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| Advances - The Monthly Newsletter for AAAS Members - December 2011 | |
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In this issue: Message to Members: News to Note: The Year in Review: Advancing Science Across Borders Dear Colleagues, Amidst the current challenges to the world economy, international relations, the quality of education, and the state of the workforce, AAAS is working to advance science and serve society across borders and boundaries for the benefit of people everywhere. As I look back on 2011 I am struck by the volume of our accomplishments. For this, I am very grateful to our many dedicated and involved members and to superb staff. The following are some examples of the initiatives that came out of their hard work this year. R&D Funding and Science Policy As the economic crisis poses a direct threat to U.S. research funding, AAAS is working at the intersection of science and policy to engage lawmakers and the public on the importance of investing in innovation -- both to come out of the current downturn and to drive future growth. We urged the deficit supercommittee and other Congressional committees preserve critical R&D funding, and many of our efforts were joined by other leading science societies and educational organizations. To keep the research community abreast of the status of funding, we publish a weekly Policy Alert and an in-depth annual report on administration budget requests. In addition, the AAAS Guide to Working with Congress has recently been updated. This year, the AAAS Office of Government Relations organized Capitol Hill briefings on a range of topics, including the effects of climate change on crop yields, climate geoengineering, spent nuclear fuel storage, and neuroscience. During the first "Climate Science Day," experts met with members of Congress on issues affecting their districts. At the annual AAAS Forum on S&T Policy more than 475 government, education, and business leaders focused on federal funding and U.S. innovation. And in September, 257 AAAS S&T Policy Fellows, the largest class in the program's history, began working in federal agencies and congressional offices. Science Diplomacy and International Cooperation Science is increasingly a global enterprise, and AAAS has assumed an ambitious role through partnerships with international science organizations and by promoting science diplomacy as an essential element of foreign policy. Following discussions on bioscience held in Amman, Jordan, AAAS and a leading biotechnology center published a report on responsibility and safety. A separate report, based on meetings in the broader Middle East and North Africa region and released by AAAS and a research institute in Kuwait, focused on national priorities in the biosciences. We expanded our role with a national science agency in Saudi Arabia to help the country build science capacity. Last month, we sent a delegation to the World Science Forum in Hungary to urge global collaboration, and signed a new agreement for a science diplomacy program with the Academy of Science for the Developing World (TWAS). Earlier this year, AAAS President Alice Huang hosted leaders from the Asia Pacific region to explore S&T cooperation. Following our extensive involvement in Haiti after the earthquake, AAAS released the report Science for Haiti, which detailed recommendations for global partnerships to build science capacity. Working to advance international cooperation on human rights issues, we gave testimony on the right to the benefits of scientific progress before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and our geospatial technology project analyzed satellite images to corroborate human rights abuses in Azerbaijan, the Darfur region of Sudan, and Nigeria. Science Education and Workforce Development A quality science education is essential to breaking the barriers to an expanded and more diverse S&T workforce. To support K-12 students, AAAS launched an innovative website to help teachers assess student knowledge about key science concepts, and a video series featuring researchers telling stories about their work. The Science NetLinks website underwent a complete redesign and introduced new features and tools for educators, while EurekAlert! revised its news portal for children. Project 2061 debuted workshops to review assessment resources for middle school science, and received a major grant for a "green schools" curriculum. We broadened awareness of innovative free materials through the monthly Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE). Our support for higher education included a report with the National Science Foundation on the modernization of undergraduate biology, conferences on undergraduate and graduate training in K-12 education, and a guide to recruiting and retaining minority students in graduate programs. We also coordinate two graduate degree programs for science and math teachers in Washington, D.C. AAAS efforts in workforce development cover all career stages and disciplines. Our Science Careers portal, which is available without charge, includes job listings in industry, academia, and government; funding sources for research and training; and career development advice and resources. We participated in a UN conference on the status of women and opportunities in science. AAAS administers internships for minority science writers at the journal Science, fellowships for scientists and engineers at other mass media outlets, and research internships for students with disabilities at government agencies and private corporations. We sponsor an online network for scientists and students from diverse backgrounds and another for clinical and translational researchers. Public Engagement with Science and Technology Fostering public dialogue about common concerns is critical to bridging the gap between science and society. AAAS