Whats
New @ IEEE-USA - Eye On Washington
Vol. 2007, No. 4 ( 30 March 2007)
1)
CAPITOL HILL WATCH
-
Health IT Becomes Low Priority For 110th Congress
-
House Science Committee Approves Legislation
Strengthening Math & Science Education
-
Hearings of Possible Interest
-
New Bill Expands Renewable Fuel Sources
-
House Passes Budget Resolution, Funding the Innovation
Agenda: A Commitment to Competitiveness to Keep America
#1
2) WHITE HOUSE & EXECUTIVE
AGENCY WATCH
-
James Turner Named as NIST Deputy Director
3) REPORTS, SPEECHES &
DOCUMENTS OF NOTE
- Government
Accountability Office Reports
- National Science
Foundation Reports
-
Report Advocates Global Intellectual Property Harmony
-
WEF's 2006-2007 Global Information Technology Report
4) U.S. COURTS ACTIVITY
5) U.S. STATES WATCH
6) AWARDS & GRANTS
- Department of
Commerce 2007 National Medal of Technology
7) CONFERENCES, FELLOWSHIPS,
PROGRAMS & INTERNSHIPS FOR ENGINEERS, and STUDENTS and
SCHOLARS OF ENGINEERING
-
2007 Engineering R&D Symposium
- National Science
Foundation
-
Engineering's Grand Challenges Essay Contest
8) LATEST IEEE-USA & IEEE
ACTIVITIES
-
Healthcare Experts to Discuss RFID Technology & Policy
Issues at First IEEE
International RFID Conference
-
Track IEEE-USA's
Progress
9) U.S. COMPETITIVENESS & INNOVATION:
WHO'S DOING WHAT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE?
10) OTHER ITEMS OF POSSIBLE
INTEREST
1) CAPITOL HILL WATCH
-
Health IT Becomes Low Priority For 110th Congress
The camps of both
political parties report that health information technology legislation, which
Congress came close to passing last year, has fallen to a low priority in 2007.
At a recent congressional forum sponsored by the
Erickson Retirement Communities, a company that develops
"campus" style living for seniors, the consensus was that time and money would
be huge barriers to passing health IT legislation this year. Congressional staff
acknowledged that the House probably will not be able to move a comprehensive
health IT bill this year because some Food and Drug Administration programs need
to be reauthorized, and that work is expected to keep health committees busy
until the fall.
In
February, Erickson sponsored a nationwide poll showing that many U.S. voters
want e-health records but are under the false impression that physicians and
hospitals already rely on them. Sixty-four percent of registered voters operate
under the misperception that most medical providers have fully implemented
electronic medical records, and are thus not demanding faster adoption in the
healthcare system. The reality is that only 10 percent to 20 percent of
doctors and hospitals actually have electronic medical records.
Despite their acknowledged concerns about identity theft and unauthorized access
by marketers. "Seniors in particular think that having [e-records] available in
an emergency situation is very important," said Gary Andres, vice chairman of
public policy and research at Dutko Research, which facilitated Erickson's
survey.
Stakeholders want new legislation to
create standards for electronic medical records, as well as provide some kind of
incentive to get medical providers to make the initial investment. Physicians
and small medical group officials who testified at a March 28th House Small
Business Regulations, Healthcare and Trade Subcommittee hearing on the
challenges of placing such systems in solo and small practices, claim that they
need legislation that grants them money to cover the high upfront and ongoing
costs of maintaining health information technology systems. At present, no
standards exist to give physicians faith in the expensive IT equipment they are
purchasing. Mark Leavitt, a doctor and chairman of the government-sponsored
Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology, said many
practices "have made serious mistakes when selecting and implementing these
products, sometimes losing their investment and even threatening the financial
stability of their small businesses."
At the hearing,
William Jefferson (D-La.) asked Leavitt, "Should they [the standards] come from
us?" Leavitt replied, "I don't think you want to cast standards in law," but the
government must sustain funding for outside organizations to collaborate in
developing standards.
Lynn
Kirk, a doctor and president of the American College of Physicians, noted that
the initial cost of buying healthcare technology averages about $44,000 per
physician, while the average annual cost per physician to maintain the systems
is about $8,500. Her organization "strongly believes" Congress should consider
laws that add a code into Medicare that reimburses physicians for office visits
and other evaluation management services that are facilitated by electronic
health systems.
