In this issue:

Message to Members: Education: The Foundation of the Scientific Enterprise

News to Note:
--Nobel Laureate Presents New Model for Science Education
--AAAS-Supported Graduate Degrees Awarded to Washington D.C. Teachers
--AAAS Brings Kids' Science to Satellite Radio
--EurekAlert! Launches Video Series for Middle Schoolers
--Researchers Urge Expanded Role for Women in Nanoscience
--AAAS Board: Attacks on Climate Scientists Inhibit Free Exchange of Findings
--Capitol Hill Briefing Examines Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage
--AAAS Cites Free Arab Press Benefits to Science
--Conference Urges Adaptation of Clinical Trials to Meet New Demands
--Film Screened at AAAS Urges Kids to Play Again
Member Central
--Special Coverage of the 2011 Pacific Division Conference
Science Careers:
--Featured jobs
Member Benefit:
--Member Discount on Dell Products
--Give Science at Special Gift Rates
Announcements:
--Save the Date: 2012 AAAS Annual Meeting
--AAAS Regional Division Meetings
--Science SPORE Award Winner
--SACNAS Leadership Institute
--Project 2061 Assessment Workshop
--GE & Science Prize Application Deadline
--2011 AAAS Awards Nomination Deadlines
--Join the AAAS President's Circle

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Sponsored by:

Join AAAS and Science Translational Medicine in Hong Kong from November 10-12, 2011 for Days of Molecular Medicine 2011. Take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to learn from, and network with, some of the world's most influential researchers in regenerative medicine.


For registration and more information visit dmm.aaas.org.

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Message to Members

Education: The Foundation of the Scientific Enterprise

Dear Colleagues,

The advancement of science and its benefit to society begin not only with the education of future innovators but also with ensuring that all students are well-equipped with the tools needed to thrive in the modern economy and workforce.

AAAS is a leader in K-12 science education reform, actively advocating the adoption of a framework for voluntary U.S. national standards and providing standards-aligned resources for science teachers and students. Recently, we launched a new website to assist educators in assessing middle and high school students' knowledge about science concepts as well as science misconceptions. We also helped develop a practical introduction to the science education policy process for teachers, researchers, and administrators. Other initiatives to advance K-12 science education include bringing retired scientists and engineers into classrooms to assist teachers, a science in the summer program, an after-school online science club, a web-based video series for middle schoolers, a science news portal and radio segments created to engage younger children, and a graduate degree program for middle school science and math teachers in Washington, D.C.

Continuing our efforts to improve science education, AAAS has a broad range of initiatives to transform undergraduate and graduate programs. Earlier this month, we hosted the annual meeting of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, established to train science, technology, engineering, and math K-12 teachers in high-need school districts. In May, we organized a conference on interventions and initiatives that broaden participation in science and engineering research careers. Earlier this year, we hosted two conferences focusing on university initiatives to create innovative teaching techniques for K-12 teachers, and a third conference covering the training of scientists from historically underrepresented groups. In addition, AAAS co-authored a report calling for the modernization of undergraduate biology education through multidisciplinary instruction, and developed a guide to recruiting and supporting minority graduate students. Find out more about AAAS education initiatives in News, below, and at www.aaas.org/programs/education/.

Our commitment to strengthening and expanding a diverse science and technology workforce extends to career support. Programs such as internships for aspiring scientists and engineers with disabilities, a network for minority scientists, support for a leadership institute to advance Chicano and Native American scientists, and events including the recent workshop focusing on an expanded role for women in nanoscience help foster the talents of underrepresented groups. You'll find comprehensive career development and job search resources for all career stages and disciplines in traditional and non-traditional paths in both the public and private sectors at www.ScienceCareers.org.

AAAS also strives to advance science by engaging and educating the public. Communications tools help researchers explain their work to non-scientific audiences; town hall meetings on current issues foster a public dialogue; and Family Science Days during the AAAS Annual Meeting and our annual White House Egg Roll exhibits bring the excitement of discovery to all ages. The videos and blogs at our MemberCentral website highlight the work of our members in everyday language, and show a side of scientists often unseen by the general public.

The scientific enterprise drives innovation and economic growth. With the support of our members, AAAS strengthens the educational and career foundation vital to advance science and serve society. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS

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News to Note

Nobel Laureate Presents New Model for Science Education
During a recent talk at AAAS, Carl Wieman, Nobel laureate in physics and associate director for science in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, detailed an experiment in teaching techniques between two undergraduate introductory classes in the physics of electromagnetic waves. The results showed that unconventional teaching methods based on recent research into how people learn garnered better attendance, engagement, and test scores, and Wieman explained how science can be used to improve the teaching of science. The event also featured a program that places retired scientists, engineers, and physicians as teaching assistants in K-12 classrooms. Read more and see the presentation slides.

