06/09/04
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This newsletter is available to the public at the following locations:
http://library.stanford.edu/depts/swain/nsflibnews/
http://www.eevl.ac.uk/scitechnews/
http://avel.edu.au/scitech.html
U.K. Academics and Librarians Disagree Over Open Access Publishing
http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb040503-3.shtml
The Inevitable and the Optimal
http://www.infotoday.com/it/apr04/poynder.shtml
“On April 21, the U.K. Parliament's Science and Technology Select Committee held
the third evidence session in its enquiry into the pricing and availability of
scientific publications. Having heard testimony from publishers, British politicians
now wanted to hear the views of librarians and academics. As it turned out, the
librarians and academics disagreed with one another.” From Info Today.
Declaration on Access to Research Data from Public Funding
http://www.oecd.org/document/15/0,2340,en_21571361_21590465_25998799_1_1_1_1,00.html
The OECD Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy met at Ministerial level
on 29 30 January 2004. The meeting was preceded by a High-level Forum on “Key
Challenges for Science and Innovation Policy”, in which prominent
representatives of research institutions and business participated. This statement
is the result of that meeting.
Federal FY05 R&D Funding Progress
http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/approp05.htm
“The FY 2005 appropriations process has begun. The House Appropriations
Committee began work on the Defense, Interior, and Homeland Security
bills this week. AAAS R&D Funding Updates on R&D in DOD, DHS, and
Interior in House appropriations will be available after the committee
files these bills (next week). Beginning today, the AAAS R&D web site
features a continually updated page on the Status of FY 2005
Appropriations. The page tracks the progress of R&D in the FY 2005
appropriations process, and offers highlights of recent federal budget
news and links to the latest AAAS R&D Funding Updates on the progress of
the FY 2005 budget. See the ‘What’s New’ or ‘FY 2005 R&D’ pages on the
AAAS R&D web site.” (From AAAS.)
Are We as Crazy as Mad Cows?
http://mitworld.mit.edu/
Susan Lindquist
Director, Whitehead Institute
MIT Professor of Biology presents
“Are We as Crazy as Mad Cows?”
Lindquist explains the process of protein folding, and the terrible outcomes when the folding goes wrong. In this presentation filled with vivid and memorable slides, she explains and demystifies Mad Cow Disease, and how and why it takes a long time to do the damage that it does.
The Future of the Triple Helix
http://www.brookings.edu/comm/events/20040610.htm
AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies Symposium — The Future of the Triple Helix:
Finding the Balance among Government, Industry, and Academic Research Relationships.
Thursday, June 10, 2004, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Falk Auditorium
Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
Both Congress and the National Institutes of Health have been actively engaged in reviewing conflict of interest policies for government researchers. This AEI-Brookings Joint Center symposium will focus on the implications for university-industry relations and feature a new working paper on those relationships by three of the leading experts in the field — Professors David Blumenthal, Eric Campbell, and Greg Koski of Harvard University. The paper pays special attention to this issue in the context of emerging drug discovery and development practices in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
Qs and AAAs About Global Climate Change
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/0603climate.shtml
June 15, 2004
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
AAAS Auditorium, 2nd Floor
1200 New York Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20005
RSVP TO RSVP@aaas.org
AAAS is pleased to invite you to an important conference on the science of climate change: “Qs And AAAs About Global Climate Change.” The meeting, co-sponsored by the Conference Board, will feature 11 of the nation's leading climate scientists discussing what is known and what is not known about global climate change in a series of objective, nonpartisan presentations. The event will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2004, in the AAAS Auditorium located at 1200 New York Avenue, NW, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
The conference, planned and presented by the journal Science and the AAAS Directorate for Science and Policy Programs, responds to the Washington policy community’s need for unbiased, clear-eyed analysis by scientific experts of what is known, what is likely but unproven, and what is a plausible but untested prospect. The introductory presentation by Professor Sherwood Rowland of the University of California, Irvine, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, will be followed by panels of specialists covering a wide range of climate change topics: history, role of greenhouse gases, models and their limitations, the fates of glaciers, and more. The agenda and the full meeting announcement are available on the AAAS web site (http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/0603climate.shtml).
