03/03/06
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Design Elements of a Mandatory Market-Based Greenhouse Gas Regulatory System
http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=IssueItems.View&IssueItem_ID=33
Sen. Pete V. Domenici and Sen. Jeff Bingaman have released a white paper which
is open for comment. Responses to the white paper are due by March 13. The
committee website has detailed submission guidelines.
R&D in 2007 US Budget
http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/prel07p.htm
NSF Budget
http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/nsf07p.htm
Public Opinion on US Budget
http://worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brunitedstatescanadara/85.php?nid=&id=&pnt=85&lb=btot
“On February 6, President Bush released his proposed budget for fiscal
year (FY) 2007. The new budget proposes substantial increases for key physical
sciences and engineering programs as part of an ‘American Competitiveness
Initiative’ that was first previewed in the President’s State of the
Union address as a response to a growing wave of concern about the state of U.S.
innovation. The three favored agencies of the National Science Foundation (NSF),
the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, and the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories in Commerce would receive substantial
budget increases after years of flat or declining funding. DOE would also benefit
from the President’s ‘American Energy Initiative’ with large
increases in its energy R&D portfolio.
The overall federal investment in research and development (R&D) would increase to $137 billion, but in a repeat of the past budgets the continuing Administration priorities of weapons development and space exploration technologies development would take up the entire increase and more, leaving declining funding for the remainder of the R&D portfolio.
The federal basic and applied research investment (excluding development) would decline 3.4 percent to $54.7 billion, meaning increases for physical sciences and related research in DOE, NSF, and NIST would be more than offset by cuts in the research investments of other agencies. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget would be flat for the second year in a row and would fund less than 1 out of every 5 grant applications; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), despite being a major sponsor of physical sciences research, would see its research funding fall to offset a big increase in development of new space vehicles.
The large increases for physical sciences and engineering research are not enough to keep the federal investment in basic and applied research (excluding development) from declining for the third year in a row after peaking in 2004.” (From AAAS Center for Science, Technology, and Congress)
House Follows Senate and Introduces Competitiveness Bills
“It’s becoming a movement in Congress. First the Senate introduced a
package of three bills, and now the House has introduced three bills that
implement the findings of the National Academy of Sciences’ 2005
report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America
for a Brighter Economic Future. The latest action comes from the House
Science Committee where Bart Gordon (D-TN), the Committee’s ranking
Democrat, has introduced:
The 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act (HR 4434) (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-4434),
The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) Act (HR 4435) (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:h.r.4435:),
and the
Sowing the Seeds through Science and Engineering Research Act (HR 4596) (http://sciencedems.house.gov/legislation/leg_highlights_detail.aspx?NewsID=1009).”
(From IEEE Eye on Washington)
AAAS Science Magazine on Funding for NSF’s Education and Human Resources (EHR) Directorate
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/311/5764/1092
Stated priorities for improving math and science education at all levels
of government are at odds with programs slated for elimination from the
proposed 2007 federal budget. EHR programs are an example: “…a
major internal reshuffling (at EHR) that is being seen as accelerating a
move away from direct intervention in the classroom. Several researchers
worry that the change will reduce the impact of NSF’s strong
research-based approach to educational reform and substitute lower-quality
programs run by ED (Department of Education).” (From WhiteBoard)
Globalization and Offshoring of Software
http://www.acm.org/globalizationreport/
“After more than year of study, ACM released its report examining
issues surrounding the migration of jobs within the computing and
information technology field. It found that, despite the media drumbeat
on offshoring, the demand for IT jobs remains strong. However, that
doesn’t mean countries can be complacent. The study also found
that global competition is fierce and growing, offshoring and
globalization will continue to be part of corporate strategies, and if
countries want to compete in this marketplace they must adopt strategies
that attract, educate, and retain the best IT talent.”
Cerf Cautions Congress on Internet Fast Lanes
http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/witnesslist.cfm?id=1705
Members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
met this month for a hearing into so-called “Net Neutrality,”
the range of issues surrounding whether or not telecommunications
companies should be prevented from providing (for a price) faster speeds
or better access for some (perhaps at the expense of others) or whether
Congress should step in with legislation to require that all traffic
flowing over network pipes be treated in the same neutral fashion.
Neutrality supporters fear that creating “fast” lanes on the
Internet for those willing to pay the price could stifle innovation by
limiting the access of new companies or by creating an unfair advantage
for larger companies able to pay the higher price for better access (or
for the telcos themselves in offering their own services). Critics of the
net neutrality idea, on the other hand, argue that enforcing neutrality
through legislation will only limit their ability to innovate, invest in
new networks, and bring new services and capabilities to consumers.
