February 2006 |
NSB Releases Science and Engineering Indicators 2006 |
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The biennial Science and Engineering Indicators 2006 was released by the National Science Board on Feb. 23, 2006. |
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See Indicators 2006 for additional findings. Its companion policy report, America's Pressing Challenge – Building a Stronger Foundation, contains recommendations to improve U.S. science and engineering education. |
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Math and Science Partnership Program Scores High Grade | |||
Elementary, middle- and high-school students participating in NSF's Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program during the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 school years showed significant improvements in mathematics and science proficiency, according to a first analysis of data the foundation has gathered. High-school math students showed the greatest improvement with 14.2 percent more "at or above proficiency" after one year of MSP participation. Elementary school students performed better in both math and science with 7.3 and 8.6 percent more reaching or exceeding proficiency, respectively. These data, the first available since MSP's establishment in 2002, were collected from 130 partnership schools that received first-round MSP awards. After a complete analysis of the data, results from the first-year evaluation will be publicly available at NSF's MSP Web site in spring 2006. For more on the data to date, see "NSF's Math and Science Partnerships Make the Grade." |
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Ancient Tyrannosaur Proves Most Primitive Yet Discovered |
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A 40-foot-long dinosaur fossil discovered in China's Junggar Basin appears to be a new genus and species of dinosaur -- as well as the most primitive tyrannosaur yet found. The small dinosaur, Guanlong wucaii, is a type of dinosaur known as a coelurosaur, which is closely related to birds and much smaller than its legendary relative -- the 15-foot-tall, 40-foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex. A team of researchers supported by NSF and the National Geographic Society identified the dinosaur based on the skeleton's cranial features and long, shallow snout. Still, Guanlong is identified as a tyrannosaur based on the shape of its teeth and skull openings as well as its pelvic features, said James Clark of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The findings were reported in the journal Nature. See the NSF press release "Scientists Discover Oldest-Known and Most-Primitive Tyrannosaur" for more information. |
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One Step Closer to Answering, "Are We Alone?" | |||
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Using a relatively new planet-hunting technique, researchers discovered what is likely the most Earth-like planet detected to date. Planet OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb -- the smallest planet yet found orbiting a star outside our solar system -- is located more than 20,000 light years away in the constellation Scorpio, near the center of our Milky Way galaxy. This discovery was made possible by gravitational microlensing, a technique based on a concept first discussed by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century. This technique can spot worlds one-tenth the mass of our own. The recent discovery suggests this may be an exceptional technology for finding distant planets with traits that could support life. For more information on this recent discovery or microlensing, see NSF's "Closer to Home" press release. |
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Atkins to Head NSF's Office of Cyberinfrastructure | |||
NSF has named distinguished computer scientist Daniel E. Atkins to head its newly created Office of Cyberinfrastructure (OCI). Atkins, a professor in the School of Information and in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, has made major contributions to high-performance computer architecture, and led or participated in the design and construction of seven experimental machines including some of the earliest parallel computers. Atkins will join NSF on June 5, 2006, as Director of the OCI, which has a FY 2006 budget of $127 million. The President's budget request for OCI in FY 2007 calls for $182.42 million -- an increase of $55.3 million, or 43.5%. The OCI will work closely with all NSF offices and directorates to realize the Foundation's emerging Vision for 21st Century Discovery. |
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Biologist Tackles Plant Disease, One Genome at a Time | |||
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With funding from NSF's Plant Genome Research Project, Cornell University's Alan Collmer led the effort to sequence the genome of a tiny plant pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae. Because the genome of Arabidopsis -- one of the pathogen's plant hosts -- was already known, scientists now have a full host-pathogen model to help understand plant disease. NSF: How do you think the age of genomics has advanced the plant sciences? |
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NSF: What are the guiding research questions that drive your work? NSF: What gives you the most satisfaction in your work? For more on Collmer's research, see "Of Plants and Pathogens: A Model Relationship" on the NSF website. |
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America Can't Afford to Lose Its Edge -- Prospects Bright for Bush's Competitiveness Plan -- Los Angeles Times (02/12/06) The Bush administration has budgeted $5.9 billion for the American Competitiveness Initiative in fiscal 2007, including $1.3 billion in new spending to train teachers and support research activities through agencies like the National Science Foundation. Spreading Cybersecurity -- Washington Post (02/09/06) The National Science Foundation has awarded a D.C.-regional consortium a four-year, $3 million grant to boost the number of cybersecurity technicians in the area and enhance the safety of the Internet. The consortium has established a "virtual regional center" dubbed CyberWatch to aid its efforts. Mine Buster Targets Breast Cancer -- Wired (01/31/06) University of Arkansas associate professor of electrical engineering Magda El-Shenawee is adapting technology she created to detect land mines to detect early-stage breast cancer. Her efforts gained a boost from a three-year, $470,000 National Science Foundation grant aimed at collaboration with researchers at the University of Mississippi who are working on small sensors compatible with her software. |
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The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science with an annual budget of nearly $5.58 billion. NSF funding reaches all 50 states through grants to roughly 1,700 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 40,000 competitive requests for funding and makes about 10,000 new funding awards. The NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly. Contact NSF's Office of Legislative and Public Affairs for more information, to unsubscribe, or for permission to reuse newsletter images. |
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