Message to Members: U.S. Visa Quagmire
Voice Your Opinion: Changes in U.S. Visa System
AAAS in Action: News to Note
AAAS at Work: Programs at the Forefront
AAAS Announcements: Items of Interest
Read On, Online: Science Sites
This issue of AAAS Advances is sponsored by Biocompare.com
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Dear AAAS Member,
Science has become a truly global enterprise that involves collaborations among scholars from all over the world. In fact, scientific advances to combat such world crises as AIDS, hunger, environmental degradation, and terrorism demand that scientists from many regions of the world work together and communicate freely. Yet a massive backlog of U.S. visa applications has led to this year’s 30 percent decline in visa requests to attend American graduate schools, and many foreign scholars cannot obtain visas in time to attend international meetings held in the U.S.
In May, AAAS joined two dozen other science, engineering, and educational organizations—representing 95 percent of our research community—in sending a statement to the U.S. Administration and the U.S. Congress. The statement cites six visa-processing problems and makes recommendations that will ensure a visa system that is timely, transparent, and thorough—able to block terrorists seeking to harm our country while welcoming scholars and students seeking to improve human welfare worldwide.
With the support of our members, AAAS will continue to be a leading voice in proposing solutions for problems in maintaining the openness and international character of science. To read the statement and a list of co-signatories, go to: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/0512visa.shtml.
Sincerely,
Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS
Stemming the Attrition in U.S. Scientists Studying and Working in the U.S.
AAAS President Shirley Ann Jackson calls the attrition in scientists in the U.S. “a quiet crisis.” While striving to solve visa-processing problems, Dr. Jackson also calls for improvements in the U.S. education system to increase interest in graduate education and reverse the decline in the number of American-born citizens who become scientists. See the Boston Globe editorial citing Dr. Jackson’s proposal:
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2004/05/05/slipping_in_science/.
Welcoming Dr. Norman Neureiter to AAAS
The new AAAS Center for Science, Technology, and Security Policy welcomes a distinguished scientist, diplomat, and international business executive as its director. Dr. Neureiter, who served as science and technology adviser to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, oversees the effort to connect scientists and policy makers in antiterrorism and other security issues. Go to http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/0511neureiter.shtml.
Addressing Challenges for Science Journals
Science Editor-in-Chief Donald Kennedy gave the most recent presentation in a series of Swiss Science Community Meetings organized by the Swiss Embassy’s Office for Science and Technology. Dr. Kennedy’s address covered the journalistic, business, and ethical challenges facing the scientific publishing community as crucial public policy debates involve scientific issues such as stem cell research and climate change. Read more: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/0526kennedy.shtml.
Debuting the New AAAS Website
More efficient and more streamlined, the newly designed AAAS website features a more powerful and innovative search engine. Linking to other AAAS websites is easier. Getting to areas for press, policy, educators, students, and kids/parents is more direct. Special offers, highlights, and news are quickly accessible. The site also answers questions you may have about AAAS. Check it out: http://www.aaas.org/.
How to Answer Endless “Whys?”
Pooch genetics, sea shells and blood cells, the geometry of M&M’s, asteroids, and marsupials, and catapults—getting engaged with science at a young age can lead to lifelong curiosity. Science for Kids answers many of the “whys” with an online series of weekly science stories that help advance science education and literacy. Check out this week’s and past stories: http://www.eurekalert.org/kidsnews. For other AAAS programs that encourage early interest in science, go to http://www.aaas.org/ and click on Kids/Parents.
Kinetic City Collects a Codie
After school, kids learn science as they save the planet “Vearth” from the virus “deep delete.” The innovative, imaginative Kinetic City has captured the imagination and, now, the 2004 Codie Award for the best Elementary Education Instructional Solution. The award, from the Software & Information Industry Association, is the field’s standard bearer for citing outstanding achievement. Play the game: www.kineticcity.com. Read about the award: http://www.siia.net/codies/2004/winners.asp.
Nominate an Author for AAAS’s Oldest Prize
The deadline is 30 June for nominations for the AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize. The prize, supported by Affymetrix, is awarded to the author or authors of an outstanding paper published during the last year in Science. For eligibility, nominating procedures, submission details, and a list of past recipients, go to: http://www.aaas.org/about/awards.
Watch the AAAS/Science Channel on Fridays
Discoveries This Week, a science magazine show on The Science Channel, airs every Friday from 8 pm to 9 pm (ET/PT). The show is collaborating with AAAS, to present peer-reviewed science information to the public, recapping the week’s breakthroughs, major feature stories, and intriguing science websites. For information: http://science.discovery.com/tuneins/discoveriesthisweek.html.
Advance Your Career in Sweden
In the 16 July issue of Science, “International Careers: Spotlight on Sweden” explores opportunities for scientists and engineers. Candidates: check out job listings. Recruiters: reserve ads within this section prior to the 29 June booking deadline by contacting Tracy Holmes at +44 (0) 1223 326 500 or E-mail ads@science int.co.uk.
Get Project 2061’s New Electronic Newsletter
Project 2061’s new monthly electronic newsletter, 2061 Connections, brings you an in-depth look at their current education research and how their findings, tools, and resources can be applied to your own efforts to advance science literacy. Read the current issue and sign up for a free subscription at
http://www.project2061.org/2061Connections
Join AAAS at EuroScience in Stockholm
On 27 August, the Vasa Museum, home of the world’s only surviving 17th century ship, is the site of a AAAS/Science reception for European members and friends. Join Dr. Alan Leshner, CEO, AAAS, and members and supporters for a pleasant evening during the EuroScience Open Forum 2004. Members will receive a complimentary AAAS pin and the newly released “Milestones in Science” poster. For details, E-mail aaasreception@science-int.co.uk. For more information: http://www.aaas.org/news/events/20040827.shtml
For more information about the Vasa Museum: http://www.vasamuseet.se/Vasamuseet/Om.aspx.
Give the Gift of Science
This spring, give the gift that lasts all year to mark a graduation, a birthday, or for Father’s Day. The benefits of AAAS membership include 51 issues of Science, Science Online, career and grant postings, and more. Plus, when you give, you receive a Barnes and Noble gift card. For details, go to http://promo.aaas.org/sgift1.
Attend AIDS 2004 in Bangkok
From 11-16 July, AAAS/Science will help advance the global fight against HIV/AIDS as a sponsor of the 15th International AIDS Conference. Join 15,000 attendees from around the world at this important conference hosted by the International AIDS Society and the Thai Ministry of Public Health. For information about the sessions and to register:
http://www.aids2004.org/.
Meet Up at Upcoming Events
Stop by the AAAS booth to pick up your member pin.
-European Association for Cancer Research, 18th Meeting, 3 6 July, Innsbruck, Austria. To register: http://www.fecs.be/Conferences/eacr18/index.shtml.