JANUARY 2006 ASCB NEWSLETTER 3 ASCB Council Report
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ASCB JANUARY 2006 NEWSLETTER VOLUME 29, NUMBER 1 Beckerle ASCB Holds 45th Annual Meeting Becomes President in San Francisco Page 2 Council Approves 2007 Budget, Reviews Programs, Meets with CSR Director, Bad Budget Welcomes New Staff Amidst healthy reserves and strong financial performance, the for NIH ASCB Council met last month to review programs and publi- Page 31 cations, consider new initiatives, and continue to usher publi- cations and meetings into the 21st century. Zena Werb of the University of California, San Call for Francisco, who completed Science, Networking: and Sessions: New Nominations her term as President at year- science presented at end, presided over the two- poster sessions (above), Page 44 day Council meeting. Mary students socialize Beckerle, of the University at the Reception for Undergraduate Poster MBC InCytes of Utah Huntsman Cancer Presenters, and (below) Page 50 Institute, became President Bruce Alberts Award January 1st, and Bruce winner Samuel Silverstein Alberts became President- (left) and 2006 President-Elect elect. Larry Goldstein com- Bruce Alberts. Inside pleted his term as Secretary, and Jean Schwarzbauer assumed the role this month. In addi- tion, other Council members present included: Treasurer Gary President’s Column 2 Ward; Past-President Harvey Lodish; Councilors Kerry Bloom, ASCB Council Report 4 Tony Bretscher, Juan Bonifacino, David Burgess, Peter Devreotes, Linda Hicke, Kathryn Howell, Caroline Kane, Erin Keane ASCB Committee Reports 8 O’Shea, and Janet Shaw; and Councilor-elect Sandra Masur. Annual Meeting Highlights 18 See Council Report, page 4 Public Policy Briefing 31 Dear Labby 34 Join the Congressional ASCB Profile 35 WICB Column 40 Liaison Committee Concerned about government funding for cell biology research? Not sure how to participate in ASCB ad- Member Gifts 41 vocacy on research funding and science policy issues? The Congressional Liaison Committee (CLC) of the Members in the News 42 Joint Steering Committee provides you with the tools you need to influence decisionmakers. The CLC is AAAS Fellows 43 operated by the ASCB, the Genetics Society of America, the Society for Neuroscience, and Science Service. As a CLC member you will receive alerts about important pending legislation or other federal actions so Call for Nominations 44 that you can make your feelings known to your elected representatives. In addition, the CLC will provide New Members 46 you with talking points, background information, and how-to tips to strengthen your message. InCytes from MBC 50 It has never been more important for scientists to communicate with their elected officials. Continued advocacy for the NIH, the NSF, and other funding agencies is essential (see NIH story, page 31). There is Grants & Opportunities 52 no cost to join the CLC. Simply complete the form found at www.jscpp.org/clc. For further information, Classified 52 contact JSC National Coordinator Lynn Marquis, at [email protected]. ■ Calendar 56 The American Society for Cell Biology PRESIDENT’S Column 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 Bethesda, MD 20814-2762 Tel: (301) 347-9300 Fax: (301) 347-9310 The ASCB Needs YOU! [email protected]; www.ascb.org The American Society for Cell Biology has been Developing and Promoting Best Joan R. Goldberg my primary scientifi c organization since I was Practices a graduate student with Keith Porter, one of Executive Director Along with the constant focus on scientifi c ex- its founders. I attended my fi rst ASCB meet- cellence and exchange, there have been many Offi cers ing in 1978 when I was a second year gradu- changes. Over the years, the Society has assumed Mary Beckerle ate student. I remember driving my pale yellow President a leadership role in several areas: public affairs Bruce Alberts President-Elect 1971 VW beetle, with sunroof, from Boulder, and advocacy, education, scientifi c publishing, Zena Werb Past-President Colorado, to San Antonio with a fellow student, and issues for women and minorities in science. Gary Ward Treasurer Susan Spath. We got up early, stayed up very Jean Schwarzbauer Secretary The ASCB has consistently late, and slept on the fl oor in a looked to the future, developing room already occupied by four Council and promoting best practices in students from Dan Branton’s Kerry Bloom all its areas of interest and infl u- lab, friends of Susan’s from her Juan Bonifacino ence while providing forums to days as a lab tech at Harvard. David Burgess discuss professional challenges If memory serves me, Velia John Condeelis and opportunities. Peter Devreotes Fowler, now at Scripps, was in The past successes of the Linda Hicke one of the beds; we have been many Society initiatives have Caroline Kane friends ever since. Sandra Masur relied on members’ energy I was awestruck by the Barbara Meyer and commitment. Likewise, science at the meeting— Anne Ridley the future impact of our both the quality and the Erin O'Shea existing