Witnesses appearing before the committee included last year’s Turing Award winner Vinton Cerf, now at Google, Inc., and a long proponent of net neutrality. Other witnesses included Senator Ron Wyden (who signalled that he may soon be introducing a bill to legislate net neutrality), Jeffrey Citron (Vonage), Lawrence Lessig (Stanford Law), Gregory Sidak (Georgetown Law), and Gary Bachula (Internet2). The full witness list (with links to their written testimony) and a video archive of the hearing is also available. (From ACM Washington Update)
Nominations for Communication Awards
http://www.keckfutures.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Communication_Awards_overview
On Feb. 1 the National Academies began accepting nominations for the
2006 National Academies Communication Awards, which recognize excellence
in reporting and communicating science, engineering, and medicine to the
public during 2005. Three $20,000 prizes will be awarded to a book
author; print or online journalist; and a producer or reporter in
television or radio. Nominations must be completed online no later than
April 7.
Loss and Extreme Weather Events — March 15
http://www.dels.nas.edu/osb/about_revelle
Have loss of life and damages associated with extreme weather events
actually increased in recent years? On March 15 at 5:30pm, the National
Academies Ocean Studies Board will hold the Seventh Annual Roger Revelle
Commemorative Lecture where the topic is “Disasters, Death, and
Destruction: Accounting for Recent Calamities.” Dr. Roger Pilke Jr.,
director of the Center for Science Technology Policy Research, will talk
about how recent catastrophes have led to a perception that the economic
impact and severity of weather-related disasters is increasing and that
this increase could be related to climate change. Pilke will discuss
observed trends, our state of knowledge in this area, and the
implications for policy and research related to natural hazards and
global climate change. This free, public event will be held at the
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.; registration
and more information are online.
Congressional Visits Day — 28, 29 March
http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/cvd/index.html
Mark Your Calendar for Congressional Visits Day — The annual CVD has been
set for 28–29 March, and is expected to bring over 250 scientists,
engineers, researchers, educators, and technology executives to Washington
to raise visibility and support for science, engineering, and technology.
NAS Symposia April 24 and 25
http://www.nasonline.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Annual_Meeting_Public_Program&JServSessionIdr010=9
Two symposia will be held in conjunction with the 143rd National
Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting. On Monday, April 24, Robot
Learning will examine how robots learn and adapt to their
environment, with applications such as robotic missions in space
and therapy for autism. On Tuesday, April 25 Forensic Science
discusses the impact of scientific approaches to validating
evidence, such as fingerprints, DNA, photographs, and memory,
for our justice system. The symposia are open to the public and
free of charge. Read the program details and register online.
From Functional Genomics of Model Organisms to Crop Plants for Global Health
http://www.nasonline.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Sackler_crop_plants
Join NAS from April 3 to 5 for “From Functional Genomics of Model
Organisms to Crop Plants for Global Health,” part of the Arthur M.
Sackler Colloquia of the National Academy of Sciences. The colloquium
will examine fundamental breakthroughs in genomics that will impact the
future of food and agriculture, and the technical and non-technical
challenges of bringing discoveries to the consumer. Lecturers will also
discuss potential consumer responses to biotechnology. The honorable U.S.
Senator Kit Bond will give the keynote speech for the colloquium on April
3 at 7:00 p.m. Registration is required.
Innovation Everywhere—How the Acceleration of “GNR” (genetics, nanotechnology, robotics) Will Create
http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/327/
“Ray Kurzweil may be the closest thing we have to a crystal ball. And
if anyone has the right to some credibility in the prognostication arena,
this overachieving inventor can. With crackling speed, Kurzweil powerpoints
through charts illustrating the growth of various technologies over the
centuries. His main points: technology evolves exponentially; the rate of
technical progress itself is accelerating, so expect to ‘see 20,000
years of progress in the 21st century, about 1000 times greater than the 20th
century.’ Before you can say, ‘Hold your horses,’ Kurzweil
is off and running.”
“The Dance of the Fertile Universe: Chance and Destiny Embrace” — March 27
RSVP BY MARCH 22 at:
http://www.doser.aaas.org/upcomingevents.php
ONLY ONLINE RSVP’S ARE ACCEPTED.
Monday, March 27, 2006,
Reception 5:45 PM, Lecture and Discussion 6:30–8:00 PM,
Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER),
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS),
1200 New York Ave. NW, 2nd floor auditorium
The universe we live in is full of a vast variety of objects: gas, galaxies, frogs, us. What is the best scientific understanding of how they came to be? Are they related to one another? If we order them from the simplest (quarks, protons) to the most complex (the human brain) is there a unified explanation of their coming to be? A tentative answer is found in their emergence as chance and destiny danced away in a fertile expanding universe. Does God have something to do with it?
