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| Advances - The Monthly Newsletter for AAAS Members - November 2011 | |
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In this issue: Message to Members: News to Note: Sponsored by: 2012 AAAS Annual Meeting - Flattening the World: Building the Global Knowledge Society Dear Colleagues, The AAAS Annual Meeting is one of the most widely recognized global science events, with hundreds of networking opportunities and broad global media coverage. An exceptional array of speakers will gather from 16-20 February in Vancouver, British Columbia. The theme of "Flattening the World: Building the Global Knowledge Society" is intended to focus the program on the complex, interconnected challenges of the 21st century and on pathways to global solutions through international, multidisciplinary efforts. Once every year, AAAS sponsors an international conference -- four days of symposia, lectures, seminars, workshops, and poster sessions that cover every area of science, technology, and education. Typically attendees hail from nearly 60 countries, and everyone is welcome. Those who join us will have the opportunity to choose from among a broad range of activities, including plenary and topical lectures by some of the world's leading scientists and engineers, career development workshops, and an international exhibition. AAAS also organizes a unique science showcase for the broader community that offers an array of hands-on demonstrations and other family- and child-friendly activities. Spanning two days in the Exhibit Hall, the free Family Science Days, with a broad variety of hands-on science exhibits, help to shine a spotlight on researchers and science educators who are working in both formal and informal settings to stimulate broad public interest in science and technology. AAAS last convened outside the United States in 1981 in Toronto. We will meet in Vancouver in 2012 for the first time. The science and technology community in Canada has provided invaluable assistance with our planning efforts, which I gratefully acknowledge. Our sections, divisions, and committees also make tremendous contributions, which are integral to the program. I also extend a personal thanks to the members of the Scientific Program Committee who organize the many excellent ideas and contributed proposals submitted into an outstanding meeting. I urge you to join us in Vancouver. Sincerely, Nina V. Fedoroff AAAS President and Program Chair; Evan Pugh Professor, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University; Distinguished Visiting Professor, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology AAAS Capitol Hill Briefing Explores Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury Dramatic incidents such as explosive devices, car crashes, and football collisions are the dominant images of traumatic brain injury. However, according to researchers at the last of three neuroscience briefings organized by AAAS, 80 percent of the blows to the head that define the condition are mild and never brought to the attention of a physician. These mild traumatic brain injuries, if repeated without allowing the brain to recover, can trigger progressive neurodegenerative deterioration resulting in behavioral changes, memory loss, and dementia -- clinical symptoms similar to Alzheimer's. The researchers discussed some evidence of increased vulnerability to still-developing brains, up to age 25, compared with the mature brain, as well as therapeutic strategies on the horizon and the need for increased funding to pursue recent leads. Read more. Science Groups Ask U.S. Deficit Panel to Preserve R&D Investments As the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction drafts a plan to cut at least $1.5 trillion over the next decade, AAAS led nearly 70 scientific and engineering societies and universities in a letter urging the preservation of research and development spending as "an effective path out of the current difficulties" and a spur to future growth and prosperity. The bipartisan group has until 23 November to draft a plan that would be subject to a congressional vote by 23 December. The 31 October letter to the committee co-chairs includes specific examples of how federal investment in R&D produces economic growth and other public benefits. Read more and access the full letter. AAAS Arctic Division Examines Critical Science Issues of Proposed Mine A public forum held during the recent meeting of the Arctic Division debated whether a vast proposed mine can be built in an earthquake zone above Bristol Bay, Alaska without disrupting what is perhaps the world's most productive wild salmon fishery along with the rich Alaska Native cultures of the remote and undeveloped tundra. Since the discovery of valuable minerals -- billions of tons of ore containing copper and gold, molybdenum, silver, and other deposits -- intense political and social conflict has developed. The forum assessed the risks and benefits of developing one of the largest mines in the world including estimates of the value of the deposits, infrastructure required, mine design, and mining waste storage. Read more about how science and engineering are informing the debate, and view a video and slide show.  AAAS Report Calls for Global Partnerships to Advance Haitian S&TContinuing the AAAS initiative that began within weeks of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the lead authors of the new report Science for Haiti reviewed their recommendations with representatives of government, universities, and NGOs. During the 20 October presentation at AAAS, specific goals and strategies developed in a series of workshops with Haitian science and education leaders and their global colleagues were outlined, with a call for a commitment to establish the partnerships that will help Haitians meet their objectives. The report strongly advocates the integration of science in the long-lasting reconstruction and development of Haiti, with international support while also assuring that the country leads their national science policy. Read more about the recommendations and access the full report. "Science and Society: Global Challenges" Public Lecture Series at AAAS The series, sponsored by AAAS, the American Chemical Society, and the Georgetown University Program on Science in the Public Interest, presents candid conversations with leading scientists, economists, and policy makers, hosted by NPR reporters Richard Harris and David Kestenbaum. The first two of four fall discussions are reported below.
