__________________________________________________ The Online Newsletter of the Board on International Scientific Organizations Issue #17, Fall/Winter 2006 December 27, 2006 Dear Readers: BISO staff and board members, buoyed by the positive support we are receiving for our programs, especially from the National Science Foundation, are looking forward to a year full of international activities and events. We are nourished by the many friendships we have with researchers from around the world and look forward to the many opportunities we have to create additional networks and collaborations in 2007. We hope you enjoy learning about our recent activities as reported in this newsletter. We were very pleased with the results of our partnership with Student Pugwash USA, which helped us organize a symposium to commemorate the 75th anniversary of ICSU. Our activities related to the dual use dilemma in biological sciences continued with a successful workshop hosted by the Royal Society in London. The Office of International Scientific and Technical Information Programs has organized an impressive number of activities, many reported in this issue, and has exciting plans for additional projects. BISO News is meant to keep readers informed of all of our activities and many other projects are described in this issue. We intentionally keep this newsletter short but invite readers to contact us directly should they need additional information about any of our projects. May this season be filled with joy. May the New Year bring us peace. Wendy D. White Director, BISO
Table of Contents: BISO Briefs Milestones Union News Scientific and Technological Issues Capacity Building		Data and Information Membership News Staff News Calendar of Events Past Issues
Return to BISO Home

BISO Briefs

Report on Fall 2006 BISO Meeting		Milestones
Program Development		Membership News
International Visa Office Update		Staff News
Historic Vote by IAU Deems Pluto A Dwarf Planet		Committee Rosters
2007 IIASA YSSP Accepting Applications
Travel Grants for Chemists: 2007 IUPAC Young Observer Program
Report on Fall BISO Board Meeting Cynthia Beall, BISO chair, convened the eleventh meeting of the board on 5-6 October 2006. The board held an in-depth discussion with Dr. Kathie Olsen, the U.S. representative on a panel that is reviewing UNESCO’s programs in the basic and social sciences. Dr. Olsen explained that UNESCO is challenged to make its programs more transparent and to have a clearer process for creating and sun-setting activities. With a limited budget of $12 million dollars for its science programs, UNESCO must be more selective in the programs it chooses to develop. The board also discussed ICSU-related issues, especially the newly established panel to review ICSU’s dues structure. NAS member and former BISO member, Dr. Donald Saari, is the U.S. representative on this panel. Dr. Michael Crosby joined the board to discuss the National Science Board’s review of international programs. NSB had published a report on international activities immediately prior to the events of 9 September 2001 but much has changed since then and many of the recommendations in the original report have not yet been addressed. This new exercise aims to reexamine the role of U.S. Government in international partnerships and to recommend ways to encourage more scientists to become engaged in international activities. The board will meet next in spring 2007. Program Development BISO’s new five-year core proposal was approved and the first year of funding has been received. USNC/CODATA continues to raise funds for its on-going activities including a U.S.-China Roundtable on Scientific Data Cooperation and a Latin American Workshop. BISO also submitted a number of proposals to the National Science Foundation (NSF): A proposal to support USNC/IUTAM submitted in March 2006 has been approved. 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). An August proposal submission to support the USNCs for Math & Physical Sciences is pending review. Proposals to support the USNCs in the Geosciences (IUGS, IUGG, IUSS, and the INQUA) and the USNCs in the Biological Sciences (IUBS, IUBMB, IUMS, IUPS, and IUPAB) were submitted in October 2006 and are currently pending review. International Visa Office Update: Visa Processing Times Improving BISO’s The International Visa Office (IVO) continues to be a valuable resource on visa-related issues for scientists and students traveling to the United States for professional activities. Developed in 2003 as a result of concerns over US visa processing trends, statistics based on the IVO Visa Questionnaire reveal that visa processing times have been steadily improving. The percentage of cases delayed for a period of 90 days or more since the survey’s inception was 69%, in comparison to the notable reduction to 11% by the end of 2005. Based on information gathered from the questionnaire, the IVO is able to inquire about the status of pending visa applications on the behalf of international scientists with the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about these statistical trends on the IVO webpage.