For this reason, the
College of Physicians supports a bill sponsored by subcommittee Chairman Charlie
Gonzalez (D-Texas) that includes additional Medicare payment incentives to
ensure that small healthcare providers can afford e-records systems and other
health IT systems. At the hearing, Gonzalez said additional grants, loans and
refundable tax credits proposed by his legislation "would help defray some of
this high upfront costs."
-
House Science Committee Approves Legislation Strengthening Math & Science
Education
28 MAR: The House Committee on
Science and Technology overwhelmingly passed a bill aimed at
inspiring the next generation of scientists, mathematicians,
engineers and space pioneers.
H.R. 362, the "10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds" Science
and Math Scholarship Act, is designed to better prepare
U.S. math and science teachers to equip students in these
subjects.
H.R. 362 is based upon the primary
recommendation of the 2005 National Academies', "Rising Above the Gathering
Storm" report. A similar bill – H.R. 5358 – cleared the Committee in the
109th Congress. H.R. 362 is supported by
a wide spectrum of industry and education groups, and scientific professional
societies, including IEEE-USA.
"This report opened our eyes to the
alarming conclusion that America's footing as a global leader is slipping," said
Chairman Gordon. "And it gave us recommendations on how to secure our standing.
Key among those recommendations – better training and equipping our teachers to
teach math and science in grades K-12. This bill acts on what we know needs to
be done."
The report found that in 1999, 68 percent
of U.S. 8th grade students received math instruction from a teacher with no math
certification or degree. It also noted that in 2000, 92 percent of 5th-9th
graders were taught physical science by a teacher with no science degree or
certification.
H.R. 362 addresses these issues by
increasing scholarships for students majoring in science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) fields and who are committed to pursuing teaching;
establishing a teacher education program at the National Science Foundation to
encourage education faculty to work with STEM faculty on ways to improve
education for math and science teachers; providing in-service training to math
and science teachers to improve content knowledge and teaching skills; and
authorizing the development of master's degree programs for in-service math and
science teachers.
"This bill is one of several I have
introduced to insure that our children are not only prepared for the careers of
the future, but they are also prepared to compete in those fields with their
global counterparts," said Chairman Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.). The Committee also
approved H.R. 363, Gordon's Sowing the Seeds through Science and Engineering
Research Act, on February 28.
-
Hearings of Possible Interest
1) 28 MAR: Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing:
"Transitioning to the Next Generation Human Space Flight
System" – For the text of witness testimony, see:
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=1826
In a recent
House Committee on Science and Technology,
Dr. Michael Griffin, NASA Administrator, said the President's FY2008 budget
request falls $1.4 billion short of the recommended funding in the NASA
Authorization Act, passed in 2005.
As a long-time
supporter of a robust space exploration program, the Committee's ranking member,
Ralph Hall (R-Texas), spoke highly of the President's Vision, and noted, "NASA
performs best when it has a clear mission. In the aftermath of the
Columbia tragedy we all recognized that NASA needed a new, clearly defined,
affordable mission that would take us beyond low Earth orbit. After
careful study, the Administration proposed the Vision for Space Exploration –
which I support – and which this Committee and the entire Congress endorsed
through the NASA Authorization Act of 2005. That consensus gives NASA the
stable direction it has lacked.
"Since the
Vision was first announced, two major financial obstacles have occurred. First,
earlier estimates for the remaining Shuttle flights understated the cost by
roughly $3 billion. Second, the five-year budget runout presented at the
time the Vision was announced [in 2004] assumed a higher funding profile.
In the years since, the Administration requests for NASA have come in lower, and
unfortunately Congress failed to fully fund the FY2007 request. Everyone
bears some blame for the funding shortfalls, but the point I want to stress is
that NASA continues to hold to its original schedule for the Vision, but doing
it with smaller budgets. Consequently, the stress on the agency is
enormous."
Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) echoed
this sentiment, pointing out that the lack of funding comes at a bad time, with
pressures from rival countries' space programs threatening US preeminence.
"Unfortunately, the FY2008 budget request seeks just $17.3 billion for NASA,
substantially less than authorized but still with a 3 percent increase that is
well above many other agencies within the discretionary budget," Calvert said.