There is no charge for this conference, but pre-registration is essential because seating is limited — first come, first served. RSVP by e-mail to RSVP@aaas.org. Please include your name, title, and organizational affiliation. We look forward to seeing you at this landmark event.
The Coming Generational Storm
http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/202/
Laurence J. Kotlikoff,
Professor of Economics,
Boston University:
“The Coming Generational Storm
What You Need to Know about America's Economic Future”
Kotlikoff discusses his new book (co-authored with Scott Burns) that provides a bleak outlook for the Social Security system. Hear it first hand from Kotlikoff and see why he has earned the title of “Mr. Generational Accounting”.
Fostering the Independent Research of Early-Career Scientists
http://www.national-academies.org/
The National Academies’ Board on Life Sciences holds a daylong workshop
on ways to foster the independent research of early-career scientists in
order to enhance the vitality of the biomedical research enterprise.
The event begins at 8:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday, June 16 in Room 100 of the
National Academies’ Keck Center, 500 Fifth St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
Admission is free and open to the public, but advance registration is
required. Participate by listening to a live audio webcast (requires
free RealPlayer) and submitting questions using an e-mail form, both
accessible on the National-Academies.org home page during the event.
Please go to the
Bridges to Independence website
for additional information.
“This is an electronic journal based on the editorial concept of publishing ‘living’ reviews. The journal will primarily cover solar and heliospheric physics, and also explore some topics from solar-stellar and solar-terrestrial research.
The founding editorial board meeting was held on 14 March 2003. About 50 articles are in preparation; editors are currently in negotiation with prospective authors. We expect first articles to be published in the first half of 2004.” From the Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie. Free access
State indicators of science and mathematics education, 2003.
Council of Chief State School Officers, 2004.
http://www.ccsso.org/content/pdfs/SM03.pdf
Vital Assets: Federal Investment in Research and Development at the Nation's Universities and Colleges.
RAND, 2004.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1824/
Will the Scientific & Technical Workforce Meet the Requirements of the Federal Government?
RAND, 2004.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MG/MG118/
What it Takes: Pre-K–12 Design Principles to Broaden Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
BEST, 2004.
http://www.bestworkforce.org/publications.htm
Exploring Information Superiority: A Methodology for Measuring the Quality of Information and Its Impact on Shared Awareness.
RAND, 2004.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1467/MR1467.pdf
2001 Graduate Student Report [Physics and Astronomy].
AIP, 2004.
http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/gradtrends.html
Summary of a Forum on Spectrum Management Policy Reform.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11007.html
Opportunities to Improve Airport Passenger Screening with Mass Spectrometry.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10996.html
The Office of Science and Technology Policy Blue Ribbon Panel on the Threat of Biological Terrorism Directed Against Livestock.
RAND, 2004.
http://www.rand.org/publications/CF/CF193/
Patient Safety: Achieving a New Standard for Care.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10863.html
Monitoring International Labor Standards: Techniques and Sources of Information.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10937.html
Water and Sustainable Development: Opportunities for the Chemical Sciences — A Workshop Report to the Chemical Sciences Roundtable.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10994.html
Existing and Potential Standoff Explosives Detection Techniques.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10998.html
The Engineer of 2020: Visions of Engineering in the New Century.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10999.html
Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10997.html
Maintaining High Scientific Quality at Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11009.html
On Evaluating Curricular Effectiveness: Judging the Quality of K-12 Mathematics Evaluations.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11008.html
The Markey Scholars Conference: Proceedings.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11001.html
Indicators for Waterborne Pathogens.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11010.html
A Vision for the International Polar Year 2007-2008.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11013.html
Kim Cragin, Sara Daly.
The Dynamic Terrorist Threat: An Assessment of Group Motivations and Capabilities in a Changing World.
RAND, 2004.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1782/
Peter Chalk, William Rosenau.
Confronting “the Enemy Within”: Security Intelligence, the Police, and Counterterrorism in Four Democracies.
RAND, 2004.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MG/MG100/
Human Resources in Science and Technology in India and the International Mobiligy of Highly Skilled Indians.
OECD, 2004.
http://www.olis.oecd.org/olis/2004doc.nsf/linkto/dsti-doc(2004)7
Governance of Public Research: Toward Better Practices.
