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Welcome to BISO NEWS!
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The Online Newsletter of the Board on International Scientific Organizations
Issue #3, June 2002
This is the third issue of BISO News, the online newsletter of the Board on International Scientific Organizations. The purpose of this newsletter is to inform U.S. National Committee members, sponsors, and others with a general interest in ICSU and other international scientific organizations about BISO's latest activities. Most of the stories are brief and lead readers to websites with additional information. This issue reports the highlights of activities undertaken by BISO in spring, 2002, including the symposium on proteomics; a workshop in Senegal on scientific data for decision making; the joint dinner held by three of the USNCs in the earth sciences; and the young observer program organized by the USNC for Chemistry. There is also a brief article on BISO's activities related to scientific openness and a tribute to the late Walter Rosenblith.
As always, we are interested in readers' comments about this newsletter and are open to your suggestions for how it might be improved. You may send your comments to biso@nas.edu.
BISO News is published in February, June, and September. We will be happy to send you an email notification as each new issue becomes available. If you are not already on this alert list, please send an email to majordomo@nas.edu . Leave the "subject" line blank and in the body of the message write "subscribe biso-news" and your email address. To unsubscribe, write "unsubscribe biso-news" and your email address.
Wendy D. White
Director, BISO
Table of Contents: BISO Highlights
BISO and Scientific Openness
BISO Holds Second Meeting
BISO and Scientific Openness
Long before the events of September 11, BISO programs have addressed elements of the ‘science and security’ interface and have sought to define a balance between the need for scientific openness and the need for protecting the nation’s security. For many years, as the national member of ICSU, BISO has encouraged U.S. National Committees to address issues related to conduct of science in an international context. Committees have, for example, focused on access to and dissemination of information and materials, access to facilities, the publication of possibly sensitive information; and on travel and visitation restrictions imposed on students, scholars, and scientists. Through formal and informal dialogs, scientific congresses, and membership in international organizations, BISO and the USNCs have examined these issues with colleagues around the world and their work has carried a consistent message that science is inherently international.
In light of heightened security concerns, especially in the post-September 11th environment, the international scientific community needs to continue to think about how to safely maintain openness, access, and mobility in order to keep the international scientific enterprise dynamic and thriving. It must also recognize that new security concerns may dictate certain restrictions and that, as new guidelines are developed, it is critical that scientists be at the table to help define, and, possibly, limit these restrictions. BISO is advancing this dialog in many venues and learning more about what other governments might be doing. Listed here are just a few examples of specific BISO activities: - In May 2001, BISO worked with the American Association for the Advancement of Science to convene a workshop to discuss what scientific professional societies can do to facilitate meetings in the U.S. BISO's "best practices" for alleviating visa problems through advanced planning and the sharing of accurate information are available on our website. This website also includes a page that provides links to sources of information about international travel regulations.
- In December 2001, BISO convened a meeting of university representatives to discuss Presidential Directive 2, Combating Terrorism through Immigration Policies. Section 3 -- Abuse of International Student Status. As a follow-on to that activity, in May 2002, BISO helped the Office of Science and Technology Policy organize a briefing of professional societies to explain the Administration's policy with respect to international students who may be working in sensitive science and technology areas.
- The USNC for Mathematics has drafted a resolution for consideration by the International Mathematics Union that urges a continuation of scientific exchange and progress. The resolution opposes any efforts either by governments, organizations, or individuals to restrict contacts and interactions in the world mathematical community. Specifically it opposes limitations on mathematicians from any given country, which are undertaken to express opposition to that country's government.
- Several USNCs in the Earth Sciences organized a sessions at the spring meeting of the American Geophysical Union entitled "The Role of the Earth Sciences in Promoting Global Equity and Stability."
- BISO staff continue to monitor and resolve, when possible, problems related to the issuance of visas to scientists who want to attend ICSU-related meetings in the United States.
BISO Holds Second Meeting
The second meeting of BISO opened with a dinner at the NAS on 14 March 2002. Jane Griffith led BISO members and guests in a discussion of recent efforts by the U.S. government to restrict dissemination of and access to certain data -- especially in light of post 11 September security concerns.
On the 15th, BISO members prepared for the ICSU General Assembly (GA) that will be held in Brazil in September 2002. They responded to requests for nominations for ICSU officers, considered other agenda items for the GA, and heard a presentation from Victor Rabinowitch on the review of COSTED (The Committee on Science and Technology for Development) that will be presented at the GA. The board named Henry Metzger and Mary Martha Rabinowitch as the U.S. delegates to the GA. Clegg, NAS foreign secretary-elect will head the delegation.