"Nevertheless, this disparity, paired with the Agency's FY2007 appropriations
reduction of $545 million, jeopardizes NASA's ability to successfully accomplish
its portfolio of missions. And it comes at a time when other countries,
such as China, are eagerly ramping up their own space and aeronautics programs.
Their recent ASAT strike should remind us all that the Second Space Age will be
a crowded and competitive."
Calvert concluded that NASA is being asked to do too much with insufficient
resources, and therefore recommended a bottom line increase in NASA's proportion
of the overall federal budget, saying, "For an Agency that has made immense
contributions to our quality of life, economy and international relations, the
little more than one-half of one percent of the total federal budget investment
we are providing is just not sufficient. NASA stakeholders must stop
fighting each other for a larger piece of the NASA pie and work on a securing a
bigger overall NASA pie."
Recognizing that the
budget request falls short of expectations, Administrator Griffin, defended the
request, framing the budget in terms of an extremely tight funding environment,
saying, "The FY 2008 budget request for NASA demonstrates the President's
continued commitment to our Nation's leadership in space and aeronautics
research, especially during a time when there are other competing demands for
our Nation's resources. The FY 2008 budget request reflects a stable plan
to continue investments begun in prior years, with some slight course
corrections." Griffin concluded, "Overall, I believe that we are heading
in the right direction. We have made great strides this past year, and NASA is
on track and making progress in carrying out the tasks before us."
2) 28 MAR: House Committee on Science and Technology hearing:
"Shaping the Message, Distorting the Science: Media
Strategies to
Influence Public Policy" - For the text of witness testimony
and related documents, visit:
http://science.house.gov/publications/hearings_markups_details.aspx?NewsID=1736
3) 22 MAR: Science & Technology
Committee, Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing: "Future of U.S.
Aviation in FAA Budget Hearing" -
Press release: "Subcommittee Members Look to the Future of U.S. Aviation in FAA
Budget Hearing"
http://science.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1740
-
New Bill Expands Renewable Fuel Sources
Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete
Domenici, chairs of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee, introduced the
Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation Act of 2007
(S.987), a bill to dramatically expand the use of renewable
fuels in America over the next two decades. The bill
requires America's fuel supply to contain higher amounts of
renewable fuels; an increasing portion of the renewable
fuels consumed to be advanced biofuels, such as cellulosic
ethanol, biobutanol and other fuels derived from
unconventional biomass feedstocks; and supports the
development of advanced biofuels by increasing Department of
Energy funding for bioenergy research and development by 50
percent over fiscal years 2007 to 2009
-
House Passes Budget Resolution, Funding the Innovation Agenda: A Commitment
to Competitiveness to Keep America #1
This week,
the House passed H.Con.Res.99, the 2008 House Budget
Resolution, which, as designed by the Democrats, "takes
America in a new direction."
Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office says, the $3 trillion budget
resolution "is a fiscally responsible budget with the right
priorities for America. Included in the Budget Resolution is
sustained commitment to R&D and education, investments that
are part of our Innovation Agenda: A Commitment to
Competitiveness to Keep America #1." Read IEEE-USA's
letter to Speaker Pelosi at:
http://ieeeusa.org/policy/policy/2007/032707.pdf.
Highlights of some of the
budget functions are:
In
Function 250: General Science, Space, and Technology, which includes investments
in NSF, NASA (minus aviation) and DOE-Science, the House Budget Resolution
provides nearly $2 billion over current services for fiscal year 2008, which is
$150 million more than the President's request.
In
Function 270: Energy, the House Budget Resolution provides $300 million over the
President's request for fiscal year 2008.
In Function 500:
Education, Training, and Employment, the House Budget resolution provides $7.9
billion over the President's request for fiscal year 2008.
The House plan, which Democrats hope to
reconcile with the Senate budget resolution by May 1, includes a $1.1 trillion
cap on discretionary spending, about $25 billion more than President Bush
sought. That's enough to allow inflationary increases in most programs and
significant increases in education and veterans' benefits.