OCED, 2003.
http://www1.oecd.org/publications/e-book/9203051E.PDF
Small-scale Terrorist Attacks Using Chemical and Biological Agents: An Assessment Framework and Preliminary Comparisons.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RL32391.pdf
Damp Indoor Spaces and Health.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11011.html
Screenwriting in Science
http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/05202004?OpenDocument
The American Film Institute is now accepting applications from
scientists and engineers to participate in a two-day workshop on
screenwriting for movies and television. “Catalyst Workshop:
Communicating Science and Engineering” will be held July 17–18 at the
American Film Institute in Los Angeles. Applications are due by
Wednesday, June 9.
The Internet Collegiate Reference Collection
http://icrc.bloomu.edu/
This is the kind of site librarians love! Billed as “The Best Free Reference Materials
on the World Wide Web”, this site gives you links to free reference sources
in any subject classification. You can browse by Library of Congress classification, you can
search by subject terms. Do not search by the end information you want, but rather by the
type of reference tool you want. For instance, if what you want is a definition of
“archeobacteria”, search by “biology” and “dictionary”.
A variety of brief descriptions of biology dictionary websites will be presented to you. The
links are vetted before inclusion, are checked frequently, and are aimed for undergraduate-level.
(Thanks to Roddy MacLeod.)
Bio-DiTRL
http://bio-ditrl.sunsite.ualberta.ca/
“Bio-DiTRL operates as an online database with digital media that can be used to assist
in teaching biology. In it you will find images, animations, video clips and text excerpts
that may be downloaded for use by subscribers. Anyone may search or browse by following the
appropriate links. Contributions of suitable teaching resources are most welcome.”
Although right now the archive is heavy on Animalia and light on the other taxa, it is a very
well put-together resource, easy to navigate, thoughtfully organized. Keep your eye on this
one.
The Search Engine Wars
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2004/apr/google/
“Companies like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft are battling to be the main gateway to the
Internet. These companies have gained unprecedented influence over what people see and learn,
and have created an industry with brave new rules for business. In a five-part series, NPR’s
Rick Karr takes a look at the business of search engines.”
Science of Hockey
http://www.exploratorium.edu/hockey/index.html
The Stanley Cup is over for this year, but you can still learn about the science of Hockey.
This site takes you inside the game: you’ll hear from NHL players and coaches from the San
Jose Sharks, as well as leading physicists and chemists. Learn what makes the difference
between “fast ice” and “slow ice”, what high tech materials are
used in the game, how a puck can be slapped over 100 mph, and more.
BBC Hot Topics: Intelligence
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/intelligence/
From IQ tests to the language of the brain. What is intelligence and can we measure it?
What gender is your brain? Watch a video of learning before birth, visualize the brain
at work, explore the multiple facets of human intelligence at this BBC website.
Ants of Borneo: A Virtual Museum of Natural History
http://www.antbase.de/
“This website is dedicated to the ants of Poring, Kinabalu National Park, Sabah,
Malaysia, a tropical rainforest with the world's highest ant diversity: 642 species of
ants from 82 genera and 8 subfamilies of the Formicidae have been found there. In our
virtual museum of natural history you find pictures of Aenictinae, Cerapachyine,
Dorylinae, Dolichoderinae, Formicinae, Myrmicinae, Ponerinae, and Pseudomyrmicinae.”
By Martin Pfeiffer, University of Ulm (From Academic Info)
Fruit Fly Fight Club
http://labworks.hms.harvard.edu/
The Kravitz Lab Movie Page
http://www.hms.harvard.edu/bss/neuro/kravitz/moviepage.html
“Conflict and violence, regrettably, seem to be a commonplace element of the
human condition, with certain epochs bearing witness to more of these two
phenomena and, some bearing witness to a relatively absence of these
behaviors. In an attempt to explain the biological factors behind such
behaviors, Professor Edward Kravitz and his colleagues at Harvard University
have created this witness which features fruit flies in intense combat in
order to study these types of behaviors. On the first site, visitors can
watch fruit flies in combat, listen to Professor Kravitz talk about the
impetus and reasoning behind such experiments, and learn more about these
extremely compelling studies. The second site leads to another set of
dramatic short films that document lobster fights and lobster ‘martial arts.’
