In this issue:

Message to Members: AAAS Annual Meeting Report: Science without Borders

News to Note:
-- Highlights from the AAAS Annual Meeting
-- Welcome to AAAS President Nina Fedoroff
-- AAAS Election Results
-- Eisenhower's Farewell Warning Revisited
-- Climate Scientists Build Bridges to Skeptics on Capitol Hill
-- Murenzi Named Head of TWAS
-- AAAS/NSF Report Calls for Modernization of Undergraduate Biology Education
-- Recommendations for Stem Cell Science
-- NSF Science & Technology Centers Integrative Partnerships Success
Member Benefit: Hertz Discount

Science Careers: Featured jobs

Announcements:
-- National Symposium—Science on FIRE: 28–29 March, Boulder, Colorado
-- 2011 Abelson Event: Breaching Barriers in Alzheimer's Disease, 6 April, Washington, D.C.
-- Call for Symposium Proposals 2012 Annual Meeting: Deadline 26 April
-- AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy: 5–6 May, Washington, D.C.  
-- Working With Congress: A Scientist's Guide to Policy
-- International Engagement: Responsible Bioscience for a Safe and Secure Society
-- AAAS Awards
-- International Science Journalists Fellowships
-- International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge
-- Eppendorf & Science Prize Application Deadline 15 June
-- GE & Science   Prize for Young Life Scientists Application Deadline 1 August
-- 2011 AAAS Leadership in Science Education Prize for High School Teachers Deadline 27 May
-- Join the AAAS President's Circle

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Message to Members

2011 AAAS Annual Meeting Report: Science Without Borders

Dear Colleagues,

Our recent Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. was an unqualified success as thousands of scientists, engineers, educators, policy makers, students, and members of the media crossed international boundaries to participate in a crossover of disciplines to advance cutting-edge research and innovative science education. We celebrated the global and multidisciplinary scope of "Science without Borders" with a diverse mix of participants from some 50 nations during a packed five-day schedule of plenary and topical lectures, symposia, seminars, workshops, and special sessions, activities, and events.

Among the renowned speakers were Cal Tech virologist Alice S. Huang, who opened the meeting with the AAAS President's Address; Assistant to the President for Science and Technology John P. Holdren, who reiterated the administration's commitment to "out- innovate, out-educate, and out-build the competition;" Cal Tech bioengineer Frances H. Arnold, who spoke about creating the efficient and sustainable products of the future; and MIT biologist Graham Walker, whose remarks focused on science education and inspiring students one-by-one.

We also advanced public engagement with science, inviting the community to all plenary lectures and the weekend Family Science Days, intriguing over 2000 parents and children alike with hands-on demonstrations and a series of "Meet the Scientists" presentations. Other events included student poster sessions, science educator sessions, a series of 18 career development workshops, 150 exhibits from around the globe, and—new this year—a Jobs Zone, Career Resource Center, and meeting coverage via the AAAS MemberCentral website.

As the 177 th AAAS Annual Meeting came to a close on 21 February, we welcomed new AAAS President Nina V. Fedoroff, a geneticist and molecular biologist who served as science adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Outgoing-president Huang began a one-year term as chair of the AAAS Board of Directors.

Additional speakers and presentations are covered in highlights from the meeting, below. You'll find more reports at http://news.aaas.org.

As we plan the 2012 AAAS Annual Meeting next February in Vancouver, Canada, we invite you to submit proposals for symposia around the theme "Flattening the World: Building a Global Knowledge Society." Please see Announcements for a link to theme and submission details.


