^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ AWG E-MAIL NEWS No. 2000-36, July 25, 2000 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CONTENTS: 1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ALERT:7-21-00 (very long) 2) WITI LAUNACHES GENDER GAP ASSESSMENT TOOL 3) REGISTER ON ICANN TO IMPACT THE INTERNET 4) POSITION OPENINGS ***California State Polytechnic University, Pomona--Multi-disciplinary ***Oklahoma Geological Survey-Industrial Minerals Geologist ***Oklahoma Geological Survey-Petroleum Geologist ***University of Canterbury--Soft-rock position 5) SUBMISSION & MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ALERT: 7-21-00 *** Senators Needed to Support Increased Funding for NSF IN A NUTSHELL: Senators Kit Bond (R-MO) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) have sent out a "Dear Colleague" letter requesting support to double the National Science Foundation (NSF) budget over the next five years. Bond and Mikulski-the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds NSF-are asking their peers to sign onto the letter that they plan to send to Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) and Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (SD). AGI urges geoscientists to contact their senators and recommend that they sign onto the Bond-Mikulski letter. The text of the "Dear Colleague" letter and support letters that accompanied it are attached. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of NSF. It also marks the largest budget request increase in the agency's history-17% (or $673 million) over last year's allocation. Despite the growing budget surplus, Congress agreed to a budget resolution that maintains a tight allocation for discretionary spending, making the NSF budget request impossible to reach. The Senate Appropriations Committee has delayed its markup of the fiscal year (FY)2001 VA/HUD and Independent Agencies bill, which funds NSF, in hopes of congressional action to increase the pot of discretionary money. In order to press this case, Senators Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)-the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations VA/HUD and Independent Agencies Subcommittee-sent out a "Dear Colleague" letter asking other senators to join them in asking Majority Leader Trent Lott and Democratic Leader Tom Daschle to double the budget of NSF over the next five years. As their press release states, "NSF supports fundamental research in many fields of science that contribute to America's health and well- being...Investments in the NSF have yielded numerous new products, as well as entire industries, such as biotechnology and e-commerce." NSF Director Rita Colwell justified the foundation's requested budget increase at a July 12th Senate hearing by saying: "since its founding fifty years ago the National Science Foundation has been an important and vital catalyst for discovery and innovation. From the information technology revolution to the genomic revolution and everything in between-MRIs, lasers, the Internet, Doppler radar, and countless other innovations-NSF-supported fundamental research has advanced our society." Seeking to build on popular support for biomedical research that has led to large increases for the National Institutes of Health, the Bond-Mikulski letter emphasizes the role NSF-funded basic research has played in medical advances. NSF funded basic research from the last decades underpins the economic and technological success that the nation is now enjoying. The call for a doubling in five years was made earlier this year by the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF), of which AGI is a member. Please write or call your senators to urge them to sign onto the Bond- Mikulski letter and support science funding. The senators have not set a deadline for signatures but action in the next two weeks would be most effective. The U.S. Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121 will connect you to your senator's office. Letters should specifically refer to the July 12th Bond-Mikulski "Dear Colleague" letter and should include a brief example of how geoscience research has benefited society-for example, better understanding of natural hazards and resulting improvements in mitigation-and use the format: The Honorable __________ United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator: Please let us know of any contacts you make--govt@agiweb.org; fax 703-379-7563; voice 703-379-2480 ext. 212; or AGI Government Affairs Program, 4220 King Street, Alexandria VA 22302. *** "Dear Colleague" Cover Letter from Bond and Mikulski July 12, 2000 Dear Colleague: We are writing to seek your signature on a letter we propose to send to Majority Leader Trent Lott and Democratic Leader Tom Daschle calling for a long-term plan to double the budget of the National Science Foundation over the next five years. The rationale for this increase in described in the enclosed letter. In addition, we have received letters of support from two leading physicians, which we have also enclosed. If you would like to join us in signing this letter, please contact Cheh Kim of Senator Bond's staff at 224-7858 or Paul Carliner of Senator's Mikulski's staff at 224-7231. Thank you for considering