Of course, information on the various fights are ‘scored’ is also
provided, along with video clips demonstrating the different phases of each
encounter. [KMG]” (From the Scout Report)
The Science of Love
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/love/
What chemicals captivate us, or affect us when we are captivated? What physical
characteristics work on our psyches to influence us in choosing a partner? How
do we flirt? Visit this interesting BBC website to learn the science behind
love.
State Indicators of Science and Mathematics Education 2003
http://www.ccsso.org/projects/Science_and_Mathematics_Education_Indicators/State_by_State_Report/
CCSSO Releases Science and Math Education Indicators.
More students nationwide are taking higher-level science courses, but the number
of certified high school science teachers is down, says a new report from the
Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). State Indicators of Science and
Mathematics Education 2003, CCSSO’s biennial report for its members, policymakers,
and other educators interested in the state of K–12 science and math education,
tracks state data on student achievement in math and science, trends in math and
science course enrollments, and teacher qualifications and compares the 2002 data
to earlier studies.
Bayer Facts of Science Education X
http://www.bayerus.com/msms/news/facts/pdf/040511_Exec_Summary.pdf
Science Still a “Second Tier” Subject, Say College Deans and New
Elementary Teachers Polled by Bayer Corp.
Science is still considered less important than reading, writing, and math in many
elementary classrooms — and in many teacher preparation programs — says a new poll
of 1,250 elementary educators and education deans commissioned by the Bayer Corporation
as part of its ten-year science literacy outreach program, Making Science Make Sense.
(From NSTA Express)
Three Evolution Reports from National Academy of Sciences
http://nap.edu/hawaii
The National Academy of Sciences and the National Academies Press are disseminating to
science teachers free CD-ROMS and PDF files of three reports on evolution. Just visit
National Academies Press: Evolution in Hawaii
and complete a questionnaire, and you will receive a free PDF file or CD-ROM of
Evolution in Hawaii: A Supplement to Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science
(2004); Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science (1998); and Science and
Creationism: A View from the National Academy of Sciences, 2nd ed. (1999).
Once you complete the questionnaire, you can choose to download a PDF of all three publications immediately or to request that a CD-ROM be sent to you (no shipping and handling fees will be charged). The questionnaire will help the National Academies Press and the National Academies’ Center for Education learn more about teachers’ needs and product preferences. A limited number of free copies are available, so act fast. (From NSTA Express)
Engineering Survey
http://www.engineeringk12.org/teachers/survey1.cfm
What do you think about engineering as an academic discipline — and as a profession?
NSTA and the American Society for Engineering Education want to know! Please take about
10 minutes to complete the survey and thanks in advance for your support.
American Experience: Golden Gate Bridge
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldengate/
American Experience: Golden Gate Bridge
For those of us who've never built so much as a dog house, just the thought of
constructing a bridge can induce migraines. Ah, but don’t break out the Advil quite
yet. This site from American Experience offers a soothing look back at the
construction and early history of the world’s most famous (and most photographed)
suspension bridge, the beautiful Golden Gate. As you'll discover, for Joseph Strauss,
building the Golden Gate was nearly as difficult as convincing local politicians to
approve its construction. In the end, it took four years and countless workers to
complete, but anyone who’s been to the “seventh wonder of the modern world”
knows the headaches were well worth it. (From Yahoo’s Picks of the Week)
Project Ornithopter
http://www.ornithopter.net/
“This site provides information about the ornithopter, an ‘aircraft
that derives all of its thrust and nearly all of its lift from
flapping wings.’ Includes sections on the history and mechanics of
machines that try to copy the flight of birds, a list of
publications (including some online documents), photographs,
videos, a flight simulator, and related links. Also available in
Italian. From the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace
Studies.” (From Librarian’s Index to the Internet)
Global Change Research — A Focus on Mountain Ecosystems
http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/global.htm
These webpages do not have a slick presentation, but they do have some very interesting
images, animations and discussion of the recession of glaciers through time in Glacier
National Park.
2004 Tropical Storm Forecast
http://tropical.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/
This website provides updated forecasts on expected hurricane activity, and presents an
interactive map of the US which gives specific information for any targeted area.
