Media Advisory 08-023
National Science Board to Meet May 6-7 in Arlington, Va.

Astronaut Mae Jemison to address Board’s open plenary on May 7; awards dinner will feature outstanding awardees, including "Mozart of math"Terence Tao

2008 National Science Board Credit and Larger Version

May 5, 2008

On May 6 and 7, the National Science Board (Board) will hold the third of its six annual meetings related to science and engineering policy issues and oversight of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Open session highlights of the Board meeting include:

May 6:

7:30 a.m. to noon - Meeting of the Committee on Programs and Plans, to include:

• At 7:30 a.m., a discussion on Arctic Ice with Kelly Falkner in the Subcommittee on Polar Issues
• At 11 a.m., a presentation on "The Intertwinement of Fundamental Work in the SBE and Natural Sciences," by NSF Assistant Director David Lightfoot of the Social, Behavioral and Economics Directorate

2 p.m. - A panel discussion on open access to scholarly literature in the Committee on Strategy and Budget meeting.

6:30 p.m. - Awards Dinner at the U.S. Department of State at which NSF and the Board will present the following prestigious awards:

• The Waterman Award to Terence Tao, http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111401&org=NSF&from=news;
• Vannevar Bush Award to Norm Augustine http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?%20cntn_id=111409&org=NSF&from=news (his daughter will accept in his stead); and
• Public Service Awards to Bayer and SAE International http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_images.jsp?cntn_id=111368&org=NSF

May 7:

1:50 to 4 p.m. - OPEN PLENARY SESSION to include:

• An address by astronaut Mae C. Jemison, celebrated as the first African-American woman in space, who will represent Bayer and its public service award-winning program Making Science Make Sense.
• A brief speech by Thomas W. Ryan III, 2008 president of SAE International, the Board's other Public Service Awardee.
• Video presentations by Waterman Awardee Terence Tao, and Vannevar Bush Awardee Norm Augustine
• Announcements the Board's new chairman and vice chairman after elections were held during closed session earlier in the day.

The full meeting agenda is posted at: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/meetings/2008/0506/index.jsp.

Media representatives are invited to attend all open sessions, subject to provisions of the Government in the Sunshine Act.

All meeting sessions will be held in room 1235 at NSF headquarters: 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. (Ballston metro stop).

Journalists interested in attending and covering the board meeting and/or awards dinner should contact Lisa-Joy Zgorski at 703-292-8311 by 7 a.m. on Tues., May 6, to enable security arrangements.

-NSF-

Media Contacts
Lisa-Joy Zgorski, NSF (703) 292-8311 lzgorski@nsf.gov

Program Contacts
Jean Pomeroy, NSF (703) 292-7000 jpomeroy@nsf.gov
Jennifer Lynn Richards, NSF (703) 292-7000 jlrichar@nsf.gov

Related Websites
National Science Board: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, its budget is $9.5 billion, which includes $3.0 billion provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 44,400 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

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Useful NSF Web Sites:
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