IEEE-USA Eye on Washington No. 20

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Vol. 2009, No. 20 ( 24 November 2009)
125 Years of Innovation and Ingenuity

CAPITOL HILL

House Committee Approves Bill Supporting Cybersecurity

House Committee Says American Leadership is a Critical Component to Future International Space Development

THE WHITE HOUSE

President Obama Speaks to The Next Generation of Innovators

PCAST Reviews STEM Education & Discusses Role of Science in Foreign Policy

FEDERAL AGENCY ACTIVITY

Secretary Clinton Announces New Initiatives to Bolster Science and Technology Collaboration With Muslim Communities Around the World

National Academies Communication Fair 2009

REPORTS, DOCUMENTS OF NOTE & INFO RESOURCES

U.S. STATES

AWARDS & GRANTS

National Science Foundation

LATEST IEEE-USA & IEEE ACTIVITIES

WISE 2010 - Seeking Student and FMR Applications

CAPITOL HILL

House Committee Approves Bill Supporting Cybersecurity

18NOV: The Science and Technology Committee unanimously approved H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2009.

"We are all aware that the importance of cybersecurity has grown dramatically in recent years, as most of the critical systems upon which we depend- from telecommunications to electricity to banking and commerce- rely on secure and reliable computing," said Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX).

"I also want to note my appreciation for what this bill doesn't do," Hall continued. "It avoids calling for any activities that could amount to being regulatory in nature. I think this is important, and I hope we can ensure this bill continues to restrain from such action as it moves through the legislative process."

H.R. 4061 represents the combination of two bills that passed out of Subcommittee with bipartisan support. Specifically, the bill authorizes activities in three general areas in support of increased federal focus on cybersecurity:

--continues support of basic research at the National Science Foundation (NSF);
--expands NSF scholarships to increase the size and skills of the cybersecurity workforce; and
--increases research and development (R&D), standards development and coordination, and public outreach at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) related to cybersecurity.

Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) introduced H.R. 4061, Rep. Hall, Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) co-sponsored. The legislation also received endorsements from a number of organizations with a stake in improving cybersecurity, including the Computing Research Association, Association for Computing Machinery, and the Business Software Alliance.

McCaul offered an amendment making minor changes to the bill to help agency information technology (IT) managers choose the appropriate software systems for their cybersecurity needs. A leader in the push for enhancing federal cybersecurity efforts, McCaul said, "One of the key issues we face when dealing with cybersecurity is the lack of an adequately trained workforce, both in the government and in the private sector. This legislation will ultimately ensure that we are prepared to take proper steps to secure our most sensitive computer networks from those who intend to hack into our systems, steal sensitive information and jeopardize our economy and national security."

House Committee Says American Leadership is a Critical Component to Future International Space Development

The Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing entitled, The Growth of Global Space Capabilities: What's Happening and Why it Matters, examining the United States' leadership in space-related capabilities and compared them against those being acquired and utilized by newly-emerging space-faring nations. (archived webcast)

"Understanding respective nation's objectives, and how the United States can work with them directly and indirectly to achieve common goals must be an aspect of our own nation's space program," said Subcommittee Ranking Member Pete Olson (R-TX).

Members directed their concerns towards the U.S. space program's future vision and funding, and were open to increased international cooperation, as long as the U.S. remained the world leader in space-based technology development. "I'm all for talking about global partnerships, but we should never cede American leadership in endeavors we have earned and invested in for several decades now," Olson said. He continued, "With each nation that commits to the goal of sending humans into orbit, and with each promise of missions to the moon, both manned or unmanned, we should recommit ourselves to an unequivocal path of human space flight that serves as an example of leadership, and potential partnership for other nations."

The following witnesses testified:

Mr. Marty Hauser, Vice President for Research and Analysis, Washington Operations, The Space Foundation;
Mr. J.P. Stevens, Vice President, Space Systems, Aerospace Industries Association;
Dr. Scott Pace, Director, Space Policy Institute, The George Washington University;
Dr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl, Director, European Space Policy Institute; and
Dr. Ray A. Williamson, Executive Director, Secure World Foundation.