Lecturer — George V. Coyne, S.J. — Vatican Observatory
A Harmonious Commitment to Science and Culture
http://www.aaas.org/news/events/Event_2006_0323_Ayala.shtml
“A Harmonious Commitment to Science and Culture,” an evening
conversation with Drs. Hana and Francisco J. Ayala, will be held on 23 March
at AAAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. Hana Ayala heads an economic
development company that blends tourism with conservation and research.
Francisco J. Ayala is a past president of AAAS, a university professor of
biological sciences, and a pioneer in revolutionizing evolutionary theory to
develop new ways to prevent and treat diseases. There is no cost for the 7:30
p.m. event, but seating is limited. RSVP promptly by calling (800) 215-1969
or e-mail developmentevents@aaas.org.
Science Podcast
http://www.sciencemag.org/about/podcast.dtl
On a pilot basis, Science will be offering periodic podcasts built around
interesting stories in the journal and on its sister sites. Go to
Science Podcast
to listen to the latest podcast and for instructions on how to subscribe.
When Science Informs Policy, What is the Role of the Scientist? March 8
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/policyfellows/Events.html
Wednesday, March 8th, 2006,
12:30 – 2:00 PM,
Keck 100 Conference Room, The Keck Center of the National Academies,
500 5th Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20001
To what extent should scientists participate in the public policy arena? Some argue that scientists have an obligation to speak out based on their scientific expertise, while others contend that scientists tarnish their credibility when they advocate particular policy preferences.
Disasters, Death and Destruction: Accounting for Recent Calamities, March 15
http://dels.nas.edu/osb/about_revelle.shtml
Date: March 15, 2006
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: the Baird Auditorium at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of
Natural History in Washington, DC.
Featuring: Dr. Roger Pielke, Jr.
The recent devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean tsunami, and South Asian earthquake has kept natural disasters at the focus of our attention. The past decades have seen a spectacular series of catastrophes around the world with ever increasing economic losses and horrific loss of life. The recent spate of disasters has created two common perceptions among decision makers and the general public.
Sensing Terrains — An Installation by Patricia Olynyk
February 12 – June 16, 2006
Open weekdays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed April 20 – 25 and May 29
Artist’s Reception: March 19, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
(precedes concert by Apollo’s Fire — The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra)
National Academy of Sciences
2100 C St NW, Rotunda Gallery
Patricia Olynyk juxtaposes triggers of sensation with the sensory system itself.
She incorporates her own imagery of the sensory organs of a variety of specimens
with photographs of Japanese gardens meant to tickle the senses.
Science & Engineering Indicators, 2006.
NSB, 2006.
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind06/
Rethinking How We Provide Bibliographic Services for the University of California.
Univ. of California Libraries Bibliographic Services Task Force, 2005.
http://libraries.universityofcalifornia.edu/sopag/BSTF/Final.pdf
Decisions on Moving R&D Offshore Depend Upon More Than Cost,
by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 2005. (report highlights)
http://www.kauffman.org/items.cfm?itemID=678
Globalization and Offshoring of Software.
ACM, 2006.
http://www.acm.org/globalizationreport/
Statewide Databases of Registered Voters: Study Of Accuracy, Privacy, Usability, Security, and Reliability Issues commissioned by the U.S. Public Policy Committee of the Association for Computing Machinery.
ACM, 2006.
http://www.acm.org/usacm/PDF/VRD_report.pdf
Nuclear Weapons: NNSA Needs to Refine and More Effectively Manage Its New Approach for Assessing and Certifying Nuclear Weapons (GAO-06-261).
GAO, 2006.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06261.pdf
Higher Education Tax Credits: Test An Economic Analysis (RL32507).
CRS, 2006.
http://www.opencrs.com/rpts/RL32507_20060117.pdf
Drinking Water: EPA Should Strengthen Ongoing Efforts to Ensure That Consumers Are Protected from Lead Contamination (GAO-06-148).
GAO, 2006.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06148.pdf
Renewable Energy: Tax Credit, Budget, and Electricity Production Issues (IB10041).
CRS, 2006.
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/60712.pdf
Computer Wonder Women: Historic Beginnings of Computers.
Educational Cyber Playground, 2006.
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/pdf/cwomen.pdf
Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe Report: 2005.
Aon, 2005.
http://www.aon.com/about/publications/pdf/issues/2005_global_climate_catastrophe_report.pdf
The 2006 Horizon Report.
New Media Consortium, 2006.
http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2006_Horizon_Report.pdf
New case studies on the coexistence of GM and non-GM crops in European agriculture.
European Science and Technology Observatory, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, 2005.
http://www.jrc.es/home/pages/eur22102enfinal.pdf
Assessment of Planetary Protection Requirements for Venus Missions — Letter Report.
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11584.html
Defending the U.S. Air Transportation System Against Chemical and Biological Threats.
