, Science Signaling (formerly known as Science’s STKE) offers original research. Try the 2 September issue for free with registration. 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.

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.

Attend AAAS Project 2061 Fall Workshops for Educators
Learn more about AAAS’s new Atlas of Science Literacy, Volume 2 and how to put it to use to improve curriculum, instruction, and assessment during the popular professional development workshops "Using Atlas of Science Literacy." Designed for K-12 science teachers, curriculum specialists, and other educators and researchers, the workshop demonstrates how participants can use the conceptual strand maps in Atlas 1 and Atlas 2, along with other Project 2061 resources, to enhance their own understanding of science literacy and take a benchmarks-based approach to helping all students achieve literacy in science, mathematics, and technology.

15-17 October, Washington, D.C., AAAS Headquarters
5-7 November, San Francisco, California, University of San Francisco, Parnassus Campus

Registration is limited and Early Bird rates are available. For more details and a registration form, go to our workshop information page. For 2009 workshops, go to http://www.project2061.org/events/workshops/default.htm. To sign up for our free e-newsletter and automatic updates on workshops and other Project 2061 news, go to http://www.project2061.org/about/feedback.asp.

US Federal Workers Can Support AAAS Through the CFC
You can select AAAS on the Combined Federal Campaign’s national/international list, supporting innovations in science, engineering, and technology to serve society globally. All donations go to the AAAS Fund for Excellence to assist in proactively addressing critical issues such as education, climate change, national security, science diplomacy, and scientific integrity. The contribution period is 1 September-15 December. Note the AAAS CFC number 10134. http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/giving/types/cfc.shtml

Attend the AAAS Caribbean Division Scientific Meeting
On 4 October, the Caribbean Division will commemorate its 22nd anniversary with a series of workshops and symposia at University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. Information: http://bc.inter.edu/aaas/hot_stuff.htm

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