H Con Res 99
also projects a $153 billion surplus in fiscal 2012 by strictly adhering to
tough new Democratic-imposed pay-as-you-go budget rules that require new
mandatory spending and tax cuts to be offset. The budget did not include
proposals to control the growth of entitlement programs that are projected to
swamp the rest of the budget in coming decades as the baby-boom generation
retires.
Republicans offered a more austere plan that would have paid for tax cut
extensions by cutting Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlement programs by $279
billion over five years and freezing domestic discretionary spending.
The
resolution also includes a sense of the House, the text of which is below.
SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON THE INNOVATION AGENDA:
A
COMMITMENT TO COMPETITIVNESS TO KEEP AMERICA #1.
(a) It is the sense of the House to
provide sufficient funding that our Nation may continue to be the world
leader in innovation, education, innovation, and economic growth. The budget
resolution provides $450 million above the President's requested level for
2008, and additional amounts in subsequent years in Function 250 (General
Science, Space, and Technology) and Function 270 (Energy). Additional
increase for scientific research and education are included in Function 500
(Education, Employment, Training, and Social Services), Function 550
(Health), Function 300 (Environment and Natural Resources), Function 350
(Agriculture), Function 400 (Transportation), and Function 370 (Commerce ad
Housing Credit), all of which receive more funding that the President
requested.
(b) America's greatest resource for
innovation resides within classrooms across the country. The increased
funding provided in this resolution will support important initiatives to
educate 100,000 new scientists, engineers, and mathematicians and place
highly qualified teachers in math and science K-12 classrooms.
(c) Independent scientific research
provides the foundation for innovation and future technologies. This
resolution will put us on the path toward doubling funding for the National
Science Foundation, basic research in the physical sciences and
collaborative research partnerships; and toward achieving energy
independence in ten years through the development of clean and sustainable
energy technologies.
2) WHITE HOUSE & EXECUTIVE AGENCY WATCH
-
James Turner Named as NIST Deputy Director
National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) Director William Jeffrey announced the
selection of James M. Turner to be NIST Deputy Director.
Turner will begin work at NIST on April 16th.
As Deputy Director of NIST, Turner will
assist in setting the strategic direction of the U.S. Commerce Department agency
responsible for promoting U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by
advancing measurement science, standards, and technology.
Turner, a physicist, currently is an
Assistant Deputy Administrator in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) managing
the National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of Nuclear Risk Reduction.
His current duty is to oversee construction projects in Russia associated with
the permanent shutdown of their last three nuclear weapons-grade
plutonium-production reactors. The office also is charged with working with
foreign governments and international agencies such as the International Atomic
Energy Agency to develop policies and procedures to deal with nuclear
emergencies.
Prior to that assignment, Turner held
several senior management posts at DOE concerned with nuclear weapons safety and
assisting the former Soviet republics in securing their nuclear weapons after
the fall of the Soviet Union. He also headed the Department's Oakland Operations
Office for six years. He holds a Ph.D. degree in physics from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and a Bachelor's degree in Physics from Johns Hopkins
University.
3)
REPORTS, SPEECHES & DOCUMENTS OF
NOTE
- Government
Accountability Office Reports
Next Generation Air Transportation System: Progress and
Challenges in Planning and Implementing the Transformation
of the National Airspace System (GAO-07-649T)
22 March 2007
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07649t.pdf
- National
Science Foundation Reports
More Female Students Pursuing Science and Engineering
Degrees - A
new NSF report shows that the American science and
technology workforce
is undergoing a major demographic shift; more women are
participating in university science and engineering (S&E)
programs than ever before. The biannual NSF report -
Women, Minorities, and Persons With Disabilities in Science
and Engineering - provides a broad overview of
demographic trends within university S&E programs.
In
2007, the report's overriding theme is that although U.S.
science and technology fields remain predominantly male,
trends at the university-level indicate this may be
changing. Female college enrollment in all fields began to
exceed male enrollment in the late 1980s. However, women and
men did not participate in S&E programs in equal numbers
until 2000. As of 2004, women receive approximately half all
bachelor's degrees in S&E fields. Women also have begun to
close the gap in master's programs – they now receive 44
percent of all S&E master's degrees, up from 34 percent in
1990. During that same period, the number of male recipients
remained fairly steady.