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11556.html
Drawing Louisiana’s New Map: Addressing Land Loss in Coastal Louisiana.
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11476.html
Engineering Studies at Tribal Colleges and Universities.
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11582.html
Frontiers of Engineering: Reports on Leading-Edge Engineering from the 2005 Symposium.
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11577.html
The Fundamental Role of Science and Technology in International Development: An Imperative for the U.S. Agency for International Development (prepublication).
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11583.html
Innovating for Profit in Russia: Summary of a Workshop.
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11418.html
Review of the Department of Energy’s Genomics: GTL Program (prepublication).
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11581.html
Strengthening Long-Term Nuclear Security: Protecting Weapon-Usable Material in Russia.
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11377.html
Structural Performance of the New Orleans Hurricane Protection System During Hurricane Katrina: Letter Report.
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11591.html
Trends in Oil Supply and Demand, Potential for Peaking of Conventional Oil Production, and Possible Mitigation Options: A Summary Report of the Workshop.
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11585.html
Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity: Focus on Communities — Brief Summary: Institute of Medicine Regional Symposium.
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11580.html
When I’m 64.
NAP, 2006.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11474.html
Cafe Scientifique
http://www.cafescientifique.org/
If your city doesn’t have a Cafe Scientifique, it should! Why don’t
you start one?
Cafe Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. Meetings take place in cafes, bars, restaurants and even theatres, but always outside a traditional academic context.
The Cafe Scientifique in Denver draws crowds of 200 or more. “The Café Scientifique idea started in England a few years ago, based on the French Café Philosophique. In the Café Scientifique, people (often science buffs) come together in a friendly pub after work and hear an informal introduction to an interesting current scientific topic, led by an expert. We take a short break for refreshments, to meet new people, and chat, and then we return for questions and answers and general discussion. All questions and comments are welcome, as this isn’t a seminar, it’s a chance for all of us to express an opinion, expert or otherwise.
Grady Booch, Chief Scientist at IBM, who spoke at the Café in 2004, wrote: ‘While I typically speak only to fellow geeks, this was absolutely the most refreshing encounter I’ve had in a very long time. It’s wonderful to be among a group of such intelligent and diverse people who are passionate about pursuing knowledge and understanding.’ And Dennis Van Gerven said of his talk: ‘I can honestly say I haven’t had that much fun without losing consciousness in years!’”
NARA Films Brought to You by Google
http://video.google.com/nara.html
Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein and Google Co-Founder and
President of Technology Sergey Brin today announced the launch of a pilot
program to make holdings of the National Archives available for free online.
This non-exclusive agreement will enable researchers and the general public
to access a diverse collection of historic movies, documentaries and other
films from the
National Archives via Google Video (http://video.google.com/nara.html)
as well as the
National Archives website (http://www.archives.gov/).
NASA and Dept. of the Interior films are currently available, including The Eagle Has Landed 1969, Who’s Out There? 1975, Assignment Shoot the Moon, Work of Rivers 1935, The Wapiti of Jackson Hole 1939. Also United Newsreel Motion Pictures from the WWII era.
Solar Folklore
http://solar-center.stanford.edu/folklore/folklore.html
“For centuries, humans have attempted to explain the Sun in terms of
their own worldviews. The Sun can be a god, a demon, a mischievous spirit,
an omnipotent creator or a ruthless taker of life. Whatever role it plays,
most cultures have recognized the significance of the Sun as prime
controller of all life on Earth.”
Science and Visualization Challenge: Call for Entries
http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/scivis/index.jsp?id=challenge
From the diagrams of DaVinci to the latest photos from the most remote
galactic outback, art promotes understanding of research results and
scientific phenomena. Awards for outstanding examples of visual media
will recognize photography, illustration, informational graphics,
interactive media, and noninteractive media. The deadline is 31 May for
international entries in the 2006 annual competition, sponsored by AAAS
and the National Science Foundation.
Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/visibleproofs/
Companion to a 2006–2008 exhibition that teaches about the history of
forensic medicine, items in a forensic laboratory, and recent
developments in forensic science. Features galleries of significant
cases (such as the autopsy of President Lincoln), technologies,
biographies of prominent scientists, and artifacts. Also includes
lesson plans and other material for educators. Many of the
descriptions are not for the faint-hearted. From the National Library
of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH).
