The Science Board is accepting nominations for the 2007 President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports’ Honor Award. The award is given annually to an academic or research professional who has made significant contributions to the advancement and promotion of the science of physical activity. Nominations must be received by November 15, 2006. The winner will be recognized in the spring of 2007.

Dr. Barbara Ainsworth is now on faculty in the Department of Exercise and Wellness at Arizona State University-Polytechnic Campus.

As a co-author of the American Heart Association’s scientific statement, “Promoting Physical Activity in Children and Youth,” Russell Pate, PhD, was interviewed for a recent story on the role physical education can play in helping to get America’s school children more active. Dr. Pate, a professor of exercise science at the University of South Carolina stated, “… a national problem is that P.E. and health education are not included in core curriculum in schools. I think it is obvious schools are going to understandably pay the most attention to areas where they are evaluated. If we continue to leave P.E. off the accountability records, it will be hard to get schools to incorporate it."

The article highlighted the release of the 2006 Shape of the Nation report by the American Heart Association and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.

Science Board member Maureen Weiss, PhD, delivered congressional testimony before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on the ability of youth sports programs to help build character in young people. Dr. Weiss, a professor in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, spoke on the importance of sports programs that include a life skills curriculum and a coach who has training in delivering these life skills messages in a beneficial way. Weiss is able to support her statements through research she is conducting on First Tee, a youth development program sponsored by the World Golf Foundation. To read Dr. Weiss’ testimony, click here.