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: http://bit.ly/eHI5CE

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News to Note

Highlights from the 2011 AAAS Annual Meeting Plenary Talks Presidential Address: Alice S. Huang Opens Meeting Discussing her groundbreaking research on viral infection and her practice of science diplomacy in the lab and on the international stage, AAAS's president focused on international cooperation, the advancement of women and minorities in science, and science education. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0221alice-huang-plenary.shtml John P. Holdren: Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, and a former AAAS president, presented a mid-course update on President Obama's deep policy engagement using and his S&T investments seen in part as essential drivers of the country's economic future—from clean energy to science education. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0220holdren-plenary-talk.shtml Frances H. Arnold: Engineering Biology in the 21 st Century The Cal Tech professor of chemical engineering and biochemistry discussed how to direct the power of design and evolution to bioengineer new medicines, fuels, and materials, saying "therein lies the solution to the energy crisis, the cure for cancer." Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0220frances-arnold-plenary.shtml Graham Walker: Inspiration and Engagement in Education In his introductory biology class for all undergraduates, the MIT professor and cancer researcher employs an innovative "creative engine" teaching model to reach each student in a way that will ignite their personal interest, determined to find the next superstars of science. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0222graham-walker-plenary.shtml Plenary Panel: Biosecurity Research responsibility is the best defense against biothreats, a panel of biosecurity experts said, discussing the anthrax attacks of ten years ago and subsequent measures to insure lab safety as well as prevent a future biological attack. The panel included moderator Jeanne Guillemin of the MIT Security Studies Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases head Anthony Fauci, U.S. Representative and physicist Rush Holt, Institute of Genome Sciences director Claire Fraser-Liggett, and infectious disease specialist Rita R. Colwell of the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0221biosecurity-plenary.shtml Symposia, News Briefings, Workshops Science Policy: Feeding the World Of the world's 7 billion people and growing, 1 billion are chronically hungry—the challenge is using research and technology to produce more food from the same amount of land while cutting food waste, scientists and international food policy experts told a symposium. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0225post-17.shtml Behavioral Science: Nature vs. Nurture The perennial debate about whether anti-social behavior is rooted in genetics or is acquired was explored by a criminologist researcher and criminal justice professor with the goal of identifying children at risk early enough to intervene. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0225nature-nurture-in-antisocial-behavior.shtml Environmental Science: Informing Study Participants Researchers in environmental pollution are searching for ways to report personal results to the hundreds of people who provide blood samples and house sweepings to assist studies measuring the chemicals harbored in the body. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0224pollution-gets-personal.shtml Applied Physics: From Telescopes to Human Eyes Adaptive optics, a technique used to probe the center of the Milky Way, is transforming vision research by focusing on tiny blood vessels, according to experts at a symposium. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0217black-holes-and-bleary-eyes.shtml "Aeroecology": A New Scientific Discipline Atmospheric science, geography, ecology, and computational science combine to study the unique borderland skimming the earth's surface, researchers explained at a news briefing. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0218aeroecology.shtml Neuroscience: Mind Controls Machine A unique brain-machine interface that allows patients to multitask as they direct robots was one of the technologies designed to aid people with disabilities described by scientists at a news briefing. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0218mind-body-robot.shtml Asteroseismology: Kepler Discovers Star "Music" A new discipline is examining star oscillations, or "tones," that could help in the search for Sun-sized stars that shelter Earth-sized planets, already identifying 1200 "candidate" planets, researchers reported at a symposium. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0219latest-from-kepler.shtml Food Chemistry: Taste Perceptions and Preferences While taste buds can perceive sweet, sour, and other tastes in food, smell is necessary to register brain-created flavors, a symposium panel that included the White House Executive Pastry Chef explained, also citing salt as an acquired preference that could be modified to healthier levels. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0220hard-wired-for-chocolate-and-fries.shtml Public Engagement: The Science of Comedy Communicating science with humor is an effective way to explain concepts, interjecting relevant and entertaining stories, anecdotes, and word play, a "science comedian" told a laughing audience during his workshop. Read more. http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0222the-scientist-as-comedian.shtml Read full coverage and watch videos of Annual Meeting presentations. http://news.aaas.org http://www.eurekalert.org/aaasnewsroom/2011/ http://membercentral.aaas.org

AAAS President Nina V. Fedoroff: Expanding Science's Role Across International Borders
"It's never been more important for scientists to work together on the big issues confronting the world: food, energy, and water," said incoming AAAS president Nina Federoff in a recent interview. A widely influential plant biologist, Fedoroff served as science adviser at the U.S. State Department and USAID, experiencing international engagement first hand, and is currently establishing a new center for desert agriculture in Saudi Arabia. She also is a professor at Pennsylvania State University and a member of the external faculty of the Santa Fe Institute. Read more and listen to the interview.
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0303am_fedoroff_profile.shtml

AAAS Election Results
President-Elect, Board Members, Nominating Committee, Section Officers
President-elect William H. Press, professor of computer science and integrative biology at the University of Texas at Austin and a noted researcher, serves as a member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). We also welcome new Board of Directors members Raymond L. Orbach, University of Texas at Austin and Inder M. Verma of the Salk Institute. Read full election results, including Committee on Nominations and Section Officers.
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/03012011_elex.shtml

Seminar at AAAS Recalls Eisenhower's Farewell Warning Against a Scientific Elite
On the 50th anniversary of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's farewell address, science policy experts discussed his comments about science and technology. The president had warned against a growing armaments industry and "military-industrial complex," while rattling the scientific community by adding "we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite." This was seen as a threat to government support of academic research by the first president to appoint a full time science adviser. The adviser said later that when queried, Eisenhower separated his support for academic research from the danger of industry research with military implications. Read more.
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0211eisenhower.shtml

