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Report on Spring BISO Board Meeting
Cynthia Beall, BISO chair, convened the twelfth meeting of the Board on May 1-2, 2007, then spoke about matters before the ICSU Executive Board, including finances, dues, union meetings, and the Young Scientists Conference. The Board discussed several scientific programs including the International Year of Planet Earth. Members also heard a presentation about the 2007-2008 International Polar Year from Chris Elfring, Director of the NRC’s Polar Research Board, and a report from ICSU’s Hazards Committee by William Hooke.
Geological science national committee chairs Farouk el-Baz, Priscella Grew, Alan Ashworth, and Paul M. Bertsch reported on their respective USNCs involvement in the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE). As declared by the 60th United Nations General Assembly, 2008 will mark the international observance of IYPE. The intention of IYPE is to present new initiatives by which Earth sciences ensure a safe and more prosperous world.
Mike Sissenwine updated the Board on the Pacific Science Association’s upcoming Congress, and Board members discussed several options for future involvement. PSA and the National Academies’ relationship to it will be addressed again at BISO’s fall meeting. Melinda Kimble briefed the Board on UNESCO activities, and noted that the suggestions made by the BISO Board last year were incorporated into the U.S. Commission’s report and then into the UNESCO document. The Board agreed to continue pushing for change in the science sector. Finally, the Board received reports on a number of current projects and activities, including the IUPSYS workshop report on International Collaborations, a workshop on dual use technologies in the biological and chemical sciences, CODATA workshops, and a report from the International Visitors Office. The Board will meet next in fall 2007.
Program Development
BISO is pleased to announce that the USNC/Math Instruction proposal submitted in June 2006 has been recommended for funding by the NSF Program Officer (Division of Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education). First-year funding for the five-year proposal has been received. Proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support the USNCs for Math & Physical Sciences and the USNCs in the Geosciences (IUGS, IUGG, IUSS, and the INQUA) are currently pending review.
International Visa Office Update
Scientists and students traveling to the United States for professional meetings are encouraged to register their activities with the International Visitors Office (IVO), a program operated by BISO. On the behalf of international scientists who complete a Visa Questionnaire, the IVO is able to inquire about the status of pending visa applications with the U.S. Department of State. Since the survey’s inception in 2003, the percentage of cases delayed for a period of 90 days or more was 69%, in comparison to the reduction to 22% by the end of 2006. Learn more about the Visa Questionnaire and current statistical trends on the IVO webpage.
Department of Homeland Security Developments
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides extensive guidelines on travel and security issues for those traveling to and from the United States. In February, the DHS proposed increased flexibility for use of a certified birth certificate by U.S. and Canadian children, ages 15 and younger with parental consent, with regard to land and sea port entry at U.S. borders. DHS also initiated the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP) as a means for travelers to voice concerns regarding visa-related travel delays, boarding denials and watch list misidentification issues. Visit the DHS Press Room to obtain Travel and Security Press Releases (RSS Feeds).
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