Programs Co-sponsored by AAAS Award Graduate Science and Math Degrees to Washington D.C. Teachers
Three-year degree programs, co-sponsored by AAAS, offer middle school and high school math and science teachers the opportunity to advance their education skills and become leaders in their school districts. The 14 graduates of DC ACTS (DC Advancing Competencies in Technology and Science) and the 12 graduates of DC FAME (DC Fellows for the Advancement of Mathematics Education) successfully applied for and completed the free degree programs, funded by federal and local departments of education and George Washington University. The graduates cited the benefits to their own science and math skills, as well as the acquisition of more innovative teaching techniques. Read more about the class members.

AAAS Brings Kids' Science to Satellite Radio
Each month, AAAS's Bob Hirshon answers questions such as "do ants sneeze?" and "why is dirt brown?" as the science expert on the SiriusXM Satellite Radio program "Absolutely Mindy." Hirshon and host Mindy Thomas discuss stories from the AAAS 60-second daily radio feature, "Science Update," which he has produced since 1988 and is now broadcast on hundreds of U.S. radio stations. The fun and lively tone of "Absolutely Mindy" draws kids into science as they call in to ask questions. Read more.

EurekAlert! Launches Video Series for Middle Schoolers
A neurobiologist talks about his research on language and stuttering among parrots and songbirds in one short video in a new series that shows scientists themselves, rather than dinosaurs and robots, as compelling characters. The freely accessible video resource from AAAS's EurekAlert! news service targets children between nine and 14 years old with interviews that focus on current cutting-edge research and stories from the researchers' childhoods that pointed them to careers in science. Read more and access the videos.

Researchers Urge Expanded Role for Women in Nanoscience
A group of women researchers convened at AAAS to discuss the first data presented on the representation of women in nanoscience, saying increases in their talent pool and perspective could bring major advances in fields ranging from energy to medicine. The research showed that women now make up only one-fifth of faculty at NSF-funded Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers. Three speakers cited the advantages of increased participation, such as possibilities for innovations with societal impact, as well as the challenges, including the lack of a network or society for women scientists and difficulties attaining funding. Read more.

AAAS Board: Personal Attacks on Climate Scientists Inhibit Free Exchange of Findings
Leading U.S. scientists have voiced concern about threatening communications and abusive e-mails as a result of their research on the climate impact of heat-trapping gases from human activity, leading the AAAS Board of Directors to issue a statement, on 28 June. Personal attacks have included harassment, legal challenges, and even death threats, creating a hostile environment that inhibits the free exchange of scientific findings and "could well have a chilling effect on the willingness of scientists to conduct research that intersects with policy-relevant scientific questions." Read more and access the full statement.

Capitol Hill Briefing Examines Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage
During a briefing organized by AAAS, an international panel of nuclear experts discussed the politically fraught search for appropriate underground repository sites for radioactive spent nuclear fuel -- none now exist worldwide. The panel stressed the growing need for a long-term solution, saying 30 countries with nuclear power plants are now in the process of determining strategies and noting the recent U.S. decision to scrap a spent-fuel repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Currently, about 90 percent of the world's spent fuel is stored in water-filled pools and the remainder in dry casks made of steel surrounded by reinforced concrete. Read more and access the new report by the International Panel on Fissile Materials, discussed at the briefing.

AAAS Cites Free Arab Press Benefits to Science
As the 7th World Conference of Science Journalists opened in Doha, Qatar, an essay by AAAS CEO Alan I. Leshner and InterAcademy Panel co-chair Mohamed H.A. Hassan said the ongoing "Arab Spring" and an increasingly robust science-reporting community present an opportunity for resurgent scientific progress and innovation in the Arab world. The essay, published on the "Convergence" blog at Wired.com, affirmed the importance of a free press in "providing a conduit for exchange between science and the rest of society," adding that good journalism, like good science, "thrives on openness and a respect for truth based on evidence." Read more and access the full essay.

Conference Urges Adaptation of Clinical Trials Paradigms to Meet New Demands
During a June conference co-sponsored by AAAS, experts in clinical research stressed that trials are crucial to developing lifesaving drugs and procedures while eliminating what does not work, but said the system is falling behind the needs of society. The consensus was that clinical trials must be adapted to the demands of 21st century medicine. Strategies ranged from harmonizing and standardizing the conduct of trials to engaging patients as partners in the research process; incorporating advances in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, which could produce answers quickly using fewer patients; to a Web-based "virtual" clinical trial for some studies. Read more.

Film Screened at AAAS Urges Kids to Play Again
The documentary film Play Again, recently screened under the auspices of the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships program, cautions that children are losing contact with the natural world and urges educators to integrate nature into the regular classroom program. The film shows how the landscape of childhood has changed in the era of digital media and mass advertising, with the average American child spending more than seven hours a day in front of a screen and spending the least time outdoors of any generation in history. The film's producer cited studies suggesting that regular exposure to the natural world decreases stress while increasing concentration, learning, and general well-being. Read more.