Male students are,
however, still more likely to receive doctoral S&E degrees
than their female counterparts. Though the number of men
receiving S&E doctoral degrees has dropped more than 25
percent over the past 10 years, women still receive only 44
percent of those degrees. Also, the increasing presence of
female students has not been equally distributed among S&E
majors. Certain S&E fields, including computer science,
remain predominantly male. In fact, in recent years, the gap
between women and men recipients of bachelor's degrees in
the computer sciences has grown. Between 1985 and 2004, the
female share of computer science degrees dropped from 37
percent to 25 percent.
Female scientists and
engineers also appear to be underrepresented in the
workforce and in professional circles – almost three times
as many men were employed in S&E occupations in 2003 as
women. Men also earn much more than women doing S&E work.
The average annual salary for male S&E professionals of all
ages and educational backgrounds is $70,000, while the
average for women is $49,000. Female S&E professionals in
supervisory positions have an average of nine subordinates,
while male supervisors have an average of 12.
The demographic shift
among younger graduates may represent an opportunity for
regions anxious to attract S&E professionals. By providing
networking opportunities and resources for female
scientists, engineering and technology entrepreneurs, cities
and states may be able to create an attractive environment
for a growing group that continues to face difficult
professional obstacles.
-
Report Advocates Global Intellectual Property Harmony
The International Chamber of Commerce recently released an
intellectual property roadmap stating, "More than ever, the
chain of national intellectual property laws will only be as
strong as its weakest link, and the ability to meaningfully
enforce right will be crucial. This will accentuate the need
for increased international cooperation.” As commerce
increasingly becomes more global, support for the
harmonization of intellectual property laws is needed.
"The challenge to the
patent system will be to provide for adequate and balanced
protection in" the emerging field of nanotechnology, which
focuses on the manipulation of matter at the atomic and
molecular levels. "This will be absolutely critical in order
to promote investments that will be needed to bring these
multi-disciplinary technologies to the marketplace," the
report added. To read the report, see:
http://www.iccwbo.org/iproadmap/
-
WEF's 2006-2007 Global Information Technology Report
The U.S. is no longer the world's IT leader. We're not
even second or third on the list.
The United States is NUMBER 7!! And that's sad because
we were #1 in 2005. Events like this week's theft of 46
million credit card records from a major U.S. retailer, the
largest theft of its kind, only highlight this fact.
For the first time, Denmark tops the rankings of
The Global Information Technology Report 2006-2007's "Networked
Readiness Index," as a culmination of an upward trend
since 2003. Denmark's outstanding levels of networked
readiness have to do with the country's excellent regulatory
environment, coupled with a clear government leadership and
vision in leveraging ICT for growth and promoting ICT
penetration and usage.
Since it was first launched in 2001, the Global Information
Technology Report has become a valuable and unique
benchmarking tool to determine national ICT strengths and
weaknesses, and to evaluate progress. It also highlights the
continuing importance of ICT application and development for
economic growth. The Report uses the Networked Readiness
Index (NRI) to measure the degree of preparation of a nation
or community to participate in and benefit from ICT
developments. The NRI is composed of three component indexes
which assess:
- environment for ICT offered by a country or community;
- readiness of the community's key stakeholders
(individuals, business and governments); and
- usage of ICT among these stakeholders.
4) U.S. COURTS ACTIVITY
No items at this
time.
5) US STATES WATCH
The Greater Austin Chamber of
Commerce and the Central Texas Regional Center of Innovation
and Commercialization (CenTex RCIC) announce that the state
of Texas has chosen Quantum Logic Devices Inc., an Austin
nanotechnology firm, as a recipient of $600,000 funded
through the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF). Quantum
Logic Devices will use the grant to help accelerate the
commercialization of its patented nanoelectronic platforms,
which will promote knowledge generation in such fields as
genomics, proteomics and drug discovery.
"This funding is a strong validation of
our vision and will help to bring our revolutionary products to market," said
Louis Brousseau, CEO and President of Quantum Logic Devices. "Texas has great
resources in both semiconductor electronics and healthcare - the convergence of
which represents the future of both industries. Quantum Logic Devices will
leverage this legacy with our expertise in nanoscale devices to position Texas
as a leader of this exciting new direction."
