New Orleans Welcomes ASBMB
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APPLY FOR THE ASBMB SCIENCE POLICY FELLOWSHIP New April 2009 Orleans Welcomes ASBMB APRIL 18-22, 2009 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology contents APRIL 2009 ON THE COVER: ASBMB’s annual meeting will be held April 18 society news through 22 in New 2 From the Editor Orleans, Louisiana. 5 President’s Message 7 Washington Update 14 News from the Public Affairs Office 16 Retrospective: Frederic M. Richards (1925-2009) 19 Systems Biology for Biochemists special interest 20 The EigenfactorTM Metrics 22 Special Anniversary Issue of JLR Celebrates All Things Lipid centerpieces Eigenfactor: How the JBC stacks up. 20 30 The Stowers Institute: Great Science on the Great Plains departments 3 Letters to the Editor 8 News from the Hill 12 Member Spotlight 23 Lipid News 24 Sci.comm 25 Education and Training A look at the Stowers Institute. 30 26 Minority Affairs 28 BioBits podcast summary resources Check out this month’s JBC News Podcast in Scientific Meeting Calendar which Deputy Editor Robert Simoni interviews online only Jevin West about the Eigenfactor. You can listen to the podcast at www.asbmb.org/Interactive.aspx. April 2009 ASBMB Today 1 from the editor A monthly publication of The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Column Changes Officers Gregory A. Petsko President his issue of ASBMB Today marks a change in the BioBits column. In Heidi E. Hamm Past President Tthe past, we’ve featured articles that have already been published in the Mark A. Lemmon Secretary Merle S. Olson Treasurer Journal of Biological Chemistry, the Journal of Lipid Research, and Molecu- Council Members lar and Cellular Proteomics. Now, we’re highlighting articles that have been Dafna Bar-Sagi Alan Hall John D. Scott published online as Papers in Press (PIPs) but have yet to appear in our print Joan A. Steitz Ann M. Stock Kevin Struhl James A. Wells Adrian Whitty journals. This will allow you to preview some of our new journal material in Ex-Officio Members a timely manner, which you’ll appreciate if you don’t have time to visit PIPs Ellis Bell Chair, Education and Professional as often as you’d like! Development Committee We have also added a new column called “Lipid News” this month. This Laurie S. Kaguni Chair, Meetings Committee regular column will highlight information of current interest to the lipid John D. Scott community, including upcoming meetings, funding opportunities, and Chair, Membership Committee Craig E. Cameron recent lipid advances and discoveries. The column also has a companion web Chair, Minority Affairs Committee site which can be found at www.asbmb.org/lipidcorner. Joan W. Conaway James H. Hurley Co-chairs, 2009 Program Committee Ralph A. Bradshaw Chair, Public Affairs Advisory Committee See You in New Orleans! Toni M. Antalis Chair, Publications Committee As you all know, the ASBMB annual meeting in New Herbert Tabor Orleans is rapidly approaching. We’ve spent the past 10 Editor, JBC Ralph A. Bradshaw months highlighting the meeting’s symposia and spe- A. L. Burlingame cial events in ASBMB Today, but if you want a quick Co-editors, MCP Edward A. Dennis overview, you can always visit the ASBMB meeting Joseph L. Witztum web site at www.asbmb.org/meetings. Co-editors, JLR One thing we didn’t mention in past issues is a ASBMB Today Editorial Advisory Board Alex Toker unique “voluntourism” opportunity available at the meet- Chair ing. If you’re interested in assisting in the recovery of New Greg P. Bertenshaw Craig E. Cameron A. Stephen Dahms Irwin Fridovich Orleans, you can do some hands-on work with The Jonathan Gitlin Richard W. Hanson Phoenix of New Orleans—a Elizabeth A. Komives Bettie Sue Masters Luke A. O’Neill Duanqing Pei non-profit neighborhood Carol C. Shoulders Robert D. Wells recovery association ASBMB Today dedicated to improving Nicole Kresge Editor [email protected] the living conditions Nick Zagorski Science Writer in the Lower Mid-City [email protected] area of the city. Some Nancy J. Rodnan Director of Publications [email protected] of their projects include hanging insula- Barbara Gordon Executive Director tion and sheet rock, and painting. Contact Rachel [email protected] Massey at [email protected] or (504) 342-4399 Magazine design & production: Amy Phifer for more information, or visit their website at For information on advertising contact www.pnola.org. Capitol Media Solutions at 800-517-0610 or [email protected] And don’t forget to visit us at booth #801/803 in the exhibit hall! www.asbmb.org 2 ASBMB Today April 2009 firstletterssecond to the editorwords message on the need for more R01- and measurable phenomena, and Mixed Messages type spending, and