this. Sincerely, Christopher S. "Kit" Bond Barbara A. Mikulski U.S. Senator U.S. Senator *** "Dear Colleague" Letter to Lott and Daschle July 12, 2000 Senator Trent Lott Senator Tom Daschle Majority Leader Democratic Leader S-230 Capitol S-221 Capitol Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Majority Leader Lott and Democratic Leader Daschle: We are writing as longtime supporters of investments in fundamental research and education-the building blocks of the new economy. Just as we have worked collectively to double the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget over five years, we believe it is now time to launch a parallel effort to double the budget of the National Science Foundation (NSF) over five years. It is our strong belief that the success of NIH's efforts to cure deadly diseases such as cancer depends on the underpinning research supported by NSF. The NSF, currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary, supports fundamental research that contributes to the nation's health and well-being. As the Council on Competitiveness has noted: "For the past 50 years, most, if not all, of the technological advances have been directly or indirectly linked to improvements in fundamental understanding." Business Week adds: "What's needed is a serious stimulant to basic research, which has been lagging in recent years. Without continued gains in education and training and new innovations and scientific findings-the raw materials of growth in the New Economy-the technological dynamic will stall." NSF's impact over the past half century has been monumental-especially in the field of medical technologies and research. The investments have also spawned not only new products, but also entire industries, such as biotechnology, Internet providers, e-commerce, and geographic information systems. Medical technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, digital mammography and genomic mapping could not have occurred, and cannot now improve to the next level of proficiency, without underlying knowledge from NSF-supported work in biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, and computer sciences. In 1993, NSF support made it possible to detect the cause of a deadly hantavirus outbreak in the American Southwest. NSF-supported research on plants led to the discovery of Taxol, a derivative of Yew trees that is effective against certain cancers. The benefits of NSF research to medical science and technology has been recognized by leading doctors such as the former head of the NIH, Harold Varmus and the President of the Institute of Medicine, Kenneth Shine. NSF research today is also creating new ways for disabled people to participate fully as contributing members of society. An NSF grant made it possible to publish a dictionary of American Sign Language. NSF support is developing technologies for speech recognition and World Wide Web access for the disabled. And someday it may be possible to restore vision to the blind through ongoing NSF support for the "eye chip," computerized video technology that would be surgically implanted in the eye. New NSF support for research in nanotechnology, high-speed computing, plant genome research, biocomplexity, and cognitive neuroscience will further advance the state of technological change and improve our quality of life through creation of new products, a better understanding of how humans behave, and how our ecological systems can survive. Furthermore, every generation requires a group of skilled and innovative scientists and engineers to make the new discoveries that propel society into the future. NSF's educational programs from pre-kindergarten to graduate school train the next generation of inventors and discoverers. For industry, this is the best type of technology transfer. Senators may disagree about the precise mix of fiscal and monetary policies that will ensure a continuation of America's current economic prosperity. But there is a growing consensus that investing in fundamental scientific research is one of the best things we can do to keep our nation economically strong. This fact has been recognized by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, NASDAQ President Alfred Berkeley, the Committee for Economic Development, and many other widely respected experts. For all these reasons, we hope you will join us in adopting a five-year goal of doubling the National Science Foundation by fiscal year 2006. Sincerely, Christopher S. "Kit" Bond Barbara A. Mikulski U.S. Senator U.S. Senator *** Supporting Letter from Institute of Medicine President Kenneth Shine June 23, 2000 The Honorable Christopher "Kit" Bond United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Bond: I am writing to express my support for the concept of doubling the NSF budget over the next few years. It is a common misconception that advances in biomedical research are only supported by the National Institutes of Health. While the Congress has been both generous and wise in its support of the NIH in recent years, it is important to note that advances in medicine are very dependent upon other fields of science that are mostly supported by the National Science Foundation Science is interrelated, and so we need to have balance in this