Quantum Logic Devices, founded in 2000,
develops single-electron devices that enable a simpler and less expensive way to
analyze DNA, protein and molecular interactions. The company has five U.S. and
two international patents describing the fabrication and utility of
single-electron transistors, with additional patents pending.
The CenTex RCIC works closely with the
Chamber's AusTech Alliance, a group of technology businesses and organizations
working to consolidate efforts that strengthen the regional technology sector
and to keep Texas globally competitive. The Central Texas Angel Network (CTAN),
which aims to assist local entrepreneurs with investment opportunities, also
works with the CenTex RCIC, ETF and the universities to identify capital for
start-ups.
The Texas Legislature created the Emerging
Technology Fund to support emerging-technology research and development
activities that are directed toward the creation of a commercializable product.
Preference is given to research activities that include higher education
institutions in collaboration with private entities. Collaboration among
multiple universities and private entities is encouraged.
6) AWARDS &
GRANTS
- Department
of Commerce 2007 National Medal of Technology
The Commerce Department is asking for nominations for the
2007 National Medal of Technology, the nation's highest
honor awarded by the president to America's leading
inventors and technological innovators. Congress established
the award, which has been presented each year since 1985.
"The face of
competition today is global, and innovation lies at the
heart of this competition," Commerce Secretary Carlos
Gutierrez said. "The National
Medal of Technology recognizes American innovators who have
made lasting contributions to advancing our global
competitiveness, economic prosperity
and quality of life. These pioneers in the amazing world of
science and technology are American heroes."
The purpose of the
National Medal of Technology is to recognize those who have
made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness,
standard of living, and quality of life through
technological innovation, and to recognize those who have
made substantial contributions to strengthening the Nation's
technological workforce. By highlighting the national
importance of technological innovation, the Medal also seeks
to inspire future generations of Americans to prepare for
and pursue technical careers to keep America at the
forefront of global technology and economic leadership. The
advances can include technology used for workforce training
and education, management and policy, product and process,
and the environment. The deadline for nominations is May 31.
For more information, see:
http://www.technology.gov/Medal/default.htm
The
American Association for the Advancement of Science has
a service called
GrantsNet Express. Each week GrantsNet will
provide a listing of science funding opportunities from
private foundations and organizations, and new U.S.
government grant announcements in the sciences. AAAS will
send GrantsNet by e-mail to AAAS member subscribers. The
weekly emails will include: — New science funding programs,
divided into opportunities for postdocs/graduate students
and undergraduates — Submission deadlines for funding
opportunities scheduled in the upcoming week — New listings
of funding for science-related research.
7) CONFERENCES, FELLOWSHIPS,
PROGRAMS & INTERNSHIPS FOR ENGINEERS, and STUDENTS &
SCHOLARS OF ENGINEERING
-
2007 Engineering R&D Symposium
Mark your calendar to
attend the
5th Annual Engineering R&D Symposium scheduled for Tuesday,
May 8, 2007 in Washington, DC. Join leaders from the
engineering community to gain firsthand knowledge of the
administration's R&D priorities and the potential impact of
the President's fiscal year 2008 budget request on the
engineering, science and technology community.
Engineers play a critical role in the public policy process,
providing expertise and knowledge regarding research and
technology issues facing the nation. The symposium
will feature representatives from government, industry and
academia, who will participate in panel sessions on
innovation, U.S. competitiveness, research and development,
and the state of the U.S. engineering enterprise. Contact
Kathryn Holmes, Director, ASME Government Relations at
holmesk@asme.org for additional information.
- National
Science Foundation
Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) - This
program aims to significantly increase the number of U.S.
citizens and permanent residents receiving post secondary
degrees in the computing disciplines, with an emphasis on
students from communities with longstanding under
representation in computing: women, persons with
disabilities, and minorities. Included minorities are
African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska
Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The BPC
program seeks to engage the computing community in
developing and implementing innovative methods to improve
recruitment and retention of these students at the
undergraduate and graduate levels. Because the lack of role
models in the professoriate can be a barrier to
participation, the BPC program also aims to develop
effective strategies for encouraging individuals to pursue
academic careers in computing and become these role models.
(http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07548/nsf07548.htm)
-
Engineering's Grand Challenges Essay Contest
In thinking about what life will be
like on earth in the next 100 years, what do our kids
believe are the most critical human needs? How might
engineers contribute to meeting these needs? These are
Engineering's Grand Challenges. The Grand Challenges
essay contest is open to individual girls and boys. There
are two age categories: grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.