Climate Scientists Build Bridges to Skeptics on Capitol Hill
During the first official "Climate Science Day," organized by AAAS and ten other science groups, 35 scientists met with members of Congress and aides representing 22 states. Rather than urge policy makers to support climate legislation, the specialists focused on issues specific to each congressional district such as costly beach erosion in Florida, agricultural pests in Tennessee, sustainability of the ski industry in Colorado, and hurricane remediation in Louisiana. Although skepticism remains despite scientific evidence solidly supporting man-made global warming, the scientists were cautiously hopeful after opening new lines of communication. Read more.
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0302am_climate_day.shtml


AAAS's Murenzi Named Executive Director at TWAS
Romain Murenzi, a Rwandan physicist and director of the AAAS Center for Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, has been selected to lead TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world. Murenzi was an architect of Rwanda's science-for-development strategy while serving as a government minister from 2001 to 2009, when he joined the AAAS International Office. He brings expertise in capacity building, science education, and international cooperation to his new post with the academy, which counts 1,000 members from some 90 nations. Read more.
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0209murenzi_twas.shtml

AAAS/NSF Report Calls for Modernization of Undergraduate Biology Education
After years of collaboration among biology students, professors, and researchers, AAAS, the National Science Foundation, and their partners have released Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action. The report urges multidisciplinary instruction, including newly pioneered disciplines such as genomics, proteomics, synthetic biology, and systems biology, which would reflect how the science is being practiced in the 21 st century. Vision and Change was developed through a series of meetings, a conference, and focus groups. Plans for an implementation conference in 2012 are underway. Read more and access the full report.
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0223vision_change.shtml

Recommendations for Stem Cell Science Released at AAAS Event
New recommendations governing data and material sharing and intellectual property in stem cell science were discussed by the influential Hinxton Group at AAAS in late January. The group's third Consensus Statement, developed last fall during meetings with more than 40 participants from eight countries, responds to the tension between holding materials closely and translating basic science into treatments. Recommendations include a global database for sharing data, materials, and intellectual property. Read more, watch the panel discussion, and access the full statement.
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0208hinxton.shtml


AAAS Review Credits NSF Centers with Advances in S&T
The NSF Science & Technology Centers Integrative Partnerships program has contributed to significant advances in science and technology through large-scale transformative research collaborations in the United States, according to a review conducted by AAAS. The program awards grants to universities, national laboratories, industrial organizations, and other entities that join together to create new multidisciplinary research centers. The report analyzes the work of 17 centers including one that brought researchers from more than a dozen universities and government agencies together to collaborate on powerful computer models to improve predictions of U.S. climate change. Read more and access the AAAS review.
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0301stc.shtml

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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.

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Member Benefit

Hertz car rental
Save up to $30 per day on selected makes and models when you rent from Hertz using your AAAS member discount (*Discount can vary based on car make and model, rental location and length of rental). To use your discount just visit Hertz.com. On the reservation form you'll see a field titled "Discount/CDP/Club Code". Input the AAAS member discount code: 343457 in this field. When you click "Submit", the next page automatically calculates your savings. Happy travels from Hertz and AAAS!"

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Announcements

SPECIAL EVENTS

National Symposium—Science on FIRE: 28–29 March, Boulder, Colorado
Science on FIRE: Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research and Education, presented by AAAS and the Colorado Initiative in Molecular Biotechnology, will convene many of the nation's leaders in interdisciplinary science, with a primary focus on the biosciences--to define best practices to support current and future interdisciplinary research and education programs across the country. Topics and a workshop hosted by AAAS CEO Alan I. Leshner and Thomas Cech, the Initiative's director, will include: organizational design and management of interdisciplinary programs; mutual implications of interdisciplinary and disciplinary research; and interdisciplinary education. For the agenda, speakers, and registration information, go to: http://firesymposium.colorado.edu. A limited number of seats are still available.

2011 Abelson Event: Breaching Barriers in Alzheimer's Disease, 6 April, Washington, D.C.
You are cordially invited to the 2011 Philip Hauge Abelson Advancing Science Symposium: Breaching Barriers in Alzheimer's Disease, which will take place on Wednesday, 6 April 2011 at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This special event, organized by AAAS in collaboration with The Agouron Institute and Science Translational Medicine, is free of charge for invited guests but advance registration is required.

Call for Symposium Proposals 2012 AAAS 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. For a theme statement and proposal submission guidelines, go to http://www.aaas.org/meetings/2012/program/symposia/submit/.The 2012 meeting will be held in Vancouver, Canada, 16-20 February.

AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy: 5–6 May, Washington, D.C.  
Since 1976, the two-day annual Forum has been the most important venue to learn what is happening and what is likely to happen in the coming year on the federal budget and the growing number of policy issues that affect researchers and their institutions. Program Highlights include Keynote Address by Presidential Science Advisor John P. Holdren; Budgetary and Policy Context for R&D in FY 2012; National Innovation Strategies; U.S. Research Capacity; Communicating Science for Policy; and Emerging Issues in Scientific Integrity. To register and view the full program go to www.aaas.org/forum.