Cyber Attack: Crime, Terrorism, or National Security?
EurekAlert! Fellowships Awarded to Chinese JournalistsDuring the first public lecture in the October-November series, security and public policy experts discussed the serious consequences in the event of a concerted cyber attack against U.S. businesses and power grids. The conversation focused on corporate espionage, intellectual property theft, and the threat against critical infrastructure, stressing the need for more secure systems to prevent cyber attacks, the importance of prosecuting cyber criminals, and the value of international cooperation. Read more about the lecture, organized by the AAAS Office of Government Relations and the AAAS Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy.  Fukushima: Lessons LearnedThe second public discussion examined the crisis at a nuclear electricity generating facility touched off by a tsunami in northern Japan. Nuclear power experts suggested that despite the significant contamination in the areas around the reactors and the costly long-term cleanup, the impact on global nuclear energy may be limited as demand for new plants is likely to expand. The experts noted that an international treaty following the Chernobyl, Russia disaster in 1986 led to improved cooperation among nuclear regulators internationally. After review of the Fukushima incident is completed, only modest changes in the regulatory environment are anticipated. Read more and access information on the final lectures in the series, which will explore infectious disease and nanotechnology. Five accomplished Chinese science journalists have been selected by a panel of independent judges to receive the 2012 AAAS EurekAlert! Fellowships for International Science Reporters. Awarded by EurekAlert!, AAAS's global science news service and its sister site, EurekAlert! Chinese, the fellowships seek to promote international scientific dialogue and advance the communication of science news to the global public. To that end, the fellows will report from the 2012 AAAS Annual Meeting next February, covering the latest scientific developments along with a cadre of other national and international science journalists. The award includes meeting registration, travel, and other expenses. Read more, learn about the recipients, and visit EurekAlert! Hitachi/AAAS Forum Discusses Initiatives for Sustainable Cities Beyond environmental benefits, cities across the United States and globally are promoting cultural shifts and employing off-the-shelf technologies to improve economic conditions and urban life. During the third in a series of sustainable cities forums sponsored annually by Hitachi Ltd. and organized by the Brookings Institute and AAAS, policy makers, researchers, and city managers focused on practical initiatives. In cities including Boston, Phoenix, Charlotte, Richmond, Virginia, and Dubuque, Iowa, strategies ranged from reducing water usage to encouraging green retrofitting, to leasing residential solar panels and adding cycling paths. U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu delivered the keynote address, saying that rebuilding urban centers creates job growth, a more efficient society, and a more competitive economy. Read more and watch a video.  AAAS's Science NetLinks Expands Education ResourcesThe pioneering site for K-12 education resources, which debuted in 1997, has launched new features and tools for teachers, students, and families. A breaking news section helps connect current events to science curricula. New search options aid exploration of hundreds of lesson plans, special resource collections, and after-school activities. The site now includes two AAAS news feeds: Science for Kids, stories based on reports from the journal Science; and ScienceNOW, the journal's daily online news section. Interactive opportunities include blog posts and community discussions, as well as an e-mail newsletter and a presence on Facebook and Twitter. Content from Science NetLinks also is featured on the Verizon Foundation's Thinkfinity.org website. Read more and access the new site.  A Decade After Anthrax Mailings, AAAS Presents RetrospectiveSpecialists in bioterrorism recounted the deadly anthrax mailings 10 years ago that left five dead, saying questions continue to be raised about the adequacy of the science used to identify a suspect and the ability to prevent such future attacks. The October meeting at AAAS called for a commission of experts on the microbiology of anthrax and the development of biological weapons to review the scientific underpinnings of the long and often contentious hunt for the perpetrator. In addition, the speakers urged agencies and institutions to enhance the screening of those who work with dangerous pathogens, developing appropriate biosecurity programs without having a chilling effect on the conduct of life sciences research. Read more and access a video dialogue. Role of Science in Seminaries Assessed During AAAS Workshop Seminary professors and students, clergy, and scientists gathered at a pilot event of the AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion (DoSER) to discuss incorporating more science into theological curricula at a time when religious leaders are looked to for guidance on life issues that are increasingly influenced by science and technology. Workshop speakers stressed that there is no inherent conflict between religious faith and scientific discovery, saying that promoting dialogue by preparing clergy to communicate science will serve common needs. Citing opportunities for integrating science in today's theological institutions, as well as the challenge of rapidly changing scientific developments, speakers offered updates on advances in the fields of neuroscience, space science, and evolution. Read more.  Neurobiologist Tiago Branco Wins 2011 Eppendorf & Science PrizeRecognized for his outstanding contributions to research into how single neurons in the brain can compute and convert information into behavior, Tiago Branco has won the 2011 Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology. In his award-winning essay, "The Language of Dendrites," the postdoctoral fellow at the University College London Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research wrote: "As we begin to understand the language of dendrites, we can start eavesdropping on their conversations and learn more about how the brain accomplishes its tasks." Read more about the prize for early career scientists, listen to an interview, and access the essays by the winner and the two finalists. Connect with colleagues at membercentral.aaas.org, the website for and about AAAS members with exclusive stories, photos, videos, webinars, and podcasts. Save the Date for the Next Installment of the Cutting Edge Lecture Series from AAAS MemberCentral On 18 January 2012 at 6:30pm, the AAAS headquarters will host top experts as they give ten-to-fifteen minute talks on the topic of "The Oceans." Details about the speakers and how to register are coming soon. 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. Finding Your Personal Job Chemistry ScienceCareers Featured Jobs:Faculty Positions - NeuroGenetics University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL Associate Director - Antibody Generation AstraZeneca R&D Chair Professors Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
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Mihalis "Mike" Lazaridis, known in the global wireless community as a visionary, innovator, and engineer of extraordinary talent, founded the Canadian company Research In Motion, launching the smart phone phenomenon with the BlackBerry. Ismail Serageldin, an Egyptian national, has advocated for greater equality in science and society at large and is a champion for using science in sustainable development and for liberating minds from the tyranny of intolerance, bigotry, and fear. Frans B.M. de Waal is a Dutch-American behavioral biologist known for his work on primate behavior in the widest possible sense, including alliance formation, reciprocal exchange, reconciliation following aggression, deceptive communication, and responses to environmentally induced stress. The opening address will be delivered by AAAS President Nina Fedoroff, known for her research in plant science and biotechnology as well as her role as science advisor to two secretaries of the U.S. State Department. Get details and sign up for updates at www.aaas.org/meetings.  AAAS Gallery Opens New Exhibit on Ocean Conservation"Beneath the Surface: Rediscovering a World Worth Conserving" explores the use of art as a medium to advocate the preservation of one of Earth's most beautifully complex compositions: its oceans. "Beneath the Surface" features seven artists from across the United States who remind us of the captivating hold the sea has had on our imaginations and encourage us to protect its beauty and bounty. The new exhibit joins a large, intricately detailed ceramic coral reef, previously installed. Located at AAAS headquarters in Washington, D.C., "Beneath the Surface" debuts 17 November with a reception at 6 p.m. and is open to the public 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Read more. Science SPORE Prize Awarded to Student Mentor Website Gifted math and science students around the world are using the Cogito website, created at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, to further their interests beyond the content available in most classrooms. They are taking advantage of Cogito's directory of international competitions, internships, and summer programs, as well as online discussion forums and classes. The site, geared to students aged 13 to 18, has received the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE), which cited its effectiveness in encouraging greater involvement in science and engineering. An article about the project published in the 28 October issue of Science aims to guide science educators worldwide to valuable free resources. Read more, listen to an interview, and access Cogito. U.S. Federal Workers Can Support AAAS through the CFC U.S. government employees can select AAAS on the Combined Federal Campaign's national/international list, supporting innovations in science, engineering, and technology to serve society around the world. Your donation through CFC helps to enhance science education, infuse policy issues like climate change with sound science, ensure national security, improve international relations, promote scientific integrity, and much more. The contribution period is 1 September-15 December. AAAS's CFC number is 10134. 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. Sponsored by: 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. |
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