Dartmouth Flood Observatory
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~floods/
“The Dartmouth Flood Observatory produced this website as ‘a research tool
for detection, mapping, measurement, and analysis of extreme flood events
world-wide using satellite remote sensing.’ Users can learn about the
Observatory’s use of microwave and optical satellite imaging to determine
flooding and extreme low flow conditions for various places throughout the
world. Students and researchers can discover how the observatory monitors
wetland hydrology for various places. Researchers can find archives of large
flooding events from 1985 to the present. The web site features a variety of
maps and satellite images of floods. [RME]” (From the Scout Report)
Atmospheric Optics
http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/atoptics/phenom.htm
“Les Cowley, a physicist and expert in atmospheric optics, developed this
website to share his knowledge about the visual spectacles produced by light
connecting with water drops, dust, and ice crystals. Students can discover
how and where the amazing displays are formed. The site is divided into five
main categories: Rays and Shadows, Water Droplets, Rainbows, Ice Halos, and
High Atmosphere. Within each topic, users can find an abundance of
information and amazing images of the particular spectacle. By downloading
the HaloSim3 Software in the Ice Halo link, users can view simulations of
common and rare halos. Visitors will learn a lot about the atmosphere
through this remarkable website. [RME]” (From the Scout Report)
Asteroid Threat
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/asteroids/asteroidthreat.shtml
Increasing numbers of near-Earth asteroids are being discovered. There are growing
calls for an international “Spaceguard” programme to determine whether a
“near-Earth object” might hit us soon. But what are the chances of an
asteroid hitting Earth? This BBC website has general information about asteroids, an
FAQ, video clips, an “Asteroid Attack” game, and more.
ACS Science for Kids
http://portal.acs.org/portal/PublicWebSite/education/whatischemistry/scienceforkids/index.htm
The American Chemical Society brings you this new website chock full of interesting
facts and activities, including the adventures of Meg A. Mole, future chemist.
“Death Star” on NOVA
http://www.pbs.org/nova/gamma/
“In 1967, a United States satellite network intended to monitor
Soviet compliance with the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty detected unusual
signals coming from outer space. Defying astronomers’ expectations,
these turned out to be unimaginably violent bursts of gamma-ray
radiation located at the far edges of the known universe. The
titanic explosions are so far back in time that they conceal clues
to the birth of the very first stars and black holes, back when the
cosmos had barely begun. ‘Death Star’ is an intimate detective story
of the quest by leading astronomers to solve the riddle of the
gamma-ray bursts – the most energetic events ever detected and
brighter than a billion billion suns.”
Student Observation Network: Tracking a Solar Storm
http://son.nasa.gov/
“At this NASA website, students and educators can find numerous materials on
the changes in the activity of the sun. The site is divided into four
topics: sunspotters, radio waves, magnetosphere, and auroral friends. Within
each of these components, users can find fun and educational activities as
well as information and data from observatories and satellites. For
instance, in the Sunspotters link, students can learn how to make their own
sunspot viewer and pinhole camera. The Sun-Earth Viewer offers live images
of the sun, interviews of scientists, and astounding Macromedia Flash Player
illustrations and visualizations. Users can learn how to submit their own
data to the website. Educators will find a teacher’s edition with helpful
hints and suggestions. [RME]” (From the Scout Report)
Delights of Chemistry
http://www.chem.leeds.ac.uk/delights/
“Developed by the University of Leeds, the Delights of Chemistry promotes the
art of chemistry demonstrations. Users can find illustrations and
explanations of forty chemistry experiments. Many animations of
demonstrations including the magnesium lamp, thermite reaction, and the
volcano reaction are available. The website is full of pictures of chemistry
equipment and scientists at work. Through this site, students and educators
are able to explore fun chemistry experiments without having to worry about
the many hazards associated with working with chemicals. [RME]”
(From the Scout Report)
Nick’s Mathematical Puzzles
http://www.qbyte.org/puzzles/
“We’ve still never met Nick in person, but we surely do admire his web
site. Pages and pages of puzzles just waiting to be tackled by enterprising
mathematical minds! Come wrap your mind around the interestingly vexing situation
of unobtuse triangles, the differentiation conundrum, or the case of the
absent-minded professor’s disappearing matches.” (From ENC’s Digital Dozen)
Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/
The purpose of this site, which is a companion to a Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) series, “is to promote better understanding of globalization, world trade
and economic development, including the forces, values, events, and ideas that
have shaped the present global economic system.” The site features the
complete six-hour television program, a timeline from 1911 through 2003, dozens
of country reports, material about key individuals, a glossary, links, and more.