Edward Murdy, Senior Program Officer at NSF, updated BISO on developments in the international office at NSF. The new Office of International Science and Engineering was established in January 2002 and is expected to decouple from the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences in the future. The old acronym (INT) for the office was retained. This move will provide more autonomy for the office and gives INT a seat on several NSF senior policy committees. As a result, international activities at NSF are expected to have more visibility.
The complete minutes of the BISO meeting are available on the BISO website.
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Biological Sciences Highlights Proteomics Symposium held at the National Academy of Sciences, Feb 25, 2002
Now that the DNA sequences of the human genome and genomes of several other organisms are essentially known, the focus of the biomedical and biological communities is shifting toward proteomics, the study of the proteins that are the gene products. A one-day symposium entitled “Defining the Mandate of Proteomics in the Post-Genomics Era” was convened by the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (USNC/IUBMB) and the Board on Life Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences.
Participants came from the U.S. and abroad in an effort to help define the future direction of proteomics research. The symposium consisted of 10 speakers and seven breakout sessions on specific topics related to proteomics research technologies and clinical aspects of this research.
The speakers were:
Ruedi Aebersold (Seattle)
Cheryl Arrowsmith (Toronto)
Marvin Cassman (NIGMS, NIH)
Julio Celis (Denmark)
Francis Collins (NIH)
Brian Chait (Rockefeller)
Denis Hochstrasser (Geneva)
Joshua La Baer (Harvard)
Scott Patterson (Celera)
John Walker (Cambridge)
All of the speakers conveyed a central message, which stressed the biological complexity of this research. Marvin Casseman of the National Institute for General Medical Sciences said, “Proteomics has an intrinsic meaning, at least, that it functions on structure and function of proteins and large-scale measurements and also modeling complex interactions.” However, proteomics is not simply a set of techniques nor does it have set boundaries. Cassman added, “I think the definition is going to be reasonably flexible for a long time, and I hope it stays that way. It will then allow the field to move in the direction of maximum utility rather than being bound by some kind of narrow definition.”
Although the speakers agreed that proteomics is considerably more complex than the Human Genome Project, parallels were drawn. Francis Collins of the NIH said, “Proteomics is a subset of genomics, and genomics is much more than sequencing genomes.” Collins also stressed the success and importance of having a large international consortium of laboratories involved in the Human Genome Project, and he hopes the same will be true in for proteomics research.
The steering committee for the proteomics symposium consisted of the following people: George Kenyon (Chair), Jack Kirsch, Walter Moos, Gerald Rubin, Elaine Fuchs, Greg Petsko, Dagmar Ringe, David Galas, and David DeMarini. This committee is currently working on a workshop report to be published by Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, a new journal of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
For more information on the symposium, please see the USNC/IUBMB website.
Chemical and Engineering News, a publication of the American Chemical Society, published an excellent and comprehensive article about the symposium. Please click here to read the article.
New DIVERSITAS Science Plan
The U.S. National Committee for DIVERSITAS had its spring meeting on 10 May and discussed the new DIVERSITAS Science Plan. Changes to the Science Plan began last August when a task force gathered at DIVERSITAS headquarters in Paris to see how the plan could be simplified and made more relevant to biodiversity studies. The task force approved the final plan at a second meeting in April. Committee members Andrew Dobson, Hal Mooney, Diana Wall, and Marvalee Wake participated in drawing up the new plan. At its meeting, the USNC explored different ways in which it could help implement the new Science Plan and inform the U.S. biodiversity science community. Possible projects include a workshop with the USNC/IUMS (microbiology) to study microbial biodiversity and activities that combine social and biological sciences in studying the effects of humans on biodiversity.
USNC/DIVERSITAS Co-Hosts IBOY Launch
The U.S. National Committee for DIVERSITAS helped IBOY launch the first National Biodiversity Month. The USNC and the Ecological Society of America co-hosted a seminar at the National Academy of Sciences dealing with Biodiversity and Sustainable Development. USNC Chair Andrew Dobson chaired the seminar and four speakers addressed the audience concerning biodiversity and sustainable growth. Jonathan Margolis of the State Department spoke about the administration’s views on sustainability stressing the need to make economic growth in underdeveloped nations a prime factor in sustainability planning. Dr. Jonathan Foley of the University of Wisconsin showed the audience how remote sensing could be utilized to detect changes in land use and its consequences for biodiversity. Dr. Andrew Rosenberg addressed the different ways of managing sustainable fisheries. Dr. Richard Harwood finished the presentations by showing how the use of genetic characterizations and geographical mapping could be used to manage agricultural biodiversity. The USNC/DIVERSITAS will work with IBOY, interested NGOs, and government agencies to make National Biodiversity Month an annual event.
