Dear AAAS Member,
Thanks to your continued support, AAAS has become the leading voice in the international scientific community on issues ranging from human rights to global warming, and from more efficient visa processing and mobility to international cooperation on research initiatives. With your support, we will continue to fulfill the AAAS mission of advancing science and serving society around the world.
With that goal in mind, AAAS provides workshops to increase the scientific knowledge of U.S. diplomats; actively works on and influences issues affecting women and minorities in science; and collaborates with UNESCO to improve science education on a global scale. Through the web and career fairs, AAAS fosters scientific career opportunities worldwide and works with the development boards of individual nations to attract top scientists to their countries. And, for more than a decade, Science International, our European office in Cambridge, U.K., has worked to expand the global coverage and impact of our journal.
AAAS also actively participates in planning and producing international conferences. Attendees to the EuroScience Open Forum in Stockholm from 25-28 August will find several AAAS program directors giving plenary lectures and contributing to panel sessions. If you are planning to be there, we hope you will stop by our stand in the exhibition hall and meet these directors, as well as several Science editors.
We’d like to take the opportunity to thank you in person for making AAAS the voice for scientists across the globe. On 27th August at 7 p.m. I invite you to join me during the EuroScience Open Forum in Stockholm for the AAAS Member Reception at the Vasa Museum. The evening will include a tour of the museum and brief remarks from me and Andrew Sugden, International Managing Editor of Science, followed by drinks and canapés. Please RSVP to aaasreception@science-int.co.uk. For information, go to www.aaas.org/news/events/20040827.shtml.
Thank you for your support in advancing science for the benefit of all people.
Sincerely,
Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS
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In Memoriam: Philip Hauge Abelson, 1913-2004
AAAS honors the legacy of Dr. Abelson who died 1 August at age 91. The editor
of Science from 1962 until 1984, he continued to contribute to the journal and
serve as a senior adviser to AAAS until his death. Read about the accomplishments
of this icon in the scientific community, including his contribution to the
world’s first atomic submarine:
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/0803abelson.shtml.
U.S. Fiscal Year 2005 Appropriations: Updated Status
Before adjourning for a summer recess, the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations
Committee approved a bill cutting R&D funding for the National Science Foundation
(2 percent), NASA (6.2 percent) and EPA (4.3 percent). The House drafted an
increase of 2.6 percent for NIH. Congress agreed on a 7.1 percent increase for
R&D in the Department of Defense. Get the details on these and other U.S.
government agencies:
http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/.
Research: U.S. Commitment Declining
AAAS President Shirley Ann Jackson warned that U.S. economic growth and homeland
security are being threatened by a decline in federal investment in scientific
research—shrinking one-third since the 1980s when measured as a share
of the Gross Domestic Product. Read about Dr. Jackson’s 15 July address
to a banquet sponsored by The Science Coalition honoring members of Congress
who have supported strong federal investment in science: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/0716jackson.shtml.
Science Update: Radio for Kids
Fish Ears, Lost Ants, Robot Farmers, Mission to Mercury—Mondays through
Fridays, 90-second radio programs broadcast across the U.S. and available online
present current science research to school kids. On air since 1988, one show
each week is expanded into a lesson for classroom use through Science NetLinks,
the leading online resource for science educators. The lesson expands the audio
program by explaining the research, posing questions, and giving links for further
information. Listen to current or past programs, submit your own “Why
Is It?” question, and link to the lessons: http://www.sciencenetlinks.org/sci_update_index.cfm
The Gift of Science Goes Back to School
Science students can belong to the largest general science society in the world
at special AAAS student rates. Give the gift of Science: 51 issues of our weekly
journal and online access to Science archives, new research, career information,
and more. For details and to order, go to: http://promo.aaas.org/school6.
Double Discount at Barnes & Noble Online
For the next two weeks only, AAAS members receive an extra 5 percent off, for
a total 10 percent discount, on all purchases at barnesandnoble.com. Offer expires
1 September, 2004. Make your must-read list and go to: http://www.aaas.org/bn
Where do you read your Science?
Show us and you could be featured in a future advertisement. All you have to
do is describe where you normally read your personal edition of Science, and
then show us by sending a digital picture. We’ll select the 10 most interesting
stories and images to feature in advertisements for AAAS in the coming months.
Please send images, including brief descriptions, to memuser@aaas.org
by 30 September 2004.
Join a Pharma/Biotech Meeting in India
From 18 to 20 October, IBC Life Sciences’ 2nd Annual Asia-Pacific Event
convenes in Mumbai, India. “Drug Discovery to Manufacturing: Global Partnering
and New Science” focuses on the explosive growth of biomedical science
in Asia-Pacific countries. For information, go to: http://www.drugdisc.com/asiapacific.
Attend the Proteomics Congress in China
From 25 to 27 October, AAAS/Science is a sponsor of the Human Proteome Organization
(HUPO) 3rd Annual World Congress in Beijing, China. Join bioscientists in promoting
global cooperation in cutting-edge discoveries during “Proteomics: Decoding
the Genome.” For information, go to: http://www.hupo2004.cn.
-TIGR’s 16th International Genome Sequence and Analysis Conference, 27-30
September, Washington, D.C. Information: http://www.tigr.org/conf/gsac/.
-European Life Scientists Organization (ELSO), 4th Annual Congress, 4-8 September,
Nice, France. AAAS is a major sponsor; Science Careers is sponsoring the careers
segment of the meeting. To register: http://www.elso.org/index.php?id=elso2004.
-European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS), 8th Congress, 4-7 September,
Paris, France. Information: http://www.kenes.com/efns2004/.