(From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Technical Reports and Working Papers in Economics & Business
http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/techreps/techrepshome.php
“Source: Business Reference Service, The Library of Congress
New Compilation, Technical Reports and Working Papers in Business and Economics
From the site, ‘To increase awareness of and access to valuable grey
literature in business and economics, the Library of Congress provides online
access both through its catalog and through these web pages to a growing number
of working papers and technical reports in the social sciences placed online by
institutions responsible for creating the reports.’
Many thanks to J.B. for the info.” (From the Resource Shelf)
The following items are from Edupage. To subscribe to Edupage: send mail to: listproc@educom.unc.edu with the message: subscribe edupage Anonymous (if your name is Anonymous; otherwise, substitute your own name). To unsubscribe send a message to: listproc@educom.unc.edu with the message: unsubscribe edupage. (If you have subscription problems, send mail to: manager@educom.unc.edu.)
PANEL CALLS FOR RESTRAINT IN DATA MINING
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/17/politics/17privacy.html
A federal panel has written a report that calls on the Defense
Department as well as other areas of government to institute strong
measures to protect civil liberties in the context of data mining.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld appointed the panel, called the
Technology and Privacy Advisory Committee, in early 2003 in response to
criticisms of the Pentagon’s data-mining program, the Terrorism
Information Awareness program. The panel’s report, which is expected
to be released in about two weeks, says that although the goals of
data-mining programs are worthwhile, the government must take steps to
ensure that they do not infringe on individuals’ privacy. The panel
also called on Congress, the president, and the courts to be involved
in efforts to safeguard personal privacy, as federal agencies sift
through databases with personally identifiable information, trying to
combat terrorism. Newton N. Minow, head of the panel and former
chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, noted that the
panel’s recommendations would add a new burden of responsibility to
the government but said that the changes would enhance personal privacy
and ultimately national security. One panel member, William T. Coleman
Jr. filed a dissent, stating that the panel’s proposals far exceed
what is required by the Constitution, federal laws, or former court
decisions.
New York Times, 17 May 2004 (registration req'd) via Edupage.
GAO FINDS WIDESPREAD DATA MINING
http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,63623,00.html
A report from the General Accounting Office (GAO) indicates that a
broad range of federal agencies are involved in data-mining programs,
designed primarily to improve the performance or services of that
agency. Programs that use data mining to fight terrorism accounted for
the smallest number of the 199 programs identified by the GAO at 52
different federal agencies. Of the nearly 200 programs listed, 122 use
personally identifiable information, according to the GAO. Fifty-four
of the programs use data supplied by private companies, including
credit card companies, and in 77 of the programs, federal agencies
share information with one another. The Defense Department sponsors the
largest number of data-mining programs. Coinciding with the GAO’s
report, the Center for Democracy and Technology and the Heritage
Foundation released their recommendations for how data-mining programs
can be used effectively without sacrificing the privacy of individuals.
The groups’ report urges the federal government to “anonymize” data to
remove personally identifiable information; to build secure systems
that prevent unauthorized access to information; and to include tools
that record instances of unauthorized access or misuse of information.
Wired News, 27 May 2004 via Edupage.
FORRESTER GIVES NEW ESTIMATES FOR OFFSHORING
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB108474869663912901,00.html
A new report from Forrester Research forecasts that a total of 830,000
jobs will have been moved from the United States overseas by 2005. The
new estimate compares with about 600,000 projected by Forrester in
November 2002. Despite the increase, however, Forrester said the
overall outlook for offshoring is not substantially different from the
earlier report’s forecast. The company had previously predicted a
total of 3.3 million jobs sent overseas by 2015; it now puts that
number at 3.4 million. Forrester analyst John McCarthy said that after
the 2002 report, many companies began looking into offshoring and that
providers of such services have expanded their offerings.
Wall Street Journal, 17 May 2004 (sub. req’d) via Edupage.
LAMBDARAIL ADDS SIX MEMBERS
http://chronicle.com/free/2004/06/2004060301n.htm
Developers of the National LambdaRail, a fiber-optic network being
built by a group of research universities, this week announced the
addition of six new members. With the additions, the network will cover
most of the United States. The National LambdaRail network — which has
comparable speed to that of Abilene, the network operated by
Internet2 — will transmit data at four separate optical wavelengths,
giving it four times the capacity of Abilene. Abilene is currently the
nation's fastest network. National LambdaRail will reportedly expand
its capacity to as much as 40 separate wavelengths, and groups of users
may one day be able to lease individual wavelengths on the network.
Thomas W. West, president and chief executive of National LambdaRail,
said the organization is selecting new members based on location in
order to create full coverage for the country. The new members are the
Louisiana Board of Regents, the Oklahoma State Board of Regents, the
Texas Lonestar Education and Research Network, the University
Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Cornell University, and the
University of New Mexico. Institutions must pay $5 million over five
years to join National LambdaRail.
Chronicle of Higher Education, 3 June 2004 via Edupage
MORE DEFINITION FOR HIGH-DEFINITION TV
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/03/technology/circuits/03next.html
Japanese researchers are working on a successor to HDTV that they say
is intended to be so clear as to rival actually being in the place on
TV. So-called Ultra High Definition Video (UHDV) is expected to have a
resolution of 7,680 by 4,320 pixels, for a total of 32 million pixels.
This compares to just 2 million pixels for HDTV. UHDV uses the same
16:9 ratio that HDTV uses, but it expands the field of view from
HDTV's 30 degrees to 100 degrees, the point at which, according to one
researcher, the “immersive sensation” reaches its peak. UHDV also
increases the channels for sound to more than 20. Developers of UHDV
said the technology has potential uses far beyond simple entertainment,
including art, medicine, and education. Limitations of the technology
include the ability of projection tools to create sufficient light
contrast, and UHDV uses an enormous amount of storage space and network
bandwidth.
New York Times, 3 June 2004 (registration req’d) via Edupage
ACADEMIC PUBLISHER PURSUES OPEN ACCESS
http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/news/0,12597,1230217,00.html
Academic publisher Reed Elsevier has announced it will begin allowing a
version of open access publishing. Acknowledging ongoing demand from
academics for a less restrictive model for publishing scholarly work,
Reed Elsevier will allow authors whose work has been accepted for
publication to post articles on their own Web sites or those of their
institutions. As standard practices for academic publishing have been
challenged by new media and means of distribution, Reed Elsevier has
come under increasing pressure to adapt its practices and move away
from the traditional subscription model, as a number of other academic
publishers have done. Still, the company’s announcement did not
convince some critics. Deborah Cockerill of competitor BioMed Central
said Reed Elsevier’s approach to open access publishing is based on
controlling access and retains so many restrictions as to pose no real
threat to the subscription model. On the other hand, Stevan Harnad,
professor at the University of Southampton and a strong supporter of
open access, commended Reed Elsevier for its change, saying that “the
full benefits of open access require not one bit more [from Reed
Elsevier].”
The Guardian, 3 June 2004 via Edupage
Vancouver to Moscow
http://www.vancouvertomoscow.com/
“ ‘No sails, no engines — just raw human energy.’ That’s the
mantra of these daring travelers, one Russian and a pair of Canadians, who have set
their sights on a nine-month, man-powered odyssey to raise the profile of zero-emissions
transportation. Come June, with only their bike pedals, skis, and rowboat oars to assist
them, they will cross two continents and the treacherous Bering Strait, all the while
chronicling their adventures and cultural encounters with photo galleries and a weblog.
As Colin, Tim, and Olya see the journey, it’s a fun and healthy way to demonstrate how
everyday people can combat climate change. Their challenge to us is simple: If they can
propel themselves across 11,000-plus miles on elbow grease alone, will you propel
yourself to work or school?” (From Yahoo’s Picks of the Week)
Eavesdropping on Cicadas
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1910488
What do cicadas actually talk about when the emerge after 17 years?
All items from the Scout Report are copyright Susan Calcari, 1994–2004. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the Scout Report provided the copyright notice and this paragraph is preserved on all copies. The InterNIC provides information about the Internet to the US research and education community under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation: NCR-9218742. The Government has certain rights in this material.
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