programs and new Daphne Preuss magnitude. I had never seen so initiatives will depend on many posters in my life. I was your involvement. Many of ASCB Newsletter working on cell motility, and I Mary Beckerle you have expressed an interest is published twelve times per was fascinated to see what Gary in becoming involved in the year by The American Society Borisy and Tom Pollard actually for Cell Biology. Society’s activities. Some have looked like. I witnessed their wondered aloud how they might participate. animated debate in a minisymposium session. Joan R. Goldberg Editor One focus of the coming year will be to Having read many of their papers in my classes, John L. Saville Production Manager develop strategies to engage more members Nancy Moulding Production Assistant it was incredible to see these in contributing to our Kevin Wilson Public Policy Briefi ng scientifi c heroes in action. shared goals. I view this Ed Newman Advertising Manager It was also tremendously John Fleischman Science Writer as a central challenge and exciting to meet so many “… the Society has opportunity for the Society. people with common assumed a leadership The challenge has arisen interests and to experience Deadlines for submission of role in … public simply because of our being part of a vibrant articles and advertising remarkable growth. When international community of affairs and advocacy, materials: I attended my fi rst annual cell biologists. education, scientifi c meeting, the ASCB had a Issue Deadline Nearly 30 years later, total membership of 3,600. March February 1 the core focus of the ASCB publishing, and April March 1 This year, we have over on promoting scientifi c May April 1 issues for women and 11,000 members. While the exchange in cell biology scope of ASCB activities remains unchanged. The minorities in science.” and the number of working ASCB Newsletter Society continues to organize committees has increased, ISSN 1060-8982 an exceptional annual Volume 29, Number 1 a smaller percentage of meeting. The meeting brings the membership January 2006 our members currently enjoy the experience of together, highlights recent scientifi c advances, participating actively in the work of the Society. © 2006 and provides an opportunity for discussion The American Society for Cell Biology We have a tremendous opportunity to avail and debate. The program for the 46th annual ourselves of the energy and experience of our Postmaster: Send change of address to meeting—to be held next December in San ASCB Newsletter membership. There is much important work American Society for Cell Biology. Diego—is currently being developed by Tony 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 to be done, and the Society truly needs the Bethesda, MD 20814-2762 Bretscher and his committee. 2 ASCB NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2006 participation of our members to maximize the with minority members (2005). At the San Diego impact of ASCB activities. meeting next December, the leadership will host a conversation with international cell biologists, who Promoting Involvement in represent nearly 23% of the Society’s membership. Defined Goals This will enable us to learn how we can best support the needs of our international community I have asked each committee chair to identi- of cell biologists. fy activities that would benefit from additional member engagement. Beginning next month, Maintaining Our Responsibilities these will be highlighted in the Newsletter with to the Community information on how you can volunteer to par- There may be a tendency at a time like this, ticipate. We are not envisioning increasing the when funding is tight and the business aspects size of our regular committees, which are al- of the scientific enterprise may feel all-consum- ready quite large. Rather ing, for scientists to assume we hope to identify new a stance that is more com- ways for members to con- petitive than collaborative, tribute to ASCB activities. more insular than expansive. Opportunities for participa- “Member engagement I do not mean to minimize tion will vary in time com- is key to the vitality the impact of the current mitment and in focus— of our already robust funding climate. Indeed, perhaps reviewing meeting both of my grants are up abstracts, leading a discus- scientific society. for renewal this year. So I sion group at an annual or Participation is know the meaning of stress, summer meeting, electron- and I know it is much worse ic mentoring, participating empowering and will for junior scientists trying in local advocacy--we will make a difference ….” to establish their programs. aim to have something for Nevertheless, even in these everyone! We also antici- trying times, we must not pate that future committee lose sight of the joy of the appointees will be solicited scientific enterprise and our responsibilities as from the group of actively engaged members. scientists to our broader community. Member engagement is key to the vitality The energy and commitment of our of our already robust scientific society.