THE WHITE HOUSE

President Obama Speaks to The Next Generation of Innovators

"We're going to show young people how cool science can be."

23 NOV: President Obama helped launch a new campaign, Educate to Innovate, designed to energize and excite America's students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The campaign builds on the President's pledge that he would use his position to help encourage students to study and consider careers in science, engineering, technology, and innovation—fields upon which America’s future depends—and elevate those students from the middle to the top of the pack worldwide. The President announced partnerships to achieve these goals.

"These efforts extend beyond the classroom. Time Warner Cable is joining with the Coalition for Science After School and FIRST Robotics -- the program created by inventor Dean Kamen, which gave us the "Cougar Cannon" -- to connect one million students with fun after-school activities, like robotics competitions. The MacArthur Foundation and industry leaders like Sony are launching a nationwide challenge to design compelling, freely available, science-related video games. And organizations representing teachers, scientists, mathematicians, and engineers -- joined by volunteers in the community -- are participating in a grassroots effort called "National Lab Day" to reach 10 million young people with hands-on learning.

"Students will launch rockets, construct miniature windmills, and get their hands dirty. They'll have the chance to build and create -- and maybe destroy just a little bit -- to see the promise of being the makers of things, and not just the consumers of things.

"...I'm announcing that we're going to have an annual science fair at the White House with the winners of national competitions in science and technology. If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you've produced the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too. Scientists and engineers ought to stand side by side with athletes and entertainers as role models, and here at the White House we're going to lead by example."

PCAST Reviews STEM Education & Discusses Role of Science in Foreign Policy

President Obama's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) met for the second time to discuss science related issues facing the nation. PCAST held their inaugural meeting in August. In the most recent meeting, PCAST discussed STEM education (receiving briefings on the government efforts to encourage STEM careers, and an update from Secretary of Education Arne Duncan) and the role of science and technology in foreign policy and development assistance.

PCAST Co-Chair Eric Lander stressed that STEM education is among the Presidents highest domestic priorities and its "fundamental to the long term economic success of this country, its fundamental to so many of the challenges we have to face including health and energy and climate." Lander went on to say that PCAST had discussed the importance of STEM education and that agencies need to assess whether their STEM education program were "at the critical mass," and "coordinated well enough to really be able to make a difference."

Witnesses presented comments, including representatives from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Department of Education. Kathryn Stack, Deputy Associate Director of Education and Human Resources at OMB noted that there are presently 109 individual STEM programs accounting for $3.6 billion in spending. Stack explained that a recent review of those programs found "no uniformity at all" in terms of evaluations of effectiveness. Stack also made reference to an October 2009 memo from OMB Director Peter Orszag outlining efforts to strengthen program evaluations as part of the FY2011 Budget process.

Secretary Duncan lamented the "disturbing" performance of U.S. students in international standardized testing, notably the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. To improve test scores, Duncan said that the Department of Education will invest in a new curriculum and a new national STEM innovation agenda and network to share best practices.

The next PCAST Meeting is scheduled for 7-8 January 2010. If you are interested in observing a meeting, please register on their website. Space is limited for all meetings, and registration does not guarantee you a seat. All members of the public are admitted are on a first-come, first-serve basis until capacity is reached. Online registration will close two days prior to the meeting date.

FEDERAL AGENCY ACTIVITY

Secretary Clinton Announces New Initiatives to Bolster Science and Technology Collaboration With Muslim Communities Around the World

In remarks at the Forum for the Future held this month in Marrakech, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced new initiatives to bolster science and technology collaboration with Muslim communities. "We want to help Muslim majority communities develop the capacity to meet economic, social and ecological challenges through science, technology, and innovation," she said. The Secretary named Dr. Bruce Alberts, Dr. Elias Zerhouni, and Dr. Ahmed Zewail as the first three U.S. Science and Technology Envoys and announced that the State Department will expand positions for environment, science, technology, and health officers at U.S. embassies.