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Earth Sciences Highlights USNC/INQUA Spring Meeting
At its meeting in Portland, Oregon, the USNC/INQUA continued preparations for the 2003 INQUA Congress and General Assembly to be held in Reno, Nevada. The Desert Research Institute (DRI) will host the Congress and members of DRI have been working with members of the USNC on the Organizing Committee. Registration for the Congress will begin this summer and there are plans for a travel grant program to help students attend the Congress.
USNC/IUGG Organizes Session on Sustainability and the Geosciences for Spring AGU
Organized as a Union Session at the Spring Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, the USNC/IUGG gathered speakers from the full spectrum of disciplines represented by the IUGG. Pat Leahy and Susan Landon, members of the USNC/Geological Sciences helped the USNC/IUGG in organizing the session. Gary Ernst, USNC/GS and NAS member, set the tone of the session by addressing Global Equity and Resource Sustainability. Four speakers addressed energy issues. Thomas Ahlbrandt of the USGS spoke on his agency’s survey of future oil and gas resources, saying use would not overtake new production for another forty years. Ken Deffeyes presented data that indicated that use had already overtaken production. Susan Landon, spoke on the transition from a carbon to a hydrogen economy. Klaus Lackner spoke on the sustainability of fossil fuels. The session closed with two presentations regarding water resources. Hugo Loaiciga of the USNC/IUGG spoke on sustaining fresh water and the need to recharge aquifers. David Helvarg spoke on preserving resources in the oceans.
As a follow-up to the spring AGU session, the USNCs for IUGG and the Geological Sciences have submitted a proposal to host a session at the fall AGU meeting that would look at nuclear energy as a bridge to the hydrogen economy.
USNC/SS Endorses Resolution for Global Enhancement of Soil Organic Matter
At its meeting May 30-31, the USNC for Soil Science agreed to take a resolution presented by the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) to the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) Council meeting this August in Bangkok. The resolution follows from a SSSA position paper on carbon sequestration; the committee also agreed to endorse the concepts presented in this paper. SSSA obtained support from other scientific and professional organizations before bringing the item to the committee. The resolution that will be presented to the IUSS council states that “soil organic matter is a resource that must be restored and increased globally to reduce the net rate of increase in greenhouse gases, to increase plant productivity, and to improve environmental quality.” During its discussions on this topic, the committee emphasized that the outcome of increased soil productivity was especially important. Increased soil organic matter has a role to play in other issues the committee is considering addressing such as soil degradation and food security.
Three Geoscience Committees Hold Joint Dinner
Taking advantage of meetings held on consecutive days, the U.S. National Committees for the Geological Sciences, Soil Science, and the IUGG held a joint reception and dinner at the National Academy of Sciences on May 31. The dinner gave committee members the opportunity to meet colleagues on different USNCs and hear about activities the committees are engaged in.
Pardee Symposium Planned by USNC/GS
The U.S. National Committee for the Geological Sciences was invited by the Geological Society of America to organize a Pardee Symposium at the GSA October meeting. Pardee Symposiums deal with the interaction of science and society. The committee chose “The Role of the Geosciences in Maintaining Global Equity and Stability” as the theme for its symposium to be held on October 28 in Denver. Eldridge Moores is chair of the subcommittee in charge of organizing the symposium and Chip Groat, Director of the USGS, has agreed to be a speaker.
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Math, Physical, and Engineering Sciences Highlights Chemistry – Young Observer Program
The Young Observers Program provides financial support for young scientists to participate in the IUPAC General Assemblies and Congresses. The awards are for U.S. scientists or engineers, under the age of 45, interested in carrying out collaborative work with scientists from other countries. The next General Assembly and Congress will be held in Ottawa, Canada, August 8-17, 2003. More information and application procedures may be found at http://www.nationalacademies.org/usnc-iupac/yo.
Mathematics Education
The U.S. National Commission on Mathematics Instruction (USNCMI) is hosting a bilateral seminar of mathematics educators in Park City, Utah, July 2-6, 2002. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the seminar will bring together 24 U.S. and Japanese mathematics educators to examine in-depth a successful model of Japanese teacher practice called ‘lesson study’ and to explore possible adaptations to U.S. mathematics education.
The seminar will build upon a U.S.-Japan workshop that initially explored these ideas in July 2000. More information can be found at http://www7.nationalacademies.org/usnc-mi/US_Japan_Seminar.html.