Historic Vote by IAU Redefines Solar System: Pluto Deemed a Dwarf Planet One of the most broadly reported scientific stories this summer was the International Astronomical Union (IAU) planetary definition debate, which led to a determination that the Solar System consists of eight planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune). Delegates to the IAU General Assembly in Prague approved a resolution on 24 August 2006 that effectively demoted Pluto’s status as the ninth planet in the Solar System to a category of celestial bodies known as “dwarf planets.”
Image Courtesy IAU Website	The IAU concluded that the term planet applies to a celestial body that: Orbits the sun. Is large enough in mass and diameter to be pulled into a spherical shape by its own gravity. Has enough gravitational pull to clear the orbit of bodies within its neighborhood and must not be a satellite.
Because Pluto orbits within the Kuniper Belt, an area beyond Neptune, it no longer meets the criteria of a planet. Read more about the final resolution votes passed by the IAU.

2007 IIASA Young Scientist Summer Program Accepting Applications IIASA is currently accepting applications for its 2007 Young Scientist Summer Program (YSSP), which affords candidates an opportunity to work closely with an IIASA senior researcher on a project relevant to both their graduate research and IIASA’s program goals. Applications must be submitted by 15 January 2007. Learn more about the YSSP and download application materials. Travel Grants for Chemists: 2007 IUPAC Young Observer Program Seeking Applicants The USNC/IUPAC offers travel grants for young U.S. scientists to attend the IUPAC Congresses and General Assemblies as IUPAC Young Observers. The Young Observer Program introduces the work of IUPAC to a new generation of distinguished researchers while infusing the Union with new ideas in emerging chemistry fields. Apply on-line or contact Program Officer Katherine Bowman for further details. The 2007 Submission Deadline is January 15, 2007. Back to BISO Briefs Back to Table of Contents Milestones Salah Baouendi Elected IMU Executive Committee Member at Large USNC/IUGS Member Awarded 2006 Citizen Service Medal James S. Jackson Receives 2006 James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award Math Scholar Named TWAS President Salah Baouendi Elected IMU Executive Committee Member at Large USNC/Math Chair and University of California, San Diego Professor M. Salah Baouendi was elected to the 2007 International Math Union’s (IMU) Executive Committee as a Member at Large during the IMU General Assembly in Santiago de Compostela, Spain this summer. Six Members at Large, along with four other officials, comprise IMU Executive Committee; members serve four-year terms. USNC/IUGS Member Awarded the 2006 Citizen Service Medal Thomas Casadevall, USNC/International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics Member and Central Region Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, was awarded the 2006 Citizen Service Medal for utilizing technology to help locate and rescue thousands of Hurricane Katrina victims. Dr. Casadevall and his fellow USGS colleagues personally conducted rescue missions that saved 600 people from August 31 to September 5, 2006. Once search-and-rescue teams arrived from across the country, Dr. Casadevall and his fellow scientists focused their attention to monitoring water levels, installing stream gauges, and testing water quality in New Orleans. Casadevall has been credited by his colleagues for empowering his fellow employees to act in a time of crisis. The Citizen Service Medal is one of nine medal categories comprising the Service to America Medals honoring excellence in the federal workforce. James S. Jackson Receives 2006 James McKeen Cattell Fellowship Award BISO congratulates USNC/IUPsyS Committee Member James S. Jackson as a 2006 James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award Winner. The Association for Psychological Science (APS) bestows the McKeen Cattell Award to APS Members in recognition of outstanding lifetime contributions to the field of applied psychological research. Director of the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Dr. Jackson is a noted scholar on race relations and racism, an innovator on data collection, and leader of several national surveys on African American communities within the U.S. His research in the social sciences has led to greater global understanding of race relations. View the APS Award Citation on Dr. Jackson’s contributions. Math Scholar Named TWAS President Brazilian mathematician and past IMU President (1999-2002) Jacob Palis was elected President of the Academy of Science for the Developing World (TWAS) during the TWAS 10th General Conference held in Angra dos Reis, Brazil. A prominent scholar in the field of dynamical systems, Dr. Palis will begin his three-year term in January 2007. Back to Table of Contents Union News Spring 2007 IUBS Symposium on Sustainable Development USNC/Math Supports Developing Countries USNC/IUPsyS International Collaborations Workshop USNC/IUPAC Sponsors ACS Symposium Speaker U.S. Embassy in Madrid Hosts International Mathematicians USNC/Astronomy Active at 2006 General Assembly USNC/Astronomy: Women’s Luncheon USNC/Astronomy: United States Reception USNC/Astronomy: Young Astronomer Activities IUTAM Meets at Brown University USNC/INQUA Co-Sponsors Workshop on Teaching Global Climate Change Report on IUPsyS General Assembly and Congress Spring 2007 IUBS Symposium on Sustainable Development The International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) will hold its 29th General Assembly and Scientific