(From Librarian’s Index to the Internet)
Exploring Space: The Quest for Life
http://www.pbs.org/exploringspace/
The search through the cosmos for intelligent life, or any life for that
matter, continues to fascinate everyone from dedicated scientists working
for NASA to such personages as Shirley MacLaine. Broad in its scope, and
innovative in its use of computer-animated deep-space imagery, this program
from PBS explores the various mysteries about the origins of life that may
lie in outer space. This site provides a host of online essays and
interactive features that are meant as complements to the television
program. The sections here include “The Mars Prospect”, “The Search for
Aliens”, and “Meteorites & Life”. Within each section, there are a number of
quizzes and fun activities, such as one that lets visitors attempt to fly to
Mars. The site is rounded out by a number of insightful essays, including
those that deal with the themes of the rights of alien life forms and other
such speculative topics. [KMG] (From the Scout Report)
Genetic Science Learning Center
http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/basics/
This site from the Univ. of Utah has a wonderful simple, clean look
and an easy, well planned delivery of information on genetics.
Animations and games let you look at the parts of a cell, build a
DNA molecule, discover how proteins function and more. Additional
interesting modules discuss questions such as how fireflies glow,
genes and blood type, and using genetics to solve a mystery.
ubio — Universal Biological Indexer and Organizer
http://www.ubio.org/
“uBio is an initiative within the science library community to
join international efforts to create and utilize a comprehensive and
collaborative catalog of known names of all living (and once-living)
organisms. The Taxonomic Name Server (TNS) catalogs names and
classifications to enable tools that can help users find information
on living things using any of the names that may be related to an
organism.”
“[This is a] tool that searches through text documents and classifies them according to the organisms that are referenced, not only by the name it finds, but also by the common names and any additional scientific names that might have been used prior or after (because names change over time). Announcements of new organism names are automatically added to the database by analyzing relevant RSS news feeds. The tool also provides a link to all other documents that are related to organisms’ common or scientific names.” (From WhiteBoard)
Scientific Inquiry through Plants (Sip3)
http://www.plantbiology.org/
Scientific Inquiry through Plants (Sip3) is an innovative forum allowing
students to discover biological core concepts through hands-on inquiry
projects coupled with online science mentorship from plant scientists.
The Botanical Society of America provides inquiry units that are standards
aligned and highly adaptable to classroom needs. Classrooms around the
country are connected online where students share their research with
peers and plant science mentors. Students upload their research journals
and discuss their observations and evidence along with their data. Plant
science mentors facilitate student thinking and provide insight to what
scientists know and how they think.
Science team finds ‘lost world’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4688000.stm
An international team of scientists says it has found a “lost
world” in the Indonesian jungle that is home to dozens of new
animal and plant species. This news story includes video clips and
images. Very exciting, extraordinary news!
Interactive Body
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/index_interactivebody.shtml
From the BBC, a site that allows you to play a number of games —
such as putting bones of the human skeleton in the right place —
and then provides additional information and visuals about the various
parts and functions of the human body.
Thinking Machine 4
http://turbulence.org/spotlight/thinking/index.html
Thinking Machine 4 explores the invisible, elusive nature of thought.
Play chess against a transparent intelligence, its evolving thought
process visible on the board before you. The artwork is an artificial
intelligence program, ready to play chess with the viewer. If the
viewer confronts the program, the computer’s thought process is
sketched on screen as it plays. A map is created from the traces of
literally thousands of possible futures as the program tries to decide
its best move. Those traces become a key to the invisible lines of
force in the game as well as a window into the spirit of a thinking
machine.
Intelligent Designs on Evolution
http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/inteldesign/
This 2006 documentary looks at the concept of intelligent design,
“which argues certain aspects of the natural world are so complex
they must have been the work of a designer.” The companion website
features articles on intelligent design in the classroom and religion in
schools, interviews, audio and transcript of the program, and related
links and readings on evolution and creationism. From American RadioWorks.
(From Librarian’s Index to the Internet)
Science Explorations from Scholastic
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorations/
A new interactive web site from Scholastic, the global children’s
publishing and media company, was recently released. In keeping with the
company’s mission of creating quality products and services that
educate, entertain, and motivate children, and that are designed to help
enlarge their understanding of the world around them, Science Explorations
interweaves links to the American Museum of Natural History with educational
standards, and interactive message boards for idea-sharing.
(From WhiteBoard)
High School Student Event: The Indiana Super Mileage Challenge
http://www.doe.state.in.us/octe/technologyed/SuperMileageChallenge.html
“The Indiana Super Mileage Challenge (SMC) is an exciting high school
student event sponsored by the Office of Career and Technical Education of
the Indiana Department of Education. The race event highlights student
skills in applying advanced concepts in science, technology, engineering
and mathematics. The goal of the SMC is for students to work in teams to
create a vehicle that achieves the greatest fuel efficiency in competition
with other schools to obtain the highest miles per gallon rating over a
fixed course at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The 2006 Super Mileage
Challenge will be held on April 24, 2006.
