|
THE BOARD ON INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATIONS
The Board on International Scientific Organizations (BISO) strengthens U.S. participation in international scientific cooperation through overseeing a network of U.S. national committees (USNCs) and working with a variety of projects connected to the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the International Council for Science (ICSU), and ICSU-related unions. More details can be found in the BISO Background Section.
WHAT'S NEW
Soils: The Foundation of Life Workshop Media Now Available
Nearly 100 in-person guests and 75 virtual guests attended the December 5 soil science workshop, Soils: The Foundation of Life, held in the National Academies Keck Center. All presentations from the workshop are now available as downloadable PDFs on the workshop subpage, and the WebEx workshop video will be posted soon.
 IUPAC Young Observer application now online
The application for the USNC/IUPAC Young Observer program for the IUPAC General Assembly, São Paulo, Brazil, July 2017, is now available. For more details and to apply, please see the 2017 YO program page. In collaboration with the American Chemical Society, the USNC/IUPAC held an information webinar on December 7, 2016. The recorded webinar and the slides may be found at https://global.acs.org/international-center-events/acs-international-center-archives/.
The BISO Board video is here!
Click on the video below to hear BISO board members Michael Clegg, Melody Brown Burkins, and Wing Kam Liu discuss BISO's involvement with the international scientific unions and their U.S. committees.
Understanding the U.S. Role in ICSU and the International Scientific Unions from The Academies on Vimeo.
Register Now for the December Soils: The Foundation of Life Workshop
Click the flyer below to learn more and visit our workshop subpage: 
U.S.--Finland Workshop on Mathematics Education Held Summer 2016 in Helsinki
Workshop on Supporting Mathematics Teachers and Teaching in the United States and Finland, a bilateral meeting of U.S. and Finnish mathematics educators, was held July 31--August 2 at the University of Helsinki in Helsinki, Finland. Approximately 15 American professionals and 15 Finnish professionals attended in person, while several online participants engaged remotely via the webcast. View, download presentations, and more...
 Isotopes Matter!! New Interactive Periodic Table
In partnership with researchers at the King’s Centre for Visualization in Science, a team of IUPAC scientists and educators has created new IUPAC interactive electronic periodic table. The accompanying educational materials inform students and the general public about the many uses of isotopes in our lives. Following the global launch on August 17, 2016, the new IUPAC interactive electronic periodic table and accompanying resources can be accessed at www.isotopesmatter.com. A print version of the periodic table of the isotopes and elements is available at http://ciaaw.org/periodic-table-isotopes.htm. Further details will be published in the peer-reviewed IUPAC Journal, Pure and Applied Chemistry.
IUPAC Announces the Names of the Elements 113, 115, 117, and 118
On 28 November 2016, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) approved the name and symbols for four elements: nihonium (Nh), moscovium (Mc), tennessine (Ts), and oganesson (Og), respectively for element 113, 115, 117, and 118.
For more information, see https://iupac.org/iupac-announces-the-names-of-the-elements-113-115-117-and-118/
IUSS InterCongress Meeting
The next IUSS InterCongress, preceding the 21st World Congress in 2018, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from November 20 through November 25, 2016. Every two years before an international congress, the IUSS Council meets to discuss IUSS business and plan the congress.
Travel Grants Awarded to American Attendees of International Scientific Congresses/General Assemblies
U.S. Department of State Recommends All Passport Holders with 2016 Expiration Dates to Renew As Soon As Possible
A New York Times article published January 26 urges everyone with a U.S. passport expiring in 2016 to renew quickly, citing an expected increase in passport demand. According to the U.S. Department of State, many countries are also now enforcing six months' validity before allowing entry. Read the complete article here.
Explore the New BISO Infographic
After much planning and designing, BISO is proud to unveil a colorful new infographic that illustrates how our board functions. The infographic features all sixteen disciplines represented by a U.S. National Committee, an explanation of what the international scientific unions do, and a list of ways that academics, industry professionals, and policymakers can get involved. A fully interactive version of the infographic will be available soon. For now, click on the image below to view or download the PDF file. 
2016 National Academy of Sciences Election Results
On May 3, 2016, the National Academy of Sciences elected 84 new members and 21 foreign associates from 14 countries, which join the 2,207 current members and 444 current foreign associates. The Board on International Scientific Organizations extends its warmest congratulations to all.
Two new NAS members and one new foreign associate are affiliated with BISO-associated organizations: Megan Urry (Ex-Officio Member of USNC/IAU and President of AAS) and Abhay Ashtekar (Member of IUPAP), and Wolfgang Lutz (Program Director of World Population, IIASA).
|