Symposium May 9-13, 2007 in Washington, DC. While the General Assembly, which involves union business, is open only to IUBS national and scientific member body delegates, registration and attendance at the scientific Symposium (held May 10-12, 2007) is encouraged by all interested scientists, business leaders, and policy makers. The Symposium’s theme, “Biological Sciences for the 21st Century: Meeting the Challenges of Sustainable Development in an Era of Global Change,” will explore some of today's most exciting developments in biological sciences research. The event will feature an overview of five key research frontiers—biocomplexity, informatics, genomics, knowledge integration, and institutional capacity—and how they can contribute to sustainability solutions. Successive sessions will investigate major challenges of sustainable development (ecosystem services, food security and population health) and highlight the role biological sciences seem destined to play with regard to sustainable energy. An esteemed panel of science policy leaders will facilitate the symposium’s concluding discussions. Abstracts for poster presentation are currently being accepted. View a list of confirmed speakers, the preliminary program, and register for this event. Back to Table of Contents USNC/Math Supports Developing Countries Working with and supporting mathematicians in developing countries has become a top priority for the USNC/Math. For several years, the committee has worked hard to develop the contacts necessary to support meaningful projects and collaborations. This year, a number of activities came to fruition thanks to support provided by the National Science Foundation: Working closely with the International Mathematical Union, the USNC/Math agreed to provide travel support for 26 mathematicians from developing countries to allow them to attend the International Congress of Mathematics in Madrid, Spain. Each USNC/Math member attending the ICM was paired with one or more of the supported mathematicians, a number of whom were the sole representative from their country. The committee expects future collaborations to grow out of some of these contacts. Growing out of previous contacts with the African Mathematics Millennium Science Initiative (AMMSI), the USNC/Math supported a workshop on mathematical biology in Nairobi, Kenya from December 7-10, 2006. The workshop included both a research symposium and graduate level mini-courses in various areas of mathematical biology. Collaborating with CINVESTAV in Mexico, the USNC/Math is jointly sponsoring a U.S.-Mexico lecture series. Frederick Cohen, professor at the University of Rochester, spoke November 7-9 on braid groups and some of their applications. Dennis Sullivan, chair of the Graduate Center at the City University of New York, gave three lectures on November 22-24 on string topology. Bernd Sturmfels, professor at the University of California, Berkeley, will give a lecture on January 10 on algebraic statistics for computational biology and another lecture the following day on the algebraic degree of semidefinite programming. Supported by the USNC/Math, Daniel Goldston, a mathematician at San Jose State University, discussed small gaps between primes at a lecture at the Istanbul Center for Mathematical Sciences on October 10. Professor Goldston has worked with Turkish mathematicians János Pintz and Cem Yildirim on this subject. Read more about of this mathematical collaboration. Back to Table of Contents USNC/IUPsyS International Collaborations Workshop The USNC-Psychology Workshop Steering Committee convened an International Collaborations in Social and Behavioral Science Research Workshop at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) on October 5-6, 2006. Keynote speaker Jacqueline J. Goodnow (Macquarie University, Australia) provided the conceptual benefits of “cross-cultural” collaborations, emphasizing that many times the challenges of conducting such research reveal some of the benefits as well. Cross-cultural collaborations often offer access to physical resources, funding, expertise, and data, but cultural differences often require us to more accurately define the meaning of “consent” and “ownership.” Dr. Goodnow cautioned that forcing foreign scientists to adhere to requirements in writing style, grammar, punctuation, etc. set by American publishers often prevents these scientists from publishing in the most prestigious journals. Whether intended or not, cross-cultural collaborations encourage the flow and diffusion of ideas, create language development through multi-lingual exposures, and allow us to explore the nature of cultural diffusion. Dr. Goodnow’s presentation laid the foundation for subsequent panel discussions: Organizing International Collaborative Research Projects: Panelist discussed the need for flexibility, longer planning time, more personnel, and increased budgeting for travel expenses. The Role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB): Many participants believed the current IRB system in the United States is cumbersome and does not account for cultural differences in human protections. Additionally, many objected to not only the content, but the imposition of U.S. ethics in forcing other countries to abide by U.S. IRBs. Other topics of discussion included: Data collection, storage, and usage; the value of investing in international behavioral research; the training of young scientists and some of the barriers that prevents them from conducting research in another country. Participants concluded that supporters of international collaborative research should: Both encourage and motivate experienced scientists to invite early-career foreign scientists to take part in collaborative projects. Provide assistance in setting up international relationships through meetings and conferences. Assist young scientists in participating in collaborative projects of six-month’s duration or longer rather than brief two-week stays. Back to Table of Contents