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MemberCentral

Special Coverage of the 2011 Pacific Division Conference
Watch special coverage from the AAAS Pacific Division's annual meeting at the University of San Diego, held 12-16 June. There are lectures on the changing dynamics of Antarctic ice, an update on the expansion of the Panama Canal, a look at ice age giants and what they can tell us about extinctions happening today, and much more. Plus, reports on current mummy research via the World Congress on Mummy Studies.

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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

Dell July Offer
July member exclusive coupon
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Visit: dell.com/epp
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This offer is valid for AAAS based in the US only, please see MemberCentral for Non-US Dell discount offers

Give the Gift of Science and AAAS Membership
Give a colleague, friend, or student 51 issues of Science, Science Online and full member benefits and receive our free "Scientists on Vacation" shirt. http://promo.aaas.org/gift

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Announcements

Save the Date for the Olympics of Science
2012 AAAS Annual Meeting, 16-20 February, Vancouver, BC
Theme: "Flattening the World: Building the Global Knowledge Society"
Attend this one-of-a-kind event that attracts scientists and engineers from around the globe who are interested in the influence of science and technology on how we live today and tomorrow. In a symposium-focused environment, about 700 experts will present new and exciting advances and developments in their fields as well as in multidisciplinary research to thousands of scientists, engineers, educators, and policy-makers, all of whom will interact with each another and with hundreds of members from national and international media. Sign up for updates: www.aaas.org/meetings.
Registration opens on 2 August.

Attend Your AAAS Regional Division Meeting
Four regional divisions of AAAS carry out the objectives of the association in their respective territories, focusing on science-related matters of local concern. Upcoming meetings:

Molecular Workbench Wins Science SPORE Award
Charles Xie, a computational physicist who grew up in China, is the architect of software that draws students into the real world of science, allowing them to manipulate live visualizations of atoms and molecules according to the laws that govern their interaction. Molecular Workbench, a collection of classroom-ready interactive online lessons that have been downloaded nearly 800,000 times, has been recognized by the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE) for its innovative approach. Read more, visit the site, and access an article about the project, published in the 24 June issue of Science.

SPECIAL EVENTS

SACNAS Leadership Institute: 25-29 July
AAAS and the Society for the Advancement of Chicano and Native American Scientists will host their third annual Leadership Institute, 25-29 July at AAAS. The Leadership Institute, supported by NIH/NIGMS, prepares 30 early and mid-career scientists for active roles as leaders in their communities. Applications for the 2012 session will open early next year. Learn more about the collaboration here.

Project 2061's Three-Day Assessment Workshop: 12-14 October
Held in Washington, D.C., the new assessment workshop, "Developing and Using Assessments Aligned to Science Learning Goals," is designed to introduce teachers, researchers, and assessment specialists to Project 2061's approach to science assessment and criteria and procedures for developing effective tools closely aligned to science ideas. Early bird discounts are available. Register now.

AWARD DEADLINES

Application Deadline

Apply for the GE & Science  Prize for Young Life Scientists: Deadline 1 August
The GE & Science Prize for Young Life Scientists provides support for outstanding Ph.D. graduates from around the world who received their degrees in the general area of molecular biology. The prize is US$25,000. Eligibility, entry, and judging information.

Nomination Deadlines for 2011 AAAS Awards

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 more information, contact Brittany Taggart at (202) 326-6671, email btaggart@aaas.org, or Yolanda George at (202) 326-6677, e-mail ygeorge@aaas.org.

AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards: 1 August
The AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards, endowed by The Kavli Foundation, represent the ultimate achievement in the field of science reporting. Prizes are awarded in eight categories: large and small newspapers, magazines, television spot news/feature reporting, television in-depth reporting, radio, online media outlets, and children's science news. More information.

AAAS Award for Public Engagement with Science: 15 August
The AAAS Award for Public Engagement with Science recognizes working scientists and engineers who make outstanding contributions to the "popularization of science." For more information contact Rahman A. Culver at (202) 326-6645, e-mail raculver@aaas.org.

AAAS Philip Hauge Abelson Award: 1 September
The AAAS Philip Hauge Abelson Award honors a public servant for sustained exceptional contributions to advancing science or a scientist or engineer for a distinguished career of both scientific achievement and other notable services to the scientific community. More information. 

AAAS Award for Science Diplomacy: 1 September
The AAAS Award for Science Diplomacy honors an individual or limited number of individuals working together in the scientific or engineering community for making an outstanding contribution to furthering science diplomacy.  For more information contact Linda Stroud at (202) 326-6659, e-mail lstroud@aaas.org.

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 (202) 326-6794, e-mail drunkle@aaas.org.

AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books: 1 September
The AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books, sponsored by Subaru, celebrates outstanding science writing and illustration for children and young adults. For more information contact Heather Malcomson at (202) 326-6646, e-mail hmalcoms@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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Sponsored by:

Join AAAS and Science Translational Medicine in Hong Kong from November 10-12, 2011 for Days of Molecular Medicine 2011. Take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to learn from, and network with, some of the world's most influential researchers in regenerative medicine.


For registration and more information visit dmm.aaas.org.

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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.