funding for medicine to move forward The late Lewis Thomas, the former head of Yale Medical School and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, once observed that the greatest advances in improving human health was the development of clean drinking water and sewage systems So we owe our health as much to civil engineering as we do to biology The development of the pacemaker, in which I played a minor role. was not only a result of our study of cardiovascular systems, but also electrical engineering Without the miniaturization of circuits and transistors, the pacemaker would never have become the lifesaving device that it has. One could name many other illustrations of how the physics, chemistry, and mathematics have been at the core of developments that improve human health This will continue to be the case. Some of the most promising and exciting prospects and fields right now have arisen from science and engineering disciplines supported by the NSF Bioengineering, new materials, prosthetics, and information technologies are vital as basic research fields that will improve health care in the future. NSF supports all of these fields, and I believe that a doubling of the NSF budget will pay for itself many times over in terms of saving costs, and, more importantly, improving human health. Sincerely, Kenneth I Shine, M.D. President Institute of Medicine cc: Bruce Alberts, President, National Academy of Science Wm. A. Wulf, President, National Academy of Engineering *** Supporting Letter from Former NIH Director Harold Varmus June 26, 2000 The Honorable Senator Christopher Bond 274 Russell Senate Building Washington, DC 20510 Attention: Cheh Kim Dear Senator Bond: I am writing in support of efforts that are being mounted to double the budget of the National Science Foundation over the next five years. I join this effort because the opportunities for investing wisely in science have never been greater and because it is important for grant-making agencies like the NSF to try to plan for sustained growth over several years. The NSF has a splendid history of sustaining fundamental research across a broad spectrum of disciplines, and this approach is especially important now as laboratory work becomes increasingly interdisciplinary. In my own field of medical science, rapid advances in the deciphering of genomes and protein structures are revolutionizing our understanding of biology. Essential contributions to both genome sequencing and determination of protein structures have come from work supported by the NSF, and efforts to take advantage of this new information will require expanded activity in disciplines traditionally dependent on the NSF-including computer science, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Indeed, from the perspective of a medical scientist, there could be no more opportune time to guarantee the vitality of American science funded by the NSF. As I learned during my recent tenure as Director of the National Institutes of Health, it is crucial that leaders of science agencies be able to anticipate several years of steady growth during periods of expansion. These agencies make multi-year awards and are responsible for training and research infrastructure, as well as the operational costs of doing research. To make effective use of a stronger financial base, it is necessary to plan the use of expanded dollars over a multi-year period. For this reason, it is extremely important to campaign for a measured expansion of funds, such as that embodied in a plan to double the NSF budget over five years. In this way, you can be assured that the agency's leaders will have an opportunity to make the most thoughtful use of this significant increment. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance in this laudable effort. Sincerely, Harold Varmus, MD President Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center -Alert prepared by Margaret Baker, AGI Government Affairs Program 22222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 2) WITI LAUNACHES GENDER GAP ASSESSMENT TOOL At a time when companies are growing increasingly concerned about the exodus of women from corporate America due to glass ceiling issues, Women in Technology International (WITI) launched the first tool designed to measure gender perceptions, development and advancement of women, organizational effectiveness and benchmarks for gender issues. The need for better solutions has become even more compelling since a recent court ruling (Kolstad vs. American Dental Association-1999) established that companies which have written policies and procedures in place and implement programs to support these policies will have a greater chance of avoiding punitive damages in sexual harassment and anti-discrimination lawsuits. The Gender Gap Assessment Tool, developed in collaboration with Human Facets and Professional Mentoring, enables companies to take a climate survey of work environments so they can develop more effective programs to increase their ability to retain and attract professional women. For more information about the Gender Gap Assessment Tool, contact Karla Villatoro, Project Coordinator karla@corp.witi.com or call WITI 800-334-9484. 