USNC/IUPAC Sponsors ACS Symposium Speaker
The U.S. National Committee for International Pure and Applied Chemistry continues to support speakers on themes of international relevance to the chemical sciences. During the September 10-14, 2006 ACS Meeting in San Francisco, the committee sponsored Mark Hyman, Asst. Secretary, Environment Protection Branch, Australian Department of Environment and Heritage (Retired), who spoke on outcomes from the Stockholm Convention as part of the ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry’s symposium on Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic Chemicals. Back to Table of Contents	Mark Hyman Courtesy IISD webpage

U.S. Embassy in Madrid Hosts International Mathematicians Coordinating closely with the USNC/Math and using funds provided to the National Academies by Microsoft, the American Mathematical Society and the National Science Foundation, the U.S. embassy in Madrid hosted an event at the U.S. ambassador’s residence on August 24. The highly successful event included winners of the prestigious Fields Medal and Rolf Nevanlinna Prize, current and incoming officers of the IMU, local organizing committee members, representatives of the major international mathematical societies, U.S. plenary and session speakers, and other important mathematicians. George Atkinson, Science and Technology Advisor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, spoke at the event. Back to Table of Contents USNC/Astronomy Active at 2006 General Assembly The USNC/Astronomy was both active and visible at the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) General Assembly in Prague this past August, sponsoring a number of very successful, well-attended events for both: Women’s Luncheon With funding provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the USNC-Astronomy supported a lunch for women astronomers at the IAU GA. Over 300 participants representing 49 countries attended the event held August 21st. The geographical distribution ranged from large, developed countries (United States, Russian Federation, Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom) to developing countries (Armenia, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Macedonia, Philippines, Trinidad & Tobago, Vietnam). Over 90 percent of participants were women. The lunch focused on recent changes in the status of women in astronomy and on the formulation of strategies that will improve the environment for all astronomers. Two speakers, Dr. Sunetra Giridhar from the Indian Institute of Astronomy and Dr. Patricia Knezek from the WYIN Observatory in Arizona, opened the event, and their talks were followed by breakout discussions on five issues over lunch. Topics included unequal opportunity, mentoring and self-confidence, family responsibilities, dual careers, and recent statistics. Results of these discussions were reported back to the larger group at the end of meeting. Organizers hope to offer a similar lunch at the 2009 IAU GA in Rio de Janeiro. United States Reception The USNC-Astronomy also sponsored a reception on August 17th at the Palffy Palace in Prague. Supported with private funds, the reception provided a wonderful opportunity for members of the USNC-Astronomy to meet and talk with current and incoming officers of the IAU, leaders of various astronomical societies, government officials, the local organizing committee, and other important astronomers. It too was well-attended and quite successful. Young Astronomer Activities Two new activities for young astronomers, a luncheon-workshop and a consulting service, were established at the 2006 IAU GA in Prague. The purpose of these events was to familiarize young astronomers with international gatherings and to stimulate contact between young astronomers and more experienced colleagues. Sponsored by the USNC-Astronomy through a grant from the NSF, the August 15th luncheon-workshop paired 2 senior astronomers and 9 young astronomers at each of the 20 round tables. Discussion at each table focused on 2 to 3 specific questions, suggested and chosen in advance by the young astronomers through web interface before the General Assembly. The questions revolved around 3 general themes: career strategies; characteristics and opportunities of various institutions and organizations; and the role and responsibilities of scientists generally and astronomers specifically. In total, 41 senior astronomers and 177 young astronomers from 45 different countries participated in the luncheon-workshop. While most of the young astronomers had received their Ph.D., a few were either undergraduates, graduate students without a Ph.D., or in postdoc positions. Almost all were between 20 and 35 years old. The luncheon-workshop was supplemented by a second activity, the Young Astronomers’ Consulting Service. Throughout the two-week GA and by prearranged appointment, young astronomers could seek the advice of more experienced colleagues on a variety of topics, such as CV preparation, thesis selection, and job opportunities. Many of these one-on-one discussions took place at the special office for young astronomers at the Congress Center where the GA took place. A questionnaire completed by the participants at the end of the event rated the luncheon-workshop a success, with 93% of attendees recommending that a similar event be