Young Scientists Program at 2002 URSI General Assembly
The Young Scientists Program offers financial assistance to young scientists from both developing and developed countries, enabling them to attend URSI General Assemblies. This year six American scientists have been selected to participate in the Young Scientists Program to attend the General Assembly in Maastricht, Netherlands to be held August 17-24, 2002. As participants in the General Assembly, they will be able to gain awareness of the important role that URSI plays as an international organization and have the opportunity to interact with scientists from around the world. The program is supported by generous grants from the National Science Foundation as well as corporate donors. Further information on this program is available at http://www.intec.rug.ac.be/ursi/YS/YS2002.htm.
Committee Meetings
The U.S. National Commission on Mathematics Instruction (USNCMI) had their bi-annual committee meeting in conjunction with the National Committee of Teachers of Mathematics on April 21, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Special guests were Hyman Bass, President of ICMI, who discussed the changing role of ICMI and Joan Ferrini-Mundy, U.S. member of the international program committee, who spoke about ICME-10, scheduled for July 2004 in Copenhagen.
The USNC/Math held their spring meeting in Washington, DC. The U.S. delegates to the 2002 IMU General Assembly in Shanghai---Donald Saari, University of California, Irvine (Delegation Chair); M. Salah Baouendi, University of California, San Diego; Jennifer Chayes, Microsoft Corporation; David Eisenbud, Mathematical Sciences Research Institute; Yum-Tong Siu, Harvard University; and Herbert Clemens, University of Utah (Alternate Delegate)---were announced during the meeting. They also discussed with Jacob Palis (IMU President) the status of the 2002 International Conference of Mathematicians (ICM) in Beijing. Issues of concern involved the participation of mathematicians from Taiwan and Hong Kong. The representation of minorities and women at the conference was also discussed. The committee has also been interested in the issues being addressed by the IMU Committee on Electronic Information and Communication. John Ewing of AMS and U.S. member of the committee provided an update and encouraged the committee to examine AMS’s recommendations. John Ewing also reported on the status of the U.S. travel award to the ICM.
The U.S. National Committee for Crystallography held their spring meeting on May 25 in San Antonio, Texas. Discussions focused on preparation for the IUCr General Assembly and Congress scheduled for August 6-15, 2002 in Geneva. Details of the program are available at http://www.kenes.com/iucr/.
The annual meeting of the U.S. Liaison Committee for the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics convened on June 15, in Washington, D.C. Several invited guests, including John Marburger, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, attended to discuss the status of international scientific collaborations in light of current security concerns. Other agenda items included: - Jose Brum of the Brazilian Association for Synchrotron Light Technology proposed a series of topics for the joint Inter-American workshops to take place in Brazil;
- George Atkinson as AIP Fellow to the State Department provided details on a number of programs initiated by Norman Neureiter;
- Arthur Bienenstock, SSRL/SLAC summarized the status of the SESAME project---a proposed international synchrotron center in the Middle East, and provided information on the OECD Workshop on Large Facilities for Studying Structure and Dynamics of Matter;
- Meg Urry of Yale University and U.S. delegation chair to the 2002 IUPAP Conference on Women in Physics presented its future action plans and general recommendations;
- Marty Blume as chair of the IUPAP Working Group on Communications in Physics discussed issues such as electronic publishing and archiving; and
- William Oosterhuis, DOE/BES and Joseph Dehmer, NSF/PHY reported on their agencies’ programs and international interests.
The USNC/CODATA has had a very busy spring schedule, the highlights of which are described briefly below. Other information about the committee's activities may be found on its home page.
May 2002 USNC/CODATA business meeting
The committee held its regularly scheduled business meeting on May 9, 2002 to review and plan for its national and international activities, including its input into the 2002 CODATA Conference and General Assembly (see below). The committee also convened an S&T Data Management and Policy Forum on OMB Circular A-130. This forum, which was a roundtable discussion with Dan Chenok and Jeff Hill of OMB, focused on the some of the key substantive and procedural issues impacting the pending review of Section 8(a) of the Circular, which deals with federal information policy. In addition, a U.S. data archiving subgroup meeting was also convened in conjunction with the USNC meeting.
Workshop on Scientific Data for Decision Making Toward Sustainable Development: Senegal River Basin Case Study
This workshop, which was a collaborative effort between the USNC/CODATA and the Senegal National CODATA Committee, was held in Dakar, Senegal on March 11-15, 2002. The main goal of this activity was to examine how various kinds of S&T data can be better used for decision making in sustainable development. It involved a multidisciplinary focus on the Senegal River basin, and on the use of various data sources in the management of that river and the surrounding environment and population. The committee expects to publish an online report, including links to relevant data sources, before the Johannesburg Summit on Sustainability in September 2002, as a good example of what can be done.
