Table of Contents
Engineering International Issues National Security Policy and Research Issues New at the National Academies Events and Open Meetings

Engineering


WWW Developer and Other Recipients of 2007 Engineering Prizes Announced

The National Academy of Engineering announced the recipients of three $500,000 prizes. Timothy J. Berners-Lee will receive the Charles Stark Draper Prize for developing the World Wide Web. Yuan-Cheng "Bert" Fung will be awarded the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize for his pioneering work in biomechanics. Harold S. Goldberg, Jerome E. Levy, and Arthur W. Winston will share the Bernard M. Gordon Prize for developing a multidisciplinary graduate program designed to produce engineering leaders.

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NAE Launches EngineeringChallenges.org

The National Academy of Engineering invites the public to brainstorm about ways engineering can help shape the world's future. A prestigious international committee of experts in science and technology, chaired by former US Defense Secretary William Perry, will use submitted ideas to identify Grand Challenges for Engineering.

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International Issues


Request for input: Study on Emerging Technologies in Agriculture to Benefit Farmers in Africa and South Asia

The National Academies' Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources (BANR) is launching a study to identify new scientific knowledge and promising technology with the potential to transform the production capabilities of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. With a $955,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the study will, in its first phase, explore the technological horizon in disciplines ranging from agronomy and genomics to IT, materials science, chemistry, engineering, and other fields in search of innovations that can promote sustainable crop and animal production; the second phase will identify steps needed to develop the most promising ideas into field-testable agricultural applications. Several workshops will be held to gather information and identify synergies among scientific disciplines. BANR encourages the world's scientific and engineering communities to contribute ideas from the frontiers of their fields that may have beneficial applications for agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Ideas may be sent to banr@nas.edu, attn: Michael Ma.

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National Security


IT Investments Needed for Better Disaster Management

Information technology has unrealized potential to improve how communities and the nation handle natural disasters and terrorism, says a new National Research Council report. Investments in information technology by federal, state, and local agencies with disaster management responsibilities would improve the exchange of critical information, support better decision making, increase the flexibility of these organizations, and better engage the public in disaster response and recovery.

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Policy and Research Issues


Maxine F. Singer to Receive Public Welfare Medal

The National Academy of Sciences has selected Maxine F. Singer, president emerita of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, to receive the Public Welfare Medal, its most prestigious award. Singer will receive the award for providing inspired and effective leadership in matters of science and its relationship to education and public policy.

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New at the National Academies


Academy Honors 18 for Major Contributions to Science

The National Academy of Sciences will honor 18 individuals for their extraordinary scientific achievements in the areas of astronomy, biology, medicine, chemistry, geology, oceanography, physics, and psychology. Contributions include a near-infrared survey of the entire sky, the discovery of the first statin for lowering cholesterol, and insights into how the human visual system learns to recognize objects.

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Events and Open Meetings


2007 National Academies Communication Awards: Nominations Open

On February 1 the National Academies will begin accepting nominations for the 2007 National Academies Communication Awards for excellence in reporting and communicating science, engineering, and medicine to the public during 2006. The awards are a component of the National Academies Keck Futures Initiative, a series of annual activities designed to realize the untapped potential of interdisciplinary research. The Initiative is funded by a 15-year, $40-million grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation. The $20,000 communication prizes are awarded in three categories: book author; newspaper, magazine, or online journalist; and TV/radio producer or reporter. Nominations must be completed online no later than April 5, 2007.

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SYMPOSIUM: Impact of Technology on Voting and Elections in the 21st Century

As part of its National Meeting, the National Academy of Engineering will hold a public symposium in honor of Wm. A. Wulf and his 12 years of service as NAE president. The event will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2007, at the Beckman Center of the National Academies in Irvine CA. The agenda is posted at the accompanying link. Space at this free event is limited, so advance registration is required. Please contact Cecile Gonzalez at 202 334 1678 or <cgonzalez@nae.edu> for more information.

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FORUM on Teaching Evolution in the Classroom

Celebrate International Darwin Day on February 12 at a free event especially for middle and high school teachers. Participants will have the opportunity to speak with researchers and educators about how current research on microbial evolution can be used to support the teaching of evolution in the classroom. Attendees will receive take-home resources from the National Academies, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, and more. Information about speakers and advance reservations is posted at the accompanying link.

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MEETING: Understanding Democratic Transitions: Lessons for Democracy Assistance

A meeting on "Understanding Democratic Transitions and Consolidation from Case Studies: Lessons for Democracy Assistance" will be held March 5-6 at Stanford University. A preliminary agenda is posted at the accompanying link. If you would like to attend the sessions of this meeting that are open to the public or need more information please contact Tabitha Benney, by email at <tbenney@nas.edu> or by telephone at 202 334 3064.

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