offered at the 2009 GA. Young astronomers were particularly impressed by the accessibility and availability of senior astronomers. Back to Table of Contents IUTAM Meets at Brown University The General Assembly of the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM) met August 11-14, 2006 in Providence, Rhode Island, hosted by IUTAM President L. Ben Freund, Brown University. Review a report of the U.S. delegation on the USNC/TAM website. USNC/INQUA Co-Sponsors Workshop on Teaching Global Climate Change USNC-INQUA and AMQUA co-sponsored a workshop on “Teaching Climate Change: Lessons from the Past,” held August 14-15, 2006, immediately prior to the biennial AMQUA meeting in Bozeman, Montana. Open to instructors at the undergraduate and graduate levels, the workshop provided the teaching community an opportunity to exchange ideas and share the best instructional materials on the subject of past climate change. Workshop goals were to: Share information about the state of the art in modern research on climate change. Integrate research and education through linking scientific methods and results with effective instructional practice Demonstrate a variety of instructional methods and activities related to climate change. Develop a plan to expand the coverage of climate change in undergraduate Earth science education (at all types of institutions and across the curriculum). Workshop activities included large and small group discussions, demonstrations, and planning/writing sessions. Instructional materials and other information is being organized and compiled as collections of digital resources for use by instructors of climate change throughout the world. Keynote speakers: Dr. William F. Ruddiman, Dept. of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia Dr. Mark Chandler, Columbia University - CCSR/GISS Organizing Committee: Dr. Allan Ashworth, North Dakota State University Dr. Sheri Fritz, University of Nebraska Dr. Cathy Whitlock, Montana State University Dr. Dave Mogk, Montana State University Report on IUPsyS General Assembly and Congress Delegates Suzanne Bennett-Johnson and Diane Halpern represented the United States at the IUPsyS General Assembly held July 20-21, 2006, in Athens, Greece. Union president, Bruce Overmier (U.S.) called for the stream-lining of the current governance structure through a strategic plan and statute changes that would enhance the union’s ability to accomplish its work. In addition to providing feedback regarding the strategic plan, national members were requested to address the issue of greater stability for Advanced Research and Training Seminars (ARTS) program resources. A foundation to sustain ARTS has been established and is now accepting donations to the “International Psychology Development Fund.” The fund is being managed free of charge by the APA Foundation. Notable GA outcomes include: A motion to clarify meaning of “delegate” was deferred to the Berlin congress in 2008. The motion, which would add wording to the statutes by specifying that a delegate to the general assembly must be a psychologist, was intended to prevent a national member from sending a delegate to the GA who does not promote psychology’s best interests. U.S. delegate Diane Halpern was elected to the Elections Committee. Delegates developed, passed, and adopted the following policy statement concerning the official recognition of psychology as a profession: “IUPsyS supports legislative recognition, or the equivalent, of psychology as an autonomous profession based on established standards of education and training anchored in scientific psychology.” Read more about the report on the General Assembly in the IUPsyS Newsletter. Back to Table of Contents

Scientific and Technological Issues Dual-Use Issues Workshop Held at Royal Society in London In September 2006, the Royal Society (RS), InterAcademy Panel on International Issues (IAP), and International Council for Science (ICSU) convened a workshop of 84 scientific and policy experts from 23 countries to discuss trends in biological sciences and their potential impacts on the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, which underwent its Sixth Review Conference 20 November – 8 December 2006. RS-IAP-ICSU workshop attendees highlighted the rapid pace of scientific developments, the international aspects of science and technology, and the positive benefits likely to be realized through scientific and technological progress. They also condemned the development and use of biological or toxin weapons agents that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes. View this event's key points statement, report, and workshop presentations. Capacity Building Celebrating ICSU’s 75th Anniversary: A Symposium on Dual-Use Issues in Scientific Research Wilford Gardner IUSS Congress Fellowship Program

Celebrating ICSU’s 75th Anniversary: A Symposium on Dual-Use Issues in Scientific Research
Student-led case study analysis.	Can Good Science Go Bad, a symposium co-sponsored by BISO and Student Pugwash USA in celebration of ICSU’s 75th Anniversary, addressed the potential dual-use implications that biologists encounter in their research. More than 60 university students from the Washington metropolitan area and across the country attended this full-day event held at the National Academy of Sciences on October 27, 2006. The symposium featured an analysis of case study, student-led discussion groups, and a distinguished panel of scientists moderated by Yudhijit Bhattacharjee from Science Magazine. View Speaker Presentations (PDFs): Laurie Geller Harvey Rubin Gigi Kwik Gronvall Christina Smolke Michael Stebbins Read a detailed summary of this event.
