When it comes to child-rearing and family, many women have to—or choose to—sacrifice their science careers, and for the most part, men don’t. That may explain at least in part why women comprise less than 20 percent of NIH’s intramural senior investigators, but make up about 45 percent of NIH’s postdoctoral population. Some time between completing their postdoc training and starting on the tenure track, more women than men stop pursuing their independent scientist careers. NIH—and the entire scientific community—want to know why. Last summer, the agency finished the first of 4 surveys designed to provide answers. Results alternately supported, surprised and stumped theorists.

For more than a year, NIH has been considering ways of coping with the increased volume of local traffic and other impacts projected to occur as the National Naval Medical Center expands—due to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) legislation—to become Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.