In preparation for designing a vehicle high school students study related advanced topics such as: vehicle safety, vehicle control systems, friction reduction, vehicle geometry, aerodynamics, composite materials, and prototype fabrication techniques. Schools work closely with local and community sponsors to cover the costs associated with building a car and participating in the event. The SMC event is in its tenth year and is open to all schools everywhere. Detailed information about how to participate will be sent to schools that submit a letter of intent by Nov. 1, 2007. Contact Jim Thompson at 317 846-4318 or send email to jthompson16@indy.rr.com. All are welcome to attend the event!” (From WhiteBoard)
Dapper Data Viewer
http://www.epic.noaa.gov/epic/software/dchart/
“The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory has released a browser-based
application called the Dapper Data Viewer for viewing oceanographic
and atmospheric data. DChart, as it is also known, enjoys a
particularly rich feature-set, thanks to the use of an emerging Web
application technology called Asynchronous JavaScript and XML
(AJAX).” (From Joab Jackson in Government Computer News)
QuickBird Images of Tsunami Sites
http://www.digitalglobe.com/tsunami_gallery.html
Before and after detailed satellite images of the Indian Ocean tsunami.
Volcano Expedition to the Mariana Islands: The Ins and Outs of how Earth Works
http://scripps.ucsd.edu/marianas/
“A team of researchers taking part in the National Science
Foundation MARGINS initiative traveled to the Mariana Islands at
the western edge of the Pacific Ocean to answer some of the most
challenging questions of plate tectonics. They seek a better
understanding of subduction zones where material is routed from
Earth’s surface to its interior. What they find might also
reveal how the atmosphere that sustains life on Earth was created
and how it continues to evolve. This Web site will take you to
nine volcanic islands in the chain, offering a guided tour through
photos, video and day-by-day accounts of what the research team
found. Along the way, get to know the history of the Mariana
Islands. Now a commonwealth of the United States, the
Marianas’ story is one of occupation by a succession of
different peoples and includes a pivotal role as the site of
history-making events during World War II.”
Small is Big: The Coming Nanotechnology Revolution
http://www.ieee-virtual-museum.org/exhibit/exhibit.php?id=159272&lid=1
“There’s a lot of buzz-nanotechnology is ‘coming
soon.’ But what is nanotechnology? Why doesn’t anyone
ever explain that? Well, it’s not that easy. While experts
agree about the size of nanotechnology—that it’s smaller
than a nanometer (that’s one billionth of a meter) they
disagree about what should be called nanotechnology and what should
not.” This exhibit from the IEEE Virtual Museum will walk you
through the history, people and future of nanotechnology.
Molecular Expressions Microscopy Primer: Introduction to Microscopy
http://microscope.fsu.edu/primer/index.html
The Molecular Expressions microscopy primer reviews basic and advanced
topics and concepts in optics, light, color, optical microscopy, digital
imaging, photomicrography and features over 200 interactive Java
tutorials. You can also get microscopy wall paper and screen savers.
Cool!
A Chemical Jigsaw Puzzle
http://www.harmsy.freeuk.com/jigsaw.html
Cut out the pieces and begin making molecules. An easy and fun way to
visualize molecular construction.
Grey Labyrinth
http://www.greylabyrinth.com/
“An archive of puzzles from mathematicians, philosophers, and
others. The answers are posted but you are challenged to answer them
without peeking!” (From the Exploratorium)
Arctic Passage
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/arctic
“The greatest geographical prize of its day was the search for the
fabled Northwest Passage through the island maze of Arctic Canada.
In 1845, Great Britain mounted an all-out assault with a lavishly
equipped expedition that was never heard from again. Then in the
early 1900s, a little-known Norwegian adventurer set forth in a
secondhand fishing boat and succeeded beyond all expectation. This
two-hour special answers the riddle of why Sir John Franklin’s
mission failed and Roald Amundsen’s made it.
Here’s what you’ll find on the companion Web site:
Also, Links & Books, the Teacher’s Guide, the program transcript, and more.
The Tebtunis Papyri Collection
http://tebtunis.berkeley.edu/collection/
The Tebtunis papyri were found in the winter of 1899/1900 at the site of
ancient Tebtunis, Egypt. The Tebtunis papyri form the largest collection
of papyrus texts in the Americas. The collection has never been counted
and inventoried completely, but the number of fragments contained in it
exceeds 30,000.
This web site, which is under continuous development, will provide electronic access to images of the Tebtunis papyri as well as textual information. We are trying to enhance understanding of the collection by providing information about the sites where the papyri were found, the intellectual and physical history of the collection, and the contents of the papyri contained in it. A particularly interesting aspect of the collection is that it contains many related groups of texts, which can either be traced back to actual archives or collected to form dossiers. Since such texts, possessing a context, typically provide more information (and are more interesting) than pieces in isolation, we have given emphasis to them in this presentation.