33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 3) REGISTER ON ICANN TO IMPACT THE INTERNET Plain and simple, we have an opportunity to impact the future of the Internet. And WITI members can take the lead. But we need to act now! You may have already heard about ICANN-the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. ICANN was recently given broad powers over the Internet domain name assignment and root server system. This is the power to say who is on and off the Internet, who will pay for space on the Internet, and what type of speech or intellectual property rights will be protected on the web. ICANN is the most powerful body running the Internet and few people really know about it. More alarming is the lack of women registered to vote about how ICANN will be run. [Women compose less than 11% of the total membership.] Few know that ICANN was designed to represent the broad Internet user community and that an election for the governing board will take place in October Currently, there is only 1 woman for every 7 to 8 men registered to vote on how the Internet will be governed (see statistics below). And the voting registration cutoff date for October's historic vote is the END OF JULY! WITI and icannVote.com have formed an alliance to increase the number of women registered as voting members of ICANN. Please go immediately to www.icannVote.com and follow the easy instructions for registering. It's free, it's our right to participate, and it's important! -Carolyn Leighton, Chairwoman and Founder, WITI 4444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 4) POSITION OPENINGS ***California State Polytechnic University, Pomona GEOMORPHOLOGY/NEOTECTONICS/ENGINEERING GEOLOGY/MINERALOGY The Geological Sciences Department seeks to fill a tenure-track faculty position at the Assist. Prof. level, to begin Sep. 2001. An earned Ph.D. in Geology with expertise in one or more of the following disciplines: Geomorphology/Neotectonics/Eng. Geology/Mineralogy is required by the time of appointment. Responsibilities will vary depending on specialty but broadly include teaching and developing undergrad. core courses, e.g., Applied Geomorph/ Engineering Geology/Applied Geophysics/Optical Min./GIS apps. in Geology, Env. Policy and Regs. and Gen. Ed. or Sci. Ed. or support courses; directing undergraduates in field-oriented research concentrating on geologic problems in southern. Calif.; co-coordinating and integrating GIS into an undergrad. curriculum; student advising; committee assignments. Preference will be given to applicants with documented effective undergraduate teaching, breadth of teaching abilities and an active research, publication, successful grant funding record. Send resume, statement of teaching and research interests, three current letters of reference, unofficial transcripts and completed app. form (supplied by Dept.) to: Dr. John A. Klasik, Chair, Geological Sci. Dept., Cal Poly Pomona, 3801 W. Temple Ave., Pomona, CA, 91768. (Email: jaklasik@csupomona.edu) Position open until filled. Initial review of apps, Jan. 2, 2001. Official transcripts required of all finalists. EO/AA employer. ***Oklahoma Geological Survey-Industrial Minerals Geologist The Oklahoma Geological Survey is accepting applications for a position in geology with a specialization in industrial minerals. Applicants must have completed at least a Master's degree in geology and a minimum of one year of experience in industrial minerals mapping, assessment, and/or development. The person filling this position will be responsible for maintaining current and developing new information on industrial-mineral resources in the State. The individual will be expected to maintain the effective communication that exists with those industries and other interested parties in Oklahoma, and to expand on those contacts. The person filling this position must have a solid background in geology, including the ability to produce high-quality geologic maps, primarily in sedimentary strata, and to develop estimates of resources from such mapping. Publication of such studies is expected. Additional skills needed include effective communication, both written and oral, with individuals ranging from informed lay-persons to specialists in the field. Applicants should submit a résumé that describes their background and experience in industrial minerals, a copy of transcripts of all academic studies, and the names and addresses of three individuals that will attest to the applicant's capabilities in industrial minerals. Applications should be addressed to Search Committee, Oklahoma Geological Survey, 100 East Boyd, Room N-131, Norman, OK 73019. The position will remain open until filled, but a screening date of September 15, 2000 is established to review all applications received as of that date. The Oklahoma Geological Survey is a State agency located on the campus of the University of Oklahoma, and under the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents for fiscal and administrative control. The agency has a staff of about 50 persons, including 13 positions in geology and geophysics. The Survey has an effective working relationship with other state agencies in Oklahoma that address earth- science issues, and has had a long-standing relationship with the School