International CODATA Working Group on Archiving Scientific Data
The USNC/CODATA is supporting a U.S. subgroup of this international CODATA working group. The chair of both the CODATA working group and of the U.S. subgroup is Dr. William Anderson, software architect and consultant. The U.S. subgroup met on May 8 to work on several existing CODATA working group projects and to discuss plans for future activities, including the proposed CODATA Task Group on “Preservation and Archiving of Scientific and Technical Data in Developing Countries.” Dr. Anderson and Paul Uhlir also participated in the planning of and attended a data archiving workshop held on May 20-21, 2002 in Pretoria, in collaboration with the South African National Research Foundation and the South Africa National CODATA Committee.
Chinese Data Policy Delegation
As a direct result of the bilateral meetings held between the U.S. and Chinese CODATA committees in 2000 and subsequent discussions, the Chinese government is proposing major revisions to its S&T data policy that may result in a more open regime of data access. A five-member delegation from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other Chinese government agencies will visit the United States in late June to meet with U.S. government officials and information policy experts to discuss data access policies and practices. The USNC/CODATA is organizing and coordinating the delegation’s agenda in the United States.
2002 CODATA Conference: Frontiers of Scientific and Technical Data
The next international CODATA Conference will be held in Montreal, Canada, from September 30 to October 3, 2002. The members and staff of the USNC/CODATA are involved in all facets of the planning and organization of this Conference, in collaboration with the Canadian National CODATA Committee and international CODATA. The preliminary Conference program is now available. Register before June 30th to receive the reduced Conference rate.
Promoting Open Access and the Public Domain in Digital Data and Information for Science
The committee will collaborate with the international CODATA and the International Council for Scientific and Technical Information (ICSTI), both of the International Council of Science (ICSU); and with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to organize and convene a major international workshop and related activities on promoting open access and the public domain in digital data and information for science. It is anticipated that the meeting will be held in Paris in March 2003. The USNC will serve as the oversight body for this activity.
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U.S. National Committee for PSA Highlights
The U.S. National Committee for the Pacific Science Association met May 28-29. Foremost on their agenda was planning for the 20th Pacific Science Congress to be held in Bangkok, March 2003. The USNC and its members are responsible for organizing three symposia at the Congress: biodiversity in tropical wetland landscapes, natural hazards, and information and communication technologies.
All scientists interested in issues relating to the Asia-Pacific region are invited to participate in the Congress. The call for papers is available at the Congress website: http://nrct.go.th/Pacific20th//Index.html.
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News from ICSU, Scientific Unions, and Other ICSU Bodies Lubchenco Wins Heinz Award
In March 2002, Jane Lubchenco, President-elect of the International Council for Science (ICSU), received the eighth annual $250,000 Heinz Award for the Environment. The award is for her groundbreaking research on ocean ecosystems and intertidal communities and for her work that underscores the fragility of ocean resources and establishes the importance of creating marine reserves to preserve ocean habitats. Through the establishment of the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program, which she co-founded in 1998, she has been instrumental in helping to link sound scientific findings with public policy.
This is from the award citation:
For her role in broadening awareness of the importance of biological sustainability to the future of humanity, her efforts to raise the visibility of ocean issues, her commitment to opening the lines of communication between scientists and citizens, and her pioneering concept of the social contract that exists between science and society, Jane Lubchenco receives the Heinz Award for the Environment.
A professor of marine biology at Oregon State University since 1977, her research has added substantially to our knowledge and understanding of ocean communities. During the 1980s, she was a leader of the unprecedented dialogue within the research community, exploring a wide array of alternative scenarios regarding the future of environmental science. At a time when many ecologists were still content to concentrate on topics of purely intellectual interest, she urged that the relevance of ecological research to social problems be made more obvious.
(http://www.heinzawards.net/recipients.asp)
Established by Teresa Heinz in 1993 to honor the memory of her late husband, U.S. Senator John Heinz, the Awards celebrate the accomplishments and spirit of the Senator by recognizing outstanding individuals in the areas of greatest importance to him: arts and humanities; environment; human condition; public policy; and technology, the economy, and employment.
Remembrance of Walter Rosenblith (1914-2002)
Philip Hemily, now retired from the National Academies but still engaged in BISO activities, contributed this appreciation of Walter Rosenblith, who died on 1 May 2002.
We should join together to celebrate the life of Walter Rosenblith, who, over the last few decades has been a leading spirit behind and great mentor of international interests at the National Academies. Walter, remarkably a member of all three academies (Sciences, Engineering, and Institute of Medicine) and Foreign Secretary of the NAS (1982-86), provided intellectual inspiration not only to the NRC Office of International Affairs but also to a host of international scientific organizations, including the International Council for Science (ICSU).
