In this issue:

Message to Members: Furthering the Careers of Scientists and Engineers

News to Note: S&T Conference in East Africa, Project 2061-Rwanda Partnership, "Convergence" in Biomedicine, Science and Human Rights Coalition Meeting: Haiti and Bridging Gaps, Image Analysis of Darfur Destruction

MemberCentral: Coverage of the AAAS Annual Meeting

Science Careers: New "Women in Science" Booklet, Annual Meeting Careers Workshops

Announcements: Constance Holden: A Retrospective, 2011 Annual Meeting and Free Public Events, 2012 Annual Meeting Call for Symposia Proposals, AAAS/Subaru Essay Contest Winners, Project 2061 Assessment Workshop, Minority Science Writers Internships, Innovative High School Teacher Nominations, Science SPORE Award Winner, President's Circle

---

---

Message to Members

Furthering the Careers of Scientists and Engineers

Dear Colleagues,

Critical to the AAAS mission to advance science is our broad range of programs to expand and enhance the scientific and engineering work force and the quality of careers for our members. Our initiatives support all career stages and disciplines, as well as  traditional and non-traditional paths in industry, academia, government, professional organizations, and nonprofit institutes.

Science Careers offers valuable and freely accessible resources, including both career advice and a searchable database of open positions and employers. A series of career advice booklets ranges from running a lab, to careers away from the bench, to the newest edition of Women in Science, which covers green science research. Various webinars featuring live discussions on career-related topics  are also available on-demand. Science Careers also holds workshops nationwide at universities and colleges, conference and trade shows. To assist in locating funding opportunities, GrantsNet identifies available sources for research and training in the sciences. You'll find these and other tools at www.ScienceCareers.org, the most comprehensive web resource for career development and job postings.

The AAAS Center for Careers in Science and Technology, a collaboration of individual AAAS departments and affiliated organizations, promotes a range of other programs and services. For example, MySciNet provides a networking community for scientists and students from diverse backgrounds and CTSciNet connects clinical and translational researchers involved in developing medical therapies. You'll find additional information at www.aaas.org/programs/centers/careers.

Finally, this month's AAAS Annual Meeting, 17-21 February in Washington, D.C., will include a meeting of the Committee on Opportunities in Science, breakfasts for networking and for women and minorities in science, 18 different career workshops, a Career Resource Center, and a Jobs Zone.

We encourage you to take advantage of AAAS/Science resources for all career stages, from postdocs entering the work force to established scientists and engineers.

Sincerely,

Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS

P.S. Tweet about the AAAS Annual Meeting or simply follow along with the Twitter hashtag #AAASmtg. Not on Twitter? You can still read what people are saying by going to this link.

---

News to Note

East Africa Builds S&T Vision to Power Prosperity
At a landmark conference held in Rwanda in December, organized by AAAS and the Rwandan Ministry of Education, six East African nations agreed to expand their collaboration. Science, government, and education leaders from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, along with the Democratic Republic of Congo, pledged to establish a forum of science ministers, as the countries come together as partners after years of regional disputes and internal strife. Four key areas emerged. Education is critical in a region where less than one percent of the population has college degrees. Gender barriers must be overcome to bring women into S&T studies. Data must be collected and shared to identify funding and partnership opportunities and facilitate interaction between scientists. The foundation laid by an inventory of resources will then be utilized to build collaborations. Read more about the deepening engagement between AAAS and the African scientific community and access supplemental materials.

AAAS's Project 2061 Forms Partnership with East African Science Educators
During the five-day visit by AAAS officials to Rwanda, Project 2061 reviewed the publications the Atlas of Science Literacy and Science for all Americans with curriculum administrators and discussed how they could be tailored to Rwanda's culture and needs. Further collaboration is planned, and other countries at the conference expressed interest in working with AAAS on science education and curriculum development. Read more.

Forum Explores "Convergence" in Biomedicine
A white paper from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), presented at a forum hosted at AAAS headquarters, says a new mode of scientific research called convergence -- bringing together life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering -- could create a "third revolution" in biomedical research, following the revolutions fueled by the discovery of the structure of DNA and the subsequent mapping of the human genetic blueprint. Speakers, noting that multi-discipline collaborations are encouraging, also stated that the emerging field is likely to shake up traditional approaches in funding agencies and research institutions. Read more, watch a video of the forum, and access the MIT report.