Abraham Lincoln Cartoons
http://www.abrahamlincolncartoons.info/
“This collection of more than 400 Lincoln-related cartoons is derived
from HarpWeeks Lincoln and the Civil War.com database of 49 Civil War era
periodicals. The cartoons have been scanned at high resolution and come from
21 illustrated journals that varied in type and allegiance. They include the
three prominent American weeklies of the period—Frank Leslie’s
Illustrated Newspaper, Harper’s Weekly, and New York Illustrated News;
campaign newspapers such as The Rail Splitter, Campaign Plain Dealer, and
Strong’s Campaign Pictorial; satirical publications such as The Comic
Monthly, The Phunny Phellow, and Vanity Fair; and pro-Confederate journals
published in the American South—Southern Illustrated News and Southern
Punch; and in Britain—Fn and Punch. The vast majority of the cartoons
include images of Lincoln, but a few only reference him textually. In all,
Abraham Lincoln Cartoons.com spans the period from his presidential campaign
in 1860 through the major events of the Civil War to his assassination in
1865.” (From ResourceShelf)
Implicit Association Test
http://www.exploratorium.org/learning_studio/cool/psychology.html
“It is well known that people don’t always ‘speak their
minds’, and it is suspected that people don’t always ‘know
their minds’. Understanding such divergences is important to scientific
psychology.
This web site presents a method that demonstrates the conscious-unconscious divergences much more convincingly than has been possible with previous methods. This new method is called the Implicit Association Test, or IAT for short.” Try it yourself!
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.)
REPORT SAYS OUTSOURCING FEARS EXAGGERATED
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/23/technology/23outsource.html
A new report from the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) argues
that fears of a wholesale migration of high-tech jobs away from the
United States are not supported by the data so far. Representing a
year’s work by a study group, the report predicts continued offshoring
of 2 to 3 percent of IT jobs each year for the next decade, but it
notes that the number of high-tech jobs continues to grow and already
exceeds the number at the height of the dot-com boom. Although the
report acknowledges losses to lower-wage markets and notes that the
marketplace for technology is tightening, “the notion that information
technology jobs are disappearing is just nonsense,” according to Moshe
Vardi, computer scientist at Rice University and cochair of the study
group. David Patterson, president of the ACM and computer science
professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said that
exaggerated fears of outsourcing have hurt the U.S. market by
discouraging college students from pursuing careers in IT, which, in
turn, will lead to fewer qualified members of the U.S. IT workforce.
New York Times, 23 February 2006 (registration req’d) (via Edupage)
Full report (http://www.acm.org/globalizationreport/)
LAMBDARAIL COMPLETES BACKBONE
http://chronicle.com/daily/2006/02/2006022201t.htm
The backbone of the National LambdaRail network has been completed,
connecting New York with Seattle and Jacksonville, Fla., with
Sunnyvale, Calif., with a number of north-south connections linking
those two lines. The 15,000 mile, fiber-optic network for academic
research was developed by the National LambdaRail consortium, a group
of about 30 universities and companies. Although some parts of the
country do not have access to the backbone, Thomas West, president of
National LambdaRail, said the group currently has no “plans…to
augment the backbone.” West said his organization would try to help
those without access to build regional fiber-optic networks that could
then connect to the LambdaRail backbone. National LambdaRail is
currently in talks with Internet2 about merging the two organizations.
West conceded that negotiations over the merger have proceeded more
slowly than those involved had expected, but he said talks are
continuing.
Chronicle of Higher Education, 22 February 2006 (sub. req’d) (via Edupage)
EU WANTS RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
http://www.theregister.com/2006/02/22/european_mit/
The European Union (EU) has solicited proposals for a European
Institute of Technology (EIT), which would conduct research and work to
commercialize products and services that come of that research. As
models for the EIT, the EU suggested MIT, which has been very
successful at bringing the fruits of research to market, as well as
emerging research centers in China and India. The EIT, with an annual
budget of as much as 1 billion euros, could be a single entity or a
virtual one, representing collaboration among existing universities.
Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission (EC), said
the EIT will “act as a pole of attraction for the very best minds,
ideas, and companies from around the world.” Officials from a number of
universities rejected the very idea, saying that trying to build a
European version of MIT would fail. The League of European Research
Universities called the plan “perverse” and said that in its
solicitation, the EC demonstrated a lack of understanding of the
academic community in Europe.
The Register, 22 February 2006 (via Edupage)
E-MAIL PROMPTS SOME TO GET TOO CHUMMY
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/21/education/21professors.html
Although most faculty acknowledge the benefits of e-mail, many believe
that one of the downsides of the technology is an erosion of the
boundaries that traditionally separate instructors from students.