The U.S. Science Envoy program is part of President Obama's "New Beginning" initiative with Muslim communities around the world which he launched in a June 4 speech in Cairo, Egypt. Obama pledged that the United States would "appoint new science envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, and grow new crops." The initiative received key support from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senator Richard Lugar.

In the coming months, the first Science Envoys will travel to North Africa, the Middle East, and South and Southeast Asia. They will engage their counterparts, deepen partnerships in all areas of science and technology, and foster meaningful collaboration to meet the greatest challenges facing the world today in health, energy, the environment, as well as in water and resource management. Additional U.S. scientists and engineers will be invited to join the Science Envoy program to expand it to other Muslim countries and regions of the globe.

Dr. Bruce Alberts is widely recognized for his work in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology. He is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco. As president of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) from 1993 to 2005, Dr. Alberts was instrumental in developing the landmark National Science Education standards that U.S. school systems have implemented.

Dr. Elias Zerhouni, M.D., was director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 2002 to 2008. Dr. Zerhouni is currently a senior advisor to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and was instrumental in creating the University's Institute for Cell Engineering. Dr. Zerhouni received his medical degree at the University of Algiers School of Medicine and completed his residency at the John Hopkins School of Medicine.

Dr. Ahmed Zewail is the Linus Pauling Chair Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology and Director of the Institute's Physical Biology Center for Ultrafast Science and Technology. Dr. Zewail was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1999 for his pioneering work in femtoscience, which allowed observation of exceedingly rapid molecular transformations. Most recently, Dr. Zewail was appointed to the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

National Academies Communication Fair 2009

The National Academies Office of Communications, in cooperation with Staff Development Programs and the communications officers from the various program divisions here at the Academies, presented the third Communications Fair for National Academies staff. This year the fair featured a new format with two panel discussions and a mid-day speaker to inspire new and creative ways to communicate science. Podcasts from that event are now online.

REPORTS, DOCUMENTS OF NOTE & INFO RESOURCES

Government Accountability Office

Cybersecurity: Continued Efforts Are Needed to Protect Information Systems from Evolving Threats, statement for the record by David Powner and Gregory Wilshusen, directors, information technology, before the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, Senate Committee on the Judiciary. GAO-10-230T, November 17. (Highlights)

Homeland Security: Key US-VISIT Components at Varying Stages of Completion, but Integrated and Reliable Schedule Needed November 19, 2009 Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF)

International Trade: Options for Congressional Consideration to Improve U.S. Trade Preference Programs
November 17, 2009 Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Accessible Text

U.S. STATES

Stateline.org If you like to keep up with what's going on in state politics, StateLine.org provides a good overview of the activities in all 50 state legislatures. Stateline.org's annual report on state trends and policy, "State of the States 2009" is now available. The report is full of helpful graphics and maps, in addition to reports on the most significant developments in the 50 states.

AWARDS & GRANTS

National Science Foundation

Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service (SFS) - A Federal Cyber Service Training and Education Initiative - The SFS program seeks to increase the number of qualified students entering the fields of information assurance and computer security and to increase the capacity of the United States higher education enterprise to continue to produce professionals in these fields to meet the needs of our increasingly technological society. Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): February 02, 2010

Cyber-Enabled Discovery and Innovation (CDI) - CDI is NSF's bold five-year initiative to create revolutionary science and engineering research outcomes made possible by innovations and advances in computational thinking. Computational thinking is defined comprehensively to encompass computational concepts, methods, models, algorithms, and tools. Applied in challenging science and engineering research and education contexts, computational thinking promises a profound impact on the Nation's ability to generate and apply new knowledge. Collectively, CDI research outcomes are expected to produce paradigm shifts in our understanding of a wide range of science and engineering phenomena and socio-technical innovations that create new wealth and enhance the national quality of life. Anticipated Funding Amount: $36,000,000 - Pending availability of funds, a minimum of $36,000,000 will be available in FY 2010 for proposals submitted in response to this solicitation. Full Proposal Submission Window Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): 4January 2010 - February 04, 2010 (Type I Full Proposal Submission Window); and 5 January 2010 - February 05, 2010 )Type II Full Proposal Submission Window)