Human Rights Coalition Examines Role of Science in Post-Quake Haiti
A panel of scientists reported significant contributions by S&T in responding to crucial needs in post-quake Haiti, during a day-long meeting of the AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition held in January on the eve of the catastrophe's anniversary. The panelists described how scientific aid has extended beyond rebuilding efforts, including identifying psychosocial needs, establishing communications networks for reporting violence, and developing survey methods to measure unemployment and homelessness. The scientists stressed that conditions remain dire and the continuing strong engagement of the scientific community is vital in serving Haitians today and building the country's own scientific capacity for the future. Read more.

AAAS Satellite-Image Analysis Confirms Destruction in Darfur
The AAAS Geospatial Technologies and Human Rights Project, in cooperation with Amnesty International USA, has corroborated reports by the humanitarian organization ReliefWeb of widespread destruction across seven villages in Negeha and Jaghara, South Darfur, since 2005. Analysis of high-resolution satellite images from December 2005 and January and December 2010 revealed 265 housing structures either damaged or destroyed by early last year and another 554 structures damaged or destroyed during 2010. AAAS has provided technical support for monitoring threatened settlements in the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan since 2007. Read more and access the full AAAS analysis.

---

Now on AAAS MemberCentral

Connect with AAAS members at membercentral.aaas.org, the website for and about AAAS members with exclusive stories, photos, videos, webinars, and podcasts. A sampling follows. (Need help with your username or password? Click here)

Can't attend the AAAS Annual Meeting? Follow along at MemberCentral! Our reporters will be covering the meeting, recording sessions, and interviewing attendees. Be sure to check back on the website February 17-21.

---

Science Careers

Science Careers, published by AAAS, offers many resources to help you 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, you'll find helpful tools on the site -- all for free. Thousands of searchable jobs from academia, industry, and government are available as well as job alert e-mails, career advice, a resume/CV Database, webinars, and more. Visit ScienceCareers.org today.

New Science Careers Booklet
WOMEN IN SCIENCE: Forging New Pathways in Green Science
Science and the L'Oreal Foundation bring you the next Women in Science booklet, focusing on women pursuing research in "green science." The stories feature extraordinary women whose passion for discovery and compassion for our planet and its peoples fuels their search for answers to difficult issues such as global climate change, famine, drought, and epidemics. We hope you enjoy their stories and take inspiration from their personal tales.

AAAS Annual Meeting Careers Workshops
During the 2011 Annual Meeting, 17-21 February in Washington, D.C., 18 different workshops will support career development. A sampling of workshops are listed below:

• Perspectives on Employment for or from Persons with Disabilities
• Writing Scientific Papers in English: Tips and Resources
• Professional Science Master's Degrees: Graduate Degrees for an Entrepreneurial Age
• Keeping Your Batteries Charged in Grad School: Staying Motivated and Productive
• Working with Congress: Communicating in a Nanosecond Environment
• Everything You Wanted to Know About a Science Career But Were Afraid to Ask

---

Member Benefits

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press Publications
AAAS members can now receive a special 15 percent discount on eight exceptional books for lab scientists and educators from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press Publications. Go to www.cshlpress.com/affiliates/aaas.htm, click on "Enter CSHL Store" and browse "Special Offers for Affiliates."

---

Announcements

Constance Holden: A Retrospective
AAAS is pleased to announce an exhibition celebrating the art and words of Constance "Tancy" Holden. A gifted journalist whose 40-year tenure at Science ended with her tragic death last April, Tancy was also a highly accomplished artist whose work regularly appeared on the walls of AAAS. Through its juxtaposition of 60 oil paintings with excerpts from her writing, Constance Holden: A Retrospective attempts to capture the full spectrum of her personality and reflect the color and passion that were hallmarks of her life. 10 February through 8 April.

The AAAS Gallery is on the first floor of the association's headquarters at 1200 New York Avenue, NW, in Washington, D.C., and is accessible through the 12th and H Street entrance. The gallery is open and free to the public from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with special hours on Saturday and Sunday, 19 and 20 February, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2011 AAAS Annual Meeting, 17–21 February, Washington, D.C.