Faculty said e-mail can help them identify students who are struggling,
and it encourages participation from students who might otherwise keep
quiet. Increasing numbers of students, however, use e-mail to ask their
instructors inappropriate questions, often with unrealistic
expectations about the consequences. A student at the University of
California, Davis, sent an e-mail to Jennifer Schultens, associate
professor of mathematics, asking for advice on buying school supplies.
Students tell instructors they missed class because they were hungover,
ask for teaching notes, offer advice on how to teach, and criticize
classmates. Many faculty, especially those without tenure, are put into
uncomfortable positions in such circumstances, not knowing how direct
and honest they should be with students, particularly in light of
increasing opportunities and forums for students to evaluate faculty
performance. Meg Worley, assistant professor of English at Pomona
College in California, noted that setting clear expectations at the
beginning of a term can be helpful in avoiding many problems with
e-mail.
New York Times, 21 February 2006 (registration req’d) (via Edupage)
CONGRESS LIFTS THE 50 PERCENT RULE
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/01/national/01educ.html
Tucked inside a budget bill passed by Congress is a provision that
repeals the 50 percent rule, which restricted federal financial aid to
students attending colleges and universities that offer fewer than half
of their courses online or that enroll fewer than half their students
at a distance. The rule was enacted in 1992 to combat diploma mills,
many of which operated online. The growing numbers of students enrolled
in online education—both at for-profit and nonprofit institutions—and
a strong lobby for commercial colleges helped push through the repeal.
Members of Congress who sponsored the lifting of the rule, John Boehner
(R-Ohio) and Howard McKeon (R-Calif.), said the change will expand
educational access to nontraditional students and help Americans join
the workforce. Opponents of the rule change advised moving more
cautiously, saying online education has not demonstrated that it can be
as effective as traditional education. Henry Levin, director of
Columbia University’s National Center for the Study of Privatization
in Education, said commercial education is “a growth industry, and you
get rich not by being skeptical, but by being enthusiastic.”
New York Times, 1 March 2006 (registration req’d) (via Edupage)
THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS FROM A NON-EDUPAGE SOURCE
Teleworking Would Save Billions —
By allowing federal employees and white-collar workers to telework two days
per week the government would conserve 11.67 billion gallons of gasoline
annually, the Telework Exchange said in a study published last month. The
study, titled “A Barrel Saved is a Barrel Earned,” noted that federal employees
as a whole use 31.1 million gallons of gasoline each week. Teleworking two
days each week would conserve 12.4 million gallons per week, or approximately
647 million gallons annually. Telework Exchange Executive Director Stephen
O’Keefe said, “The ‘other’ fuel for our economy, telework, is a largely untapped
resource. It requires no new research and development.” The study was based on
survey results taken from 3,500 federal employees registered to the Telework
Exchange Web site.
Download the full report (http://www.teleworkexchange.com/).
(From FEDERAL DAILY)
The 50 Best Robots Ever
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.01/robots.html
From Wired Magazine with love: a nifty trip down memory lane that also doubles
as a nerd test! There are plenty of familiar faux faces here, just waiting to
say hi. R2D2, Hal 9000, Robby the Robot, Optimus Prime, the “classic
sexbot” from “Metropolis,” the Terminator, and the Iron Giant
all show up for the party. We were pleased to see the attack droids from the
1984 Tom Selleck sci-fi thriller “Runaway” and David
Hasselhoff’s first lifesaver, Kitt, the “smooth-talking,
self-driving” Trans Am from “Knight Rider.” Even the Tin
Woodman, “though technically a cyborg,” makes an appearance. Yeah,
a lot of this stuff is super geeky (Autonomous Benthic Explorer, anyone?), but
what can we say? Nerd out and see how you score out of fifty.
(From Yahoo’s Picks of the Week)
EPA Library Funds Cut 80% under Bush Budget
http://www.ala.org/al_onlineTemplate.cfm?Section=alonline&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=116849
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s network of libraries stands
to lose $2 million of its $2.5 million in funding under President Bush’s
proposed 2007 budget, which threatens to close the headquarters library and
many regional facilities as well as shut down the libraries’ electronic
catalog.
If a Library Is Bookless, What’s In It?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5235518
This 2006 radio program looks at the role of public libraries in the 21st
century, given the advances in information technology. The program focuses
on these questions: “What is the library’s role — and who
should pay for it?” Includes links to opinions about “bookless
libraries” and public library services of the future. From National
Public Radio (NPR). (From Librarian’s Index to the Internet)
Be on the Cover of Science
http://www.eurekalert.org/beonthecover/
Just for fun, put your photograph on the cover of Science magazine.
All items from the Scout Report are copyright Susan Calcari, 1994-2006. 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.
Blue Web’n is a searchable library of Blue-Ribbon Web sites categorized by grade level, content area, and type. Visit Blue Web’n online at http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this newsletter are those of the participants (authors), and do not necessarily represent the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation.