September 18, 2020, NIH Record, Vol. LXXII, No. 19
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September 18, 2020 Vol . LXXII, No . 19 place to place ‘FAIR’-MINDED and what to buy [and its reach] Hahnel Argues for Making AI ‘VIRTUALLY OMNIPRESENT’ continues to Data as Open as Possible expand.” BY ERIN WALKER Former NIH’er Horvath To illus- Explains Why Machines Won’t trate AI Speaking virtually from London to a group conquering new of more than 120 NIH employees at a recent Replace Doctors territory, Horvath NIH Data Science BY CARLA GARNETT described what Town Hall spon- he called the sored by the Office If it feels like computers control almost of Data Science everything these days and that soon we’ll “mood watch,” a Dr . Keith Horvath device designed Strategy, Dr. Mark all have to visit “Doctor Bot” to cure what Hahnel said, “To ails us, then the recent Clinical Center to absorb speech intonations and provide the wearer with social clues about the speaker’s get the most out of Grand Rounds talk “It’s an