Speakers and Panelists included: Laurie Geller, ICSU Harvey Rubin, University of Pennsylvania and NSABB Member Gigi Kwik Gronvall, Center for Biosecurity, University of Pittsburgh Christina Smolke, California Institute of Technology Michael Stebbins, Federation of American Scientists
Back to Table of Contents Wilford Gardner IUSS Congress Fellowship Program In spring 2006 the U.S. National Committee for Soil Science (USNC/SS) established the Wilford Gardner IUSS Congress Fellowship Program, named in honor of NAS member, former Soil Science Society of America president, and USNC/SS founding chair Wilford R. Gardner. The USNC/SS awarded fellowships to 24 students and early career scientists presenting papers at the 18th World Congress of Soil Science in Philadelphia, PA, July 9-15, 2006. Review a complete list of Fellowship recipients.

Data and Information 20th CODATA International Conference and General Assembly CODATA Global Information Commons for Science Initiative (GICSI) Recent Activities Publication of Report on Scientific Data in China U.S. – China Roundtable on Scientific Data Cooperation Meeting of U.S. CODATA Delegation with the Russian CODATA Committee Meetings of the USNC/CODATA Planned Meetings on Permanent Access to Scientific Data in Developing Countries 20th CODATA International Conference and General Assembly The Chinese National Committee for CODATA hosted the most recent CODATA Conference on Scientific Data and Knowledge within the Information Society and the subsequent General Assembly in Beijing on October 22-27, 2006. It was the largest CODATA conference to date, with approximately 600 participants. Many members, liaisons, and staff of the USNC/CODATA were actively involved in co-organizing the meeting and sessions, and in speaking there. Roberta Balstad, USNC/CODATA Chair, was the Co-chair of the Conference Scientific Committee. CODATA approved a new strategic plan for its activities at the General Assembly immediately following the conference. Prof. Sara Graves of the University of Alabama at Huntsville, and a member of the USNC/CODATA, was elected to the CODATA Executive Board. Krishan Lal of India was elected President of the organization, and Steven Rossouw of South Africa and Gordon Wood of Canada were elected Vice Presidents. CODATA Global Information Commons for Science Initiative (GICSI) Recent Activities The GICSI is a multi-stakeholder initiative of the international CODATA. (For background on this Initiative see: http://www.codataweb.org/UNESCOmtg/workshopplan.html). The USNC/CODATA helped co-organize a GICSI workshop on Developing Information Commons in Europe at the Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium in Brussels on September 15, 2006. The USNC/CODATA also co-organized a second workshop on Creating Digital Information Commons for Science, which was held in Beijing on October 21. The presentations and summary report from the October workshop will be posted on the Committee’s Web site in early 2007. Back to Table of Contents Publication of Report on Scientific Data in China The USNC/CODATA published a workshop summary report this fall on Strategies for Open Access to and Preservation of Scientific Data in China, Paul F. Uhlir and Julie M. Esanu, eds., freely available online through National Academies Press. The report is based on the results of a major workshop in Beijing in 2004. Consult background information on the 2004 Beijing workshop. U.S. – China Roundtable on Scientific Data Cooperation The U.S. and Chinese CODATA Committees held an organizing meeting of a new bilateral Roundtable on Scientific Data Cooperation on October 20, 2006 in Beijing. The meeting was hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Focus areas included health and biomedical data, environmental and geospatial data, cyberinfrastructure data applications, and scientific data policy. The next meeting of the Roundtable will be held in Washington, DC in the second half of 2007. Review summary background information on the Roundtable. Meeting of U.S. CODATA Delegation with the Russian CODATA Committee Two USNC/CODATA members and the committee director held a series of meetings with the Russian National Committee for CODATA, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and other experts during September 11-13, 2006 to discuss potential cooperative scientific data activities. The meetings resulted in an agreement to hold a joint workshop in 2008 on strategies for developing