Professor Rosenblith came from a heritage of international scientific comradeship and believed in the essential role that scientific and technological collaboration play in contributing to a rewarding global society. Born in Vienna in 1914 and advancing his education in Swiss and French institutions, he came to the United States in 1939 and pursued here a number of interdisciplinary research fields. His linking of physics, biophysics, communications, and electronics to the functions of the brain led to his long-standing career at MIT. Indeed, he was provost there from 1971 to 1980.
Walter provided stimulating, insightful challenges to the community of scientists and engineers in their pursuit of enhanced collaboration on global issues. His vision and foresight were instrumental in the creation of the International Brain Research Organization in the 1950's. The role of ICSU, where he was a vice president (1984-88), was fostered and enhanced by his appreciation of it as an instrument of scientific collaboration in the 21st century.
Walter was always charming and provocative. Though lovable and most often amusing, he could be incredibly insightful in bringing us to recognize essential values and real counters.
He was one of the counters.
Philip Hemily, May 2002
14th International Biophysics Congress
There were tense moments felt by the U.S. delegates prior to leaving for Buenos Aries for the first IUPAB congress to be held in the Southern Hemisphere in April of 2002. The banks shut down and ATMs were drained prior to the departure of Steve White, Wilma Olson, and Peter Moore, the U.S. delegates for the congress. With pockets filled with U.S. dollars, the delegates arrived in the beautiful city of Buenos Aries to find no such chaos, and many of the banks reopened in time for the congress.
Attendance was reported at 750, with over 200 people from Argentina. Despite the economic circumstances, all but two out of 98 speakers attended. The Biophysical Society contributed $10,000 in travel fellowship awards and the U.S. National Committee contributed $2,000, which helped to support 12 U.S. scientists to attend the congress. Over 100 travel fellowships, in total, were given to scientists from underdeveloped countries by the Wellcome Trust, UNESCO, IUPAB, the local Argentine government, and affiliated organizations.
Congress Highlights: - U.S. Bid Accepted for 2008 – A congress highlight was the acceptance of the bid by IUPAB Council, for the United States to host the 16th IUPAB congress in 2008 in Long Beach, CA. Steve White, Chair of the USNC, gave an excellent presentation of the bid, which was prepared with the help of Ro Kampman of the Biophysical Society, Wilma Olson, President of the Biophysical Society, and Ligia Toro, USNC member.
- Wilma Olson Elected to IUPAB Council – Wilma Olson, Biophysical Society president and USNC member, was re-elected for a second three-year term. She will serve as one of 11 members of Council.
- EBSA and IUPAB to Hold Joint Meeting – The European Biophysical Society Association (EBSA) has agreed to hold a joint meeting with the IUPAB Congress in 2005 in Montpellier, France. The joint meeting is intended to increase the exposure of the Union through attendance by members of the EBSA.
- ASBMB Lecturer - Peter Moore of Yale University received an award by the ASBMB that covered all travel and meeting expenditures. He presented an outstanding plenary lecture at the Congress entitled "The Recent Excitement in Ribosome Crystallography".
Science and Traditional Knowledge
The ICSU Study Group on Science and Traditional Knowledge has completed its report. Members of two U.S. National Committees served on this study group: Wesley Shrum, Chair of the USNC for the History and Philosophy of Science, and Jan Salick, member of the USNC for the Biological Sciences. Stemming from a debate started at the World Conference of Science (Budapest, 1999) and continued at the ICSU General Assembly (Cairo, 1999), the ICSU Executive Board set up a small study group to prepare a report on this issue for the 2002 General Assembly. The study group looked at: - the nature of traditional knowledge;
- the interactions of science and traditional knowledge;
- traditional knowledge and ethnoscience; and
- the relationship among science, pseudoscience, and traditional knowledge.
The report also provides advice to ICSU for further action. Among other things, the study group recommends that ICSU and its members take steps to: - sustain traditional knowledge systems through active support to the societies that are keepers and developers of this knowledge;
- promote training to better equip young scientists and indigenous people to carry out research on traditional knowledge;
- promote and develop research to better appreciate traditional knowledge; and
- organize an international symposium on science and traditional knowledge.
For a copy of the full report, with all of its recommendations, click here.
InterAcademy Panel (IAP) Meeting on Science and the Media
From 26 to 28 February, journalists, scientists, and public information offices met in Trinidad and Tobago to discuss the often-complex relationships that exist among them. SciDev.Net and the IAP jointly organized the meeting, with local arrangements provided by the Caribbean Academy of Sciences. About 50 participants from some 25 countries attended the workshop.