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Opportunities - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) (Public Law 111-8) appropriates significant federal funding for technology-related programs in areas identified by IEEE-USA as being of high priority for strengthening the nation's innovation infrastructure and ensuring its long-term economic competitiveness. To stimulate the economy, funds are being distributed as quickly as possible, using existing federal programs as funding outlets where possible. This webpage provides information and links on these funding opportunities as a resource for IEEE members and their companies. Additional information is available on-line at Recovery.Gov. Members should also look to funds distributed through their respective state governments.

AAAS GrantsNet Express - A weekly American Association for the Advancement of Science 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.

Grants.gov - The President's 2002 Fiscal Year Management Agenda established grants.gov as a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs. The site provides access to approximately $400 billion in annual awards. Most agencies, such as the DOE's Office of Science, use only grants.gov to list all funding opportunities. Other funding opportunities of interest include the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and NASA.

AAAS: Communicating Science, Tools for Scientists & Engineers - Scientists and engineers who foster information-sharing and respect between science and the public are essential for the public communication of and engagement with science. Although traditional scientific training typically does not prepare scientists and engineers to be effective communicators outside of academia, funding agencies are increasingly encouraging researchers to extend beyond peer-reviewed publishing and communicate their results directly to the greater public. In response to this need in science communications, the AAAS Center for Public Engagement with Science and Technology has partnered with the National Science Foundation to provide resources for scientists and engineers, both online and through in-person workshops to help researchers communicate more broadly with the public.

Communicating Science online resources include webinars, how-to tips for media interviews, strategies for identifying public outreach opportunities, and more. Additionally, AAAS is providing workshops for scientists and engineers interested in learning more about science communication tools and techniques are now available. The schedule of NSF-sponsored workshops for the 2009-10 academic year has been updated and pre-registration is open. Please contact AAAS if you are interested in hosting a workshop at your institution.

LATEST IEEE-USA & IEEE ACTIVITIES

Public Policy Priority Issues (111th Congress, 1st Session, 2009)
Position Statements - The statements identify important technical or engineering career-related aspects of public policy issues deemed to be of concern to or affecting IEEE's U.S. members; and make specific public policy recommendations for the consideration of Congress, the Executive Branch, the Judiciary, representatives of State and Local Government, and other interested groups and individuals, including IEEE members.

WISE 2010

Call for WISE 2010 Faculty-Member-In-Residence - If you are an outstanding faculty member or policy professional, WISE needs you to mentor and teach engineering students about the interaction between S&T and policymaking during the 2010 WISE Program in Washington, DC. (PDF Flyer) The deadline for applications is 31 January 2010.

WISE 2010 - The application period for the summer 2010 program is now open. You will find application forms for all of the sponsoring societies here. The deadline for applications is 31 December 2009.

Have an Idea For an IEEE-USA E-Book? - If you've got an idea for an e-book that will educate your fellow IEEE members on a particular topic of expertise, e-mail your e-book queries and ideas to IEEE-USA Publishing Manager Georgia Stelluto.

IEEE-USA Stimulus Webpage -The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) (Public Law 111-8) appropriates significant federal funding for technology-related programs in areas identified by IEEE-USA as being of high priority for strengthening the nation's innovation infrastructure and ensuring its long-term economic competitiveness. To stimulate the economy, funds are being distributed as quickly as possible, using existing federal programs as funding outlets where possible. This webpage provides information and links on these funding opportunities as a resource for IEEE members and their companies. Additional information is available on-line at Recovery.Gov. Members should also look to funds distributed through their respective state governments.

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