of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Oklahoma, as well as the geology programs at other universities in the region. Employment with the Survey is conducted using procedures established by the University of Oklahoma. As such, the Survey adheres to the University's affirmative action and equal opportunity programs. The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Women and Minorities Are Encouraged To Apply OU has a policy of being responsive to the needs of dual-career couples. ***Oklahoma Geological Survey-Petroleum Geologist The Oklahoma Geological Survey is accepting applications for a position in geology with a specialization in petroleum geology. Applicants must have completed at least a Master's degree in geology and a minimum of at least three years of experience in petroleum exploration and development. Preference will be given to individuals who have experience in Oklahoma and the Midcontinent. The person filling this position will be expected to conduct investigations of petroleum-producing areas in Oklahoma and to participate in the development and presentation of petroleum play-based studies as a part of our workshop program. The individual also will be expected to respond to requests for information and technical assistance from operators, consultants, and others on a regular basis. The person filling this position must have a solid background in geology with an emphasis on a specialization in petroleum geology. A thorough understanding of depositional systems, the recognition of diverse rock facies from field- and/or well-core studies, and the application of that knowledge to the architecture of both carbonate and clastic reservoirs are expected. A demonstrated knowledge of log interpretation (including the recognition of depositional environments from logs), subsurface geologic mapping, and the other tools used by the petroleum geologist is required. Additional skills needed include concise and effective communication, both written and oral, to a diverse audience ranging from informed lay persons to specialists in the field. Because of the sensitivity of this position, the person selected may not engage in consulting activity in Oklahoma nor develop or participate in the development of oil and/or gas production in the State. Applicants should submit a résumé that describes their background and experience in petroleum geology, a copy of transcripts of all academic studies, and the names and addresses of three individuals that will attest to the applicant's capabilities in petroleum geology. Applications should be addressed to Search Committee, Oklahoma Geological Survey, 100 East Boyd, Room N-131, Norman, OK 73019. The position will remain open until filled, but a screening date of September 15, 2000 is established to review all applications received as of that date. The Oklahoma Geological Survey is a State agency located on the campus of the University of Oklahoma, and under the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents for fiscal and administrative control. The agency has a staff of about 50 persons, including 13 positions in geology and geophysics. The Survey has an effective working relationship with other state agencies in Oklahoma that address earth- science issues, and has had a long-standing relationship with the School of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Oklahoma, as well as the geology programs at other universities in the region. Employment with the Survey is conducted using procedures established by the University of Oklahoma. As such, the Survey adheres to the University's affirmative action and equal opportunity programs. The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Women and Minorities Are Encouraged To Apply OU has a policy of being responsive to the needs of dual-career couples. ***University of Canterbury-soft-rock Continuing (tenured) full-time position as lecturer or senior lecturer (US equivalent assistant/associate professor) in the Dept. of Geological Sciences with the potential to develop an innovative research programme on the sedimentary record using modern quantitative methods with South Pacific regional geologic interests. Applicants should hold a Ph.D. degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline and have postdoctoral research experience. Applications, quoting Vacancy No GS126, must be received by the closing date of 30 September 2000 and should be addressed to:The Human Resources Department, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand. Academic enquiries only may be made to Professor J.W. Cole, Fax 64 3 3642-769 or Email: mailto:j.cole@geol.canterbury.ac.nz. Visit the department website at: . 555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555) SUBMISSION & MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ***Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of AWG E-Mail News. For submissions to AWG E-Mail News, contact Editor Joanne Kluessendorf at editor@awg.org. For advertising, contact the Ad Editor at ads@awg.org. PLEASE SEND AD COPY OR OTHER SUBMISSIONS AS RTF FILES OR AS PART OF AN E-MAIL MESSAGE ***For membership information or to join AWG, visit our website at or contact our business office at ***E-mail or address changes? Send to office@awg.org, please.