The cornerstone activity of the meeting was a simulation of a media event in which both the scientists and journalists had to ferret out the truth. The scenario was that a grassroots environmental organization was challenging a government report on the arsenic levels in the city's drinking water. The organization charged that arsenic levels in the city's water supply exceeded standards for safe drinking water, despite claims to the contrary by city officials. The journalists eventually learned that city officials were using a scientific assessment of the arsenic levels that had been prepared by the mayor's brother. The city, with the backing of its scientists, needed to produce a credible explanation and defend its health minister who was assuring the public that the drinking water was safe. The simulation played out through a series of mock press conferences, press releases, a "whistle-blower", and a deft defense of the statistics by Nobel Laureate Sherwood Rowland, who played the part of the mayor's brother. Daniel Schaffer, Public Information Officer for the Third World Academy of Sciences, concluded that Dr. Rowland cast enough doubt on the statistics to suggest that the truth would have to await additional research. "A black and white story of political misconduct had been transformed into a science story marked by shades of gray complexity." The simulation opened windows into the worlds of both the scientists and the journalists and gave each a slightly better respect for and understanding of the challenges both groups face in communicating science to the public.
The meeting had a traditional side as well and participants gave expert presentations on the overall state of science and the media in developed and developing countries. There were also case studies of science communication in the United States, Nigeria and China and analyses of the state of science journalism in the United Kingdom, Argentina, and India. Susan Turner-Lowe, former director of the Office of News and Public Information of the National Academies discussed the practical issues involved in preparing materials for the press and addressing the needs of journalists.
"Science and the media” will continue to be a major focus of the InterAcademy Panel as it strives to develop the capacity of academies of sciences around the world. This meeting was an important first step in exploring the relationship with scientists and journalists and in pinpointing the kinds of follow-on activities that are needed. As Schaffer concludes, "the norms of practice of good science communication are universal and are guided by accuracy, fairness, balance, comprehensiveness and clarity. Science communication in both the North and South can -- and should -- be improved. A key goal of IAP will be to promote the capacity of science academies to work with professionals in the media to communicate more effectively with the larger public."
The IAP, the Third World Academy of Sciences, SciDev.Net, the National Academy of Sciences, the Knight Science Journalism Fellowships at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the French Academy of Sciences, and CARISCIENCE all contributed funds to the meeting. BISO Director, Wendy White, attended this meeting and filed this brief summary. For additional information, please see the IAP webpage section on "Science and the Media." Texts of some of the presentations are available on SciDev.net’s dossier section on Communication of Science.
Michael Ståhl Appointed Director of the International Foundation for Science
The International Foundation for Science (IFS) has appointed Michael Ståhl Director for a five-year period as of 1 July 2002. Dr. Ståhl comes from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), where he was Head of the Division for Thematic Research Programmes at the Department for Research Cooperation (SAREC). He has more than 30 years of experience from international development cooperation, with special focus on research and capacity building. His early career was geared to academic research in the broad context of rural development. His Ph.D. thesis, and subsequent post-doc research, dealt with land reform and smallholder production in Ethiopia, while his later research included socio-economic dynamics of land degradation, sustainable use of biological resources, biodiversity, and development.
IFS, an international NGO, has its Secretariat in Stockholm. The IFS mission is to contribute towards strengthening the capacity of developing countries to conduct relevant and high quality research on the sustainable management of biological resources. Since it began funding activities in the early 1970's, IFS has provided support to almost 3400 scientists in over 100 developing countries. For more information about IFS visit www.ifs.se.
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Other BISO Activities
International Scientific and Technical Information Programs
BISO's Office of International Scientific and Technical Information Programs (ISTIP) focuses on 1) improving the management, accessibility, and use of S&T data and information by the research community, with special emphasis on developing countries; and 2) promoting appropriate national and international policy measures in support of goal #1. Currently, the principal organizational entity within the ISTIP is the U.S. National Committee (USNC) for CODATA. Other activities of this office include: Symposium on the Role of Scientific and Technical Data and Information in the Public Domain
This symposium, which will be held on September 5-6, 2002, at the National Academy of Sciences, will bring together experts and managers in STI from the public and private sectors to provide their perspectives on the role and value that public-domain information provides in the context of research and education, to identify and analyze the many pressures that are being placed on the public domain in STI, to describe and discuss the existing and proposed approaches for preserving the public domain in such information, and to identify issues that require further analysis.
Planning Meeting for a Study on Assessing the Effectiveness of Research Grant Mechanisms for Developing Countries
As both the federal government and private foundations in the United States examine the imperatives of expanding and improving assistance to the developing world, capacity building in various scientific and technological domains has become an increasingly integral component of such aid. This factor is already clearly recognized by these organizations and is now gaining appreciation within the broader policy establishment. The National Academies convened a planning meeting on June 10 to explore several important issues in this area. One is to examine in detail the rationale for why the U.S. government and the foundation community should or should not support scientific research and related capacity building. Another is to survey the status of competitive research grants and centers of excellence programs for developing countries in order to obtain a comprehensive overview of what has already been tried and done. Dr. Peter Raven, director of Missouri Botanical Garden, chaired this meeting.