permanent scientific information commons in the region of the Confederation of Independent States. Details of the September 2006 meetings will be available soon on the USNC/CODATA Web site. Back to Table of Contents Meetings of the USNC/CODATA The second meeting of the Committee in 2006 was held July 11-12 in the Academies’ Keck Center. The next Committee meeting is scheduled for March 19-20, 2007. In each case, the U.S. Data Archiving Subgroup met on the first day to discuss and plan the committee’s activities related to data preservation and archiving (see the next item). Planned Meetings on Permanent Access to Scientific Data in Developing Countries Two workshops are planned on this topic in the coming year. The first, in São Paolo, Brazil, will be held May 7-9, 2007 and will focus on data preservation and access issues in Latin America. This will be followed by a similar workshop in Pretoria, South Africa, on May 14-15, which will examine these issues in the southern African context. The Pretoria workshop also will follow-up directly on the results of another workshop in this area that was held in Pretoria in September 2005. Review the outcomes of the 2005 Pretoria Meeting and read the report. The USNC/CODATA is co-organizing the workshops in Brazil and South Africa with the respective national CODATA Committee of each country.

New USNC Members Members Completing Service Changes in Committee Leadership We welcome the following new USNC members: The U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics joins USNC/TAM together with Jacob Fish of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as a Society Representative John F. Brady (NAE), California Institute of Technology, USNC/TAM Member-at-Large Lance R. Collins, Cornell University, USNC/TAM Member-at-Large Iwona Jasiuk, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USNC/TAM Society Representative Zhigang Suo, Harvard University, USNC/TAM Member-at-Large We also thank those members who have recently completed their service: Wolfgang Knauss (NAE), California Institute of Technology, USNC/TAM Past Chair Mark Mear, University of Texas at Austin, USNC/TAM Society Representative Ozden Ochoa, Texas A&M University, USNC/TAM Member-at-Large Jim Wallace, University of Maryland, College Park, USNC/TAM Member-at-Large We would like to announce the following changes in committee leadership: USNC/TAM Member-at-Large Nadine Aubry of Carnegie Mellon University is the new Chair of USNC/TAM. Thomas J.R. Hughes of University of Texas is the new Vice Chair of USNC/TAM. Ted B. Belytschko of Northwestern University is the Past Chair of USNC/TAM.

Departures This summer saw the departure of Amy Franklin, who served as a program associate supporting the national committees for earth and social sciences, data and information, and systems analysis. A 2003 graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Amy has returned to Georgetown to pursue a law degree full-time. “What inspired me to go into law,” she shared, “was the realization that law touches every aspect of our lives.” Amy began her career with the National Academies as a summer intern in 2001. Following an academic year in Spain, she returned to BISO in a part-time capacity. Upon earning her undergraduate degree in Culture and Politics and a Certificate in Islam and Muslim-Christian Understanding, she joined BISO’s staff full-time. We thank Amy for her commitment to our USNC Committee Members and wish her continued success in her studies! Arrivals We are pleased to welcome Elizabeth Briggs as a senior program associate supporting the work of the national committees for geology, geodesy and geophysics, psychology, DIVERSITAS and IIASA. Beth comes to BISO from the National Research Council's Committee on Science, Technology, and Law, bringing with her a wealth of experience having worked on numerous projects and reports. Prior to joining the National Academies in 2001, Beth spent two years abroad teaching English in Nagasaki, Japan with the Japan Exchange Teaching Programme (JET). She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Linfield College, McMinnville, OR, and is currently pursuing a M.A.L.S. in International Affairs at Georgetown University. A Very Special Addition to the BISO Family… On October 1st, Senior Program Officer Lois Peterson and her husband Craig Kent welcomed their son Shane Preston Gustav Kent, who joins his big brother Wyatt.

Back to Table of Contents
Return to Past Issues