initiatives include communications training workshops and resources for scientists and engineers as preparation for addressing general audiences organized by our Center for Public Engagement with Science & Technology; an online network, Expert Labs, that connects policymakers with the public, researchers, and academics; and commentaries on current science issues placed in print media. A series of four public lectures held at AAAS during October and November encouraged conversations about cyber attack, the quake-damaged Fukushima nuclear facility, infectious disease, and nanotechnology. A public forum held in Dillingham, Alaska as part of the AAAS Arctic Division's annual meeting examined the critical science issues of a vast proposed mine near Bristol Bay. During the 2011 AAAS Annual Meeting, "Science Without Borders," five plenary lectures and a plenary panel were open to the public, and special events at AAAS prior to the meeting offered further interaction with scientists. More than 2,000 parents and children engaged in hands-on demonstrations and "Meet the Scientists" presentations during Family Science Days. Also, throughout the year, the AAAS Gallery brought the art of science to the public with special exhibits on cutting-edge science images, the changing seas and coral reefs, and ocean conservation. From science policy to science diplomacy, science education to science career development, and engaging the society we serve, AAAS crosses borders and bridges boundaries to meet current and future challenges. We thank each member for supporting our shared mission and wish you an enjoyable holiday season. Sincerely, Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS   AAAS Members Elected as FellowsThe AAAS Council has elected 539 members from 24 sections as Fellows of AAAS. They will be recognized for their distinguished accomplishments in science and technology during the 2012 AAAS Annual Meeting in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Access the full list of new Fellows. AAAS Urges Global Collaboration at World Science Forum First convened in Budapest, Hungary, in 2003, the biannual World Science Forum was developed by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in partnership with UNESCO, the International Council for Science, and AAAS. The fifth forum was held 16–19 November, under the theme "The Changing Landscape of Science: Challenges and Opportunities."  AAAS CEO Alan I. Leshner Addresses Opening SessionSpeaking to some 500 world science and science policy leaders, Alan I. Leshner urged nations to align their S&T standards and ethical values to improve international collaboration as the global scientific enterprise is confronted by budget pressures and human challenges. Emphasis was placed on forging new networks and advancing science diplomacy to bring the full resources of the community to bear on issues ranging from health and energy to disaster response and economic development. Leshner announced that, in early 2012, AAAS will introduce a free online quarterly publication, Science and Diplomacy, to support a stronger dialogue between these two fields. Read more and access remarks and videos of other renowned speakers.  Science Diplomacy Agreement Signed During ForumAAAS and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) signed a formal agreement on an ambitious slate of joint projects to build regional cooperation and networks and increase the capacity of foreign ministries, research ministries, and international policy organizations to build science and diplomacy partnerships. The initiative is designed to help science serve an even more prominent role in promoting peaceful relations among nations and includes the development of a science ambassadors program. Read more. AAAS Testifies to Panel About Human Rights to Benefits of Science Appearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), three AAAS experts urged the panel to join scientific and civil society groups working to define and develop the right to the benefits of scientific progress -- using S&T to address a range of issues from clean water and health care to science education and protecting research from political influence. This was the first time since its founding in 1959 that the commission heard testimony on this human right, which has long been established in international treaties but is little known. Read more and access a video of the testimony. Analysis of Satellite Images Confirms Devastating Nigerian Oil Spill A report recently released by the AAAS Geospatial Technologies and Human Rights Project confirms that oil spills in late 2008 and early 2009 near Bodo, Nigeria contaminated waterways and killed vegetation across three square kilometers of tropical riparian landscape. Amnesty International-USA, which requested the report, released its own findings that the oil flowed unchecked for weeks, devastating the lives of tens of thousands of people, and demanded a $1 billion payment from Shell to begin the clean-up. Read more, access the report, and view before-and-after images used in the analysis.  Public Lecture Series Addresses Global Challenges for Disease EradicationIn the third of four fall lectures held at AAAS, health and policy experts said that global instability and broader public health goals such as sanitation and nutrition are making it tougher to focus on eliminating infectious diseases. Unlike the widespread vaccination that led to eradication of smallpox in 1979, elimination of common communicable diseases such as measles and polio have also become more difficult due to challenges in developing effective vaccines, rising resistance to antibiotics, and quicker transmission pathways due to global air travel. Read more about the Science and Society: Global Challenges series, sponsored by AAAS, the American Chemical Society, and the Georgetown University Program on Science in the Public Interest. 
Erez Liberman Aiden Wins GE & Science PrizeAs a student in the Lander lab at MIT, Erez Liberman Aiden developed a method for three-dimensional sequencing to discover how the two-meter long human genome folds up inside the nucleus of a cell. For his pioneering work on the first genome-wide spatial map, Aiden has won the 2011 grand prize in the 2011 GE & Science Prize for Young Life Scientists. Now with the Harvard Society of Fellows and visiting faculty at Google, Aiden titled his winning essay "Zoom!," published in the 2 December issue of Science. Read more and access the full text of his essay and those written by regional winners. Prestigious Journalism Awards Honor Science Reporters The use of genomics to find the cause of a debilitating disease affecting a four-year-old boy, local impacts of climate change, and the secret lives of scientists and engineers were among the reports honored by the 2011 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards. Administered by AAAS since their inception in 1945, the awards honor distinguished reporting for a general audience in eight categories: Large Newspaper, Small Newspaper, Magazine, TV Spot News, TV In-Depth Reporting, Radio, Online, and Children's Science News. Read more about the winning entries. AAAS Expresses Grave Concerns for OSTP Budget In a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Committees, AAAS expressed "grave concerns regarding the prospect of a 50 percent reduction in the budget of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)," as proposed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The 8 November letter noted that OSTP, established in 1976, fosters collaboration between federal agencies to reduce redundancies and minimize waste and is critical to setting national S&T policies to spur innovation and economic growth. (A 23 November AAAS Policy Alert reported that the OSTP has received funding at a level between the House and Senate marks that is 32% below the current budget.) Read more and access the latest information on the funding process. Leadership Seminar Urges Science Community to Speak Out to Lawmakers and the Public Science and policy experts gathered at the AAAS Leadership Seminar on Science and Technology Policy to urge the science community to increase awareness of the value of U.S. research investment, particularly at this time of intense budget pressures. During the five-day seminar in mid-November, participants stressed that most lawmakers tend to be unfamiliar with science and research, and they need to hear from scientists and the public about its vita contributions to the innovations that stimulate economic growth. Speakers recommended various kinds of outreach, from conversations at informal gatherings to offering opinion pieces for publication and volunteering as science advisers in political campaigns. Read more and access the seminar agenda. Connect with colleagues at membercentral.aaas.org, the website for and about AAAS members with exclusive stories, photos, videos, webinars, and podcasts. New Cutting Edge Lecture Series from AAAS MemberCentral: 18 January AAAS MemberCentral is gearing up for its second live Cutting Edge talks series in 2012. Three experts will give 15-minute talks on the latest in ocean research -- marine life (sharks), corals, and the deep sea. The event is scheduled for 18 January at 6:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C. at AAAS headquarters. To find out who is speaking and what else we have planned for this evening, click here. 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: Personal Job Chemistry"Career Trends: Finding Your Personal Job Chemistry" encourages researchers to focus on the personal elements that make a workplace a good fit, as a critical factor in building a successful career. The guide, compiled from articles previously published on the Science Careers site, includes accessing the culture of a company or university, building a career map, searching for non-traditional jobs, and related online resources and books. Read more and download the full set of career advice booklets (free with registration). ScienceCareers Featured Jobs:Assistant Professor in Functional Genomics Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama Senior Lecturer in Climate-related biogeochemical modeling Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Medical Writer Cactus Communications Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India Updated Apple Discounts for Members Located Outside the United States
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AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows Program: Applications Deadline 15 January The program seeks to increase communication skills in student scientists as they not only become more adept at describing scientific concepts to the journalism community, but also better equipped to engage the public about the impact of their work. The fellowship places 10 to 15 senior undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate science and engineering students at media sites nationwide to work as summer science reporters for 10 weeks. Past sites have included the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and NPR. An eligible applicant's field of study must be in the natural, physical, health, engineering, computer, or social sciences, or mathematics. The fellowship includes a $4,500 stipend, plus travel expenses. For an application and more information, visit http://www.aaas.org/programs/education/MassMedia/. 2012 AAAS Annual Meeting, 16-20 February, Vancouver, B.C. Theme: "Flattening the World: Building the Global Knowledge Society" Recharge your passion for science and join us in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Register now for the AAAS Annual Meeting next February. Find out who the speakers are in the 16 December issue of Science. Advance registration is available until Thursday, 26 January. After that date, on-site rates apply. AAAS Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture: Deadline for Nominations 10 January AAAS invites nominations for well-respected scientists working at the forefront of a pressing issue at the nexus of agriculture and society to deliver the 2012 AAAS Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture (to be held next spring). Nominees should have outstanding scientific contributions or significant policy accomplishments related to agriculture with demonstrated societal impact. For more information and to submit nominations, please e-mail Anne Moraske at amoraske@aaas.org or call 202-326-6759. AAAS Minority Writers Internship: Applications Deadline 1 March The journal Science invites minority undergraduate students with a serious interest in science writing and journalism as a career to apply for a 10-week paid summer internship, including travel to Washington, D.C. Under the guidance of the journal's award-winning staff of professional science writers and editors, interns experience the process of covering the scientific and technological issues that shape our global society, contributing bylined articles to the weekly news section in the print and electronic editions. Find out more and download the application. AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition Meeting: 23 January You are invited to participate in the upcoming meeting of the Coalition. In addition to the Coalition's working meetings, this event will offer panel discussions and training workshops on human rights issues central to the mission of the Coalition, including "Research Collaborations with Indigenous Scientists and Communities" and "Benefit Sharing: A Human Rights Approach to Indigenous Knowledge." The evening closing panel will address "Indigenous Voices in Scientific Debate: Human Rights, the Environment and Climate Change." Register and view the agenda.  Physics Website Wins Science SPORE AwardPhysics students at all levels are using interactive computer modeling to visualize and develop their own simulations in order to better understand abstract concepts. A valuable tool in science education, Open Source Physics has won the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE), which recognizes innovators whose efforts promise significant benefits for students and science literacy. An essay by the site's creator Wolfgang Christian and colleagues was published in the 25 November issue of Science. Read more and access the essay and the site. Help AAAS Speak Up for Science With the help of our donors, AAAS has been able to respond and act nimbly on behalf of the science community this year, speaking up for science when it matters most. But there is so much more to be done. Please consider AAAS as part of your end-of-year giving plans and make a tax-deductible gift before 31 December online at www.aaas.org/go/supportAAAS, by phone at 1-800-215-1969, or by mail at P.O. Box 55174, Boston, MA 02205-9925. 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: GEICO 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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