Coordination on intellectual property (IP)-related activities within the National Academies
Paul Uhlir, director of ISTIP, is the principal staff officer for this National Academies activity. He has worked closely with the Board on Science, Technology and Economic Policy in the development of a cross-institutional Web portal to all the institution's work, products, and meetings in the intellectual property area; for more information, see the “IP @The National Academies” web site at http://ip.nationalacademies.org.
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Membership News
We like to welcome the following members to the USNC system:
Charles H. Clemens, University of Utah, USNC/MI
Joan Garfield, University of Minnesota, USNC/MI
Karen Dee Michalowicz, The Langley School, USNC/MI
We would also like to thank those members who have recently completed their service:
Neta Bahcall, Princeton University, USNC/IAU
Toni Kazic, University of Missouri–Columbia, USNC/CODATA
Melanie Loots, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USNC/CODATA
David Moore, Purdue University, USNC/MI
Richard Mushotzky, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USNC/IAU
Zalman P. Usiskin, University of Chicago, Chair, USNC/MI
We would like to announce the following change in committee leadership:
Donald R. Nielsen, University of California-Davis, has been appointed chair of the USNC/SS. Chair emeritus, Wilford R. Gardner, University of California-Berkeley (emeritus), will continue to serve as a member of the committee.
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Staff News
BISO's Office Coordinator, Connie Reges, has decided to extend her leave. While her doctors report that she is now cancer-free, they want her to continue her recovery for another few months. Those committee members who are used to dealing directly with Connie should contact the relevant staff officer with any questions or concerns.
We’ve moved!! On June 17, the BISO office set up shop in the new National Academies -National Research Council building at 500 Fifth Street, NW. The new office is convenient to all five metro lines, close to the new D.C. convention center, as well as nearer the U.S. Capitol. Our offices are on the 5th floor of the new building. We invite you to come visit us next time you are in town!
Note our new address (our phone and fax numbers will remain the same):
Board on International Scientific Organizations
Policy and Global Affairs
The National Academies, 5-W542
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: 202-334-2807
Fax: 202-334-2231
E-mail: biso@nas.edu
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Milestones
USNC Members Elected to NAS
The following scientists were elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2002. They are immediate past or current members of U.S. National Committees. - Barry C. Barish, Linde Professor of Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena. He is a member of the U.S. Liaison Committee for the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.
- Zdenek P Bazant; Walter P. Murphy Professor of Civil Engineering and Materials Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. He is a member of the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Pure and Applied Mechanics.
- Rowena G. Matthews, Robert Greenberg Distinguished University Professor of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is a member of the U.S. National Committee to the International Union for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
- Yum-Tong Siu, William Elwood Byerly Professor of Mathematics, Harvard University. He is the former chair of the U.S. National Committee for Mathematics.
- Richard V. Wolfenden, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He is a member of the U.S. National Committee to the International Union for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
USNC Member Elected to NAE - Farouk El-Baz, professor and director, Center for Remote Sensing, Boston University, Boston and member of the U.S. National Committee for IUGS was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in March 2002. He was recognized for his work in selecting the landing sites for the Apollo missions, and for pioneering methods of discovering subsurface freshwater from space observation.
- Andreas Acrivos (NAE, NAS), City College of the City University of New York, was awarded the 2001 National Medal of Science in the field of engineering. The awards were announced by President Bush on May 9, 2002. Dr. Acrivos is a former member of the U.S. National Committee for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, beginning his service in 1959 as a representative from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, later serving as a member-at-large and then as USNC/TAM chair in the mid-1980s, and most recently on the IUTAM Congress Committee and Fluids Symposium Panel.
- Cynthia Beall, Sarah Idell Pyle Professor of Anthropology at Case Western Reserve University and member of the National Academy of Sciences, was elected this spring to NAS Council. She is currently the chair of the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Biological Sciences and a member of BISO.
- It is with a deep sense of loss that BISO informs its readers that James Ellis, an ecosystem scientist at the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory of Colorado State University, died in an avalanche in western Colorado on March 14, 2002. Dr. Ellis was a member of the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Biological Sciences.
- Wilford R. Gardner (NAS), University of California at Berkeley, emeritus, was awarded on honorary Doctor of Science degree from Ohio State University in March 2002. Dr. Gardner was the founding chair of the U.S. National Committee for Soil Science.
- Edward C. Stone, David Morrisroe Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology and former director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will be the next US Representative to COSPAR effective October 2002.
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