REPORTS

Working With Congress: A Scientist's Guide to Policy
Working With Congress is designed to bridge the gap between the mutually dependent "cultures" of science and government. The first two chapters of this book provide background on congressional organization and the legislative process, while Chapter 3 discusses in detail the communication strategies that one can utilize and presents a list of the top ten rules for working with Congress. Purchase the book today and learn effective ways to engage in the policy process.
http://www.aaas.org/spp/cstc/wwc.shtml

New Report on Bioscience Released by AAAS and JUST
Based on discussions during a meeting of life scientists from the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States in Amman, Jordan last fall, AAAS and the H.R.H. Princess Haya Biotechnology Center at JUST have released a report examining the critical issues in bioscience. "International Engagement: Responsible Bioscience for a Safe and Secure Society" covers the successes and barriers to scientific and human capacity and responsible research conduct in a field that is advancing globally at an unprecedented rate. Access the full report.
http://cstsp.aaas.org/content.html?contentid=2430


AWARD WINNERS

Winners of the 2010 AAAS Science Awards Honored at 2011 Annual Meeting

AAAS Award Winners
Recognizing exemplary accomplishments in a range of science-related fields
Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award: Elizabeth Loftus of the University of California at Irvine
Newcomb Cleveland Prize: A draft sequence of the Neandertal genome (detailed in a Science paper by Richard E. Green, David Reich, Svante Paabo, and colleagues)
Science Diplomacy Award: Glenn E. Schweitzer, U.S. National Academies and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science: Lynford L. Goddard, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Public Understanding of Science and Technology Award: J. John Cohen, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Lifetime Mentor Award: Joel D. Oppenheim, New York University School of Medicine.
Mentor Award: Joseph M. DeSimone, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
Philip Hauge Abelson Award: U.S. Representative Rush Holt of New Jersey

Joshua E. Neimark Memorial Travel Assistance Endowment: Awarded to four scholars to present research posters at the AAAS Annual Meeting
-Andreina Parisi-Amon, Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University
-William Burnside, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico
-Diane Yu Gu, Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
-Jesse Hastings, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University
Read more.
http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0216advancing-science-serving-society.shtml

2010 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards
Citing professional journalists for distinguished reporting to a general audience
Large Newspaper: Charles Duhigg, The New York Times
Small Newspaper: Hillary Rosner, High Country News
Magazine: Steve Silberman, Wired
Television-Spot News/Feature Reporting: Sarah Holt, NOVA scienceNOW
Television-In-Depth Reporting: Alan Alda, Graham Chedd, Larry Engel, Jared Lipworth, in association with WNET.ORG
Radio: Richard Harris, Alison Richards, NPR
Online: William Saletan, Slate
Children's Science News: Cody Crane, Science World (Scholastic)
Read more.
http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/02182010-science-journalism-awards.shtml

AAAS/Subaru Science Books & Film (SB&F) Prizes
Celebrating outstanding books that engage young readers
Children's Science Picture Book: Author Joanna Cole, Illustrator Bruce Degen
Middle Grades Science Book: Author Loree Griffin Burns, Photographer Ellen Harasimowicz
Young Adult Science Book: Author Rebecca Skloot
Hands-on Science Book: Author Sean Connolly
Read more.
http://news.aaas.org/2011_annual_meeting/0216subarusbf-encouraging-science-literacy.shtml

International Science Journalists Awarded Fellowships
Accomplished newspaper, broadcast, and magazine journalists from Argentina, Chile, China, and Egypt attended the recent AAAS Annual Meeting under the 2011 AAAS-EurekAlert! Fellowships for International Science Reporters. The four fellows had the opportunity to cover groundbreaking research and advance worldwide communication, supported by the global news service operated by AAAS. Read more.
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0215am_intl_fellows.shtml

2010 Visualization Challenge Winners Announced
Communicating science in novel and visually stimulating ways that the public can understand is the criteria for the annual International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge, cosponsored by AAAS/ Science and the U.S. National Science Foundation. Among the winners were innovative visuals of rippling molecules, HIV in 3D, and tracking trash through recycling. Awards were given in Photography, Illustrations, Informational Graphics, and Non-Interactive Media. Read more about the winners and their entries.
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0217viz_award.shtml


AWARD DEADLINES

Apply for the Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology: Deadline 15 June
The International Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology honors one young scientist annually for the most outstanding neurobiological research based on methods of molecular and cell biology, conducted during the past three years. The prize is US$25,000. For entry details and judging procedures, go to www.eppendorf.com/prize.

$25,000 GE & Science   Prize for Young Life Scientists: Deadline 1 August
Visit http://www.sciencemag.org/feature/data/prizes/ge/howto.dtl

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 at bgoldste@aaas.org.

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.

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