For more information, see:
http://www.engineergirl.org/?id=5285
8) LATEST IEEE-USA & IEEE
ACTIVITIES
-
Healthcare Experts to Discussed RFID Technology & Policy Issues at First
IEEE
International RFID Conference
27 MAR,
Grapevine, Texas: Healthcare experts discussed the
challenges and opportunities of RFID technology in health
care and its implications on government policy during the
first IEEE International RFID Conference (IEEE RFID 2007).
The panel looked at what training and processes must be
installed to take advantage of RFID technology; what
standards and government regulations need to be developed;
and what laws need
to be passed, among other topics.
Dr. Daniel Engels, program chair, IEEE RFID 2007, and assistant professor and
director of the Radio Frequency Innovation & Technology Center at the University
of Texas at Arlington, moderated. Dr. Engels is the former director and
founder of the MIT Healthcare Research Initiative in Cambridge, Mass., a program
designed to employ RFID technology to improve patient safety.
"RFID technology is already employed by many healthcare practitioners in a
variety of applications," Dr. Engels said. "The discussion about how to
incorporate RFID technology in healthcare delivery systems is gaining in volume,
as is the debate about how to provide adequate, affordable healthcare. We hope
our experts can shine some light on the significant opportunities for RFID
technology in the healthcare industry."
Panelists included Dr. John K. Stevens, chairman of Visible Assets, Inc., and
chair of the IEEE RuBee Standards Working Group; Michael Meistrell, president of
Healthcare Informatics & Management Consultancy; and Peter Spellman, co-founder
and senior vice president of products and services for
SupplyScape Corp.
About IEEE RFID
2007: Sponsored by IEEE-USA, the IEEE New Technology Directions Committee and
IEEE Region 5, IEEE RFID 2007 is co-located with RFID WORLD 2007, the largest
trade show and exhibition for the worldwide RFID industry, 26-28 March 2007 at
the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas. For more information, see
www.ieee-rfid.org.
Review IEEE-USA's year-to-date progress in
working for the IEEE U.S. members at the new IEEE-USA Year-in-Review Web page.
Check out what IEEE-USA activities and programs helped the IEEE U.S. members in
2004 at the new IEEE-USA Annual Report online. And find out what's on IEEE-USA's
agenda through 2009, with the new, online IEEE-USA Strategic & Operational Plan.
For the IEEE-USA Year-in-Review, go to:
http://www.ieeeusa.org/about/yearinreview.asp
For the IEEE-USA Annual Report, go to:
http://www.ieeeusa.org/about/Annual_Report/2004.pdf
For the IEEE-USA
Strategic & Operational Plan, go to:
http://www.ieeeusa.org/volunteers/strategicplan/index.html
Read a full listing of
IEEE-USA lobbying activities on our web site at:
http://ieeeusa.com/policy/policy/index.html
For more IEEE-USA in the News items, see:
http://ieeeusa.org/communications/inthenews/default.asp.
9) U.S. COMPETITIVENESS & INNOVATION:
WHO'S DOING WHAT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE?
- IEEE-USA
Resource Web Page
U.S. Competitiveness:
The Innovation Challenge - A comprehensive list of
reports and activities can be found at
http://ieeeusa.org/policy/issues/innovation/index.asp
10) OTHER ITEMS OF POSSIBLE
INTEREST
No items at this time.
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IEEE-USA
Whats New @ IEEE-USAs Eye
on Washington highlights important federal
legislative and regulatory developments that affect U.S.
engineers and their careers. In addition to this
biweekly newsletter, subscribers receive legislative
bulletins and action alerts on IEEE-USA priority issues,
including: retirement security, employment benefits,
research & development funding, computers and
information policy, immigration reform,
intellectual property protection and privacy of
health/medical information.
You can change your IEEE-USA Eye on Washington subscription
status by using the forms at http://whatsnew.ieee.org/ or at http://www.ieeeusa.org/emailupdates/.
Copyright © 2007, The Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
Permission granted to copy for personal use or for
non-commercial republication with appropriate attribution.
Updated:
30 March 2007
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