they would be the hallmark of good science is rig- Dear Editor: upset with the Lipidomics feature. orous experimentation to discover I am confused and upset about How can we expect to help the situ- and validate observations of the the last issue of ASBMB Today. In ation if ASBMB is sending mixed natural world.” this issue, there is a feature giving messages to Congress? Yes, and it is precisely because much of the theory of evolution the collective views of an ASBMB Michael H. Gelb team on future spending at NIH. It Harry and Catherine Jaynne Boand does not fall within the realm of is mentioned that there has been a Professor observables and is really a his- Departments of Chemistry and torical reconstruction, based on tendency to overfund conglomer- Biochemistry ate programs in preference to single University of Washington unsubstantiated speculation, that investigator-initiated grants (i.e. closer scrutiny of it is required in R01s). It is my feeling that the vast class. If the theory is as solid as the majority of biomedical scientists in Science majority of the scientific commu- the U.S. feel the same way—that we nity makes it out to be, then any need to protect R01 type funding. Education criticism of it will not amount to Kudos to ASBMB for promoting Dear Professor Petsko, much...except, of course, if this this. It is thus ironic that the same As a parent living in Louisiana, is not the case. Perhaps further issue of ASBMB Today features I am very concerned by ASBMB’s research will “consign the theory a cover story on the Lipidomics decision to request the repeal of of evolution to the dustbin of failed program funded by NIH. It is my the state’s recent Science Education theories.” feeling that most people in the lipid Act. I was one of those who wrote to I urge you to reconsider your field are very upset by this type of my state legislator and Gov. Jindal’s position and support academic spending and strongly feel that the office in support of it. The actual openness. Freedom is the very basis value of this Lipidomics initiative is content of the bill, as you must be of the American way of life. If you minimal compared to hypothesis- aware of, is this: believe that you cannot bear to live driven research. The latter has “It extends permission to in a society that espouses this ideal, produced many more interesting Louisiana’s teachers to help students then I am sure that there are some lipids of known function over the understand, analyze, critique, and great biotech labs 90 miles off the past several years in which the Lipi- review in an objective manner the coast of Florida that would wel- domics program has existed. scientific strengths and scientific come you. It is time for people like me to weaknesses of existing scientific Yours truly, speak out against promoting this theories pertinent to the course Joe Hannon kind of science that most people being taught.” Thibodaux, Louisiana feel is close to a waste of time and How does such a measure, money. I say this not out of my own which inculcates critical evalu- RESPONSE desperation (my R01 funding is in ation and logical analysis in the Thank you for your thoughtful let- good shape), I am speaking as a classroom, threaten you and your ter. I appreciate the deep feelings you well established, securely employed scientific position? You state in have about this issue. However, I don’t biomedical scientist who sees the your letter to Gov. Jindal that “the agree with you that this is a matter problems that come when young bill is nothing more than a thinly of freedom of speech or of thought. scientists cannot start up their disguised attack on the theory of As a biologist, I view it as a matter research programs and established evolution.” No, rather, evolution is of competence. Any science teacher investigators go in circles of hiring listed as one of several controversial who teaches that evolution is contro- and firing of their lab segments. theories for which the merits and versial in a scientific sense is teaching If you poll the biomedical com- weakness should be considered. You something that is not correct and munity, I am confident they would go on to write: therefore is a bad teacher. The theory applaud the ASBMB committee “Science is based on observable of evolution is as well-founded and as April 2009 ASBMB Today 3 firstletterssecond to thecontinued editor continued central to biology as atomic theory is to accept a theory doesn’t make it contro- ality of the bill. But since you impress chemistry. versial scientifically. There have to be me as a concerned parent, and I have Evolution is supported by both solid scientific grounds for challenging great respect for the sincerity of your observation and experimentation.