AAAS Invites Public to Free Events During the Annual Meeting
"Science Without Borders" will engage the public with open plenary lectures by renowned speakers and the popular weekend Family Science Days, in addition to a full schedule of seminars and symposia exploring cutting-edge research. The 177th AAAS Annual Meeting is being held at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

Call for Symposium Proposals 2012 Annual Meeting: Deadline 26 April
Theme: Flattening the World: Building a Global Knowledge Society
The AAAS Annual Meeting is one of the most widely recognized interdisciplinary scientific events, with hundreds of networking opportunities and broad national and international media coverage. Visit our website for a theme statement and proposal submission guidelines.The 2012 meeting will be held in Vancouver, Canada, 16-20 February.

Winners Announced in 2011 AAAS/Subaru Essay Writing Competition for K-12 Educators
Five science teachers have been selected for the AAAS/Subaru Essay Writing Competition Award for their submissions on designing science lesson plans and integrating science trade books into the classroom. During the AAAS Annual Meeting this month, two teachers will be honored as winners and three as honorable mentions, chosen from entries submitted nationwide. Access the list of teachers and essay titles.

Project 2061's Three-Day Assessment Workshop Debuts 16-18 March
With an online collection of high-quality assessment items for middle school science nearly complete, Project 2061 has developed a workshop for  teachers, researchers, and assessment specialists. The three-day professional development experience introduces Project 2061's approach to science assessment and criteria and procedures for developing effective items that are carefully aligned to science ideas. The workshop also focuses on making use of the items to diagnose students' difficulties learning particular ideas. The first workshop will be held at AAAS Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Sign up to get an e-mail announcement with details.

Apply for AAAS Minority Science Writers Internships: Deadline 1 March
The journal Science invites minority undergraduate students with a serious interest in science writing to apply for 10-week paid summer internships in Washington, D.C. The interns experience first-hand the process of covering the S&T issues that shape our global economy, under the guidance of award-winning reporters and editors. Find out more and access the application for the 2011 class.

Nominate an Innovative High School Science Teacher: Deadline 27 May
Calling all U.S. high school science department chairs and administrators: nominate teachers for the 2011 AAAS Leadership in Science Education Prize for High School Teachers. The $1,000 prize honors a high school science teacher who has advanced science education by developing and implementing an effective strategy, activity, or program. The winner will also receive a complimentary one-year institutional subscription to Science magazine and will be invited to attend and make a brief presentation at the annual Shanghai International Forum on Science Literacy of Pre-college Students as a guest of the Shanghai Association for Science and Technology.
Access prize details, nomination forms, and application forms. For more information, contact Barbara Goldstein. 

Polar-Themed Website Wins Science SPORE Award
The compelling content of a site called "Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears" is successfully bringing science into elementary school classrooms, not only engaging students but also making teachers more confident about teaching science. Judged to be among the best and most innovative online materials, integrating science and literacy, the site has won the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE). An article by the site's creators, science educators Kimberly Lightle and Jessica Fries-Gaither, was published in the 28 January issue of Science. Read more and access the site.

Join the AAAS President's Circle
AAAS's undertaking to advance science in the service of society is an enormous one, especially now as we are increasingly called upon by the administration and Congress, the science community, and the public to speak up for science on a host of global issues. You can help to ensure that the voice of science -- your voice -- is heard by becoming a part of the President's Circle today with a philanthropic contribution of $500 or more. You will receive updates about our activities and invitations to AAAS events. Visit us online at www.tinyurl.com/dye8kn or call +1-202-326-6636 for more information.

---

---

More About AAAS

AAAS News & Notes appears in Science in the last issue of each month.
You can also read more about AAAS at www.aaas.org.
Science magazine is available at www.sciencemag.org.
Change your mailing address or other info at www.aaasmember.org

Invest in AAAS
Contributions from our members and friends are needed to support AAAS's mission to promote science in all forms. Visit us online to make a gift, or call +1-202-326-6636. With your support, we can continue to speak up for you -- and advance science for the benefit of society worldwide.

How to Subscribe to Advances
If a friend has sent you this e-mail, and you would like to start receiving your own copy each month, you must first become a AAAS member.

How to Get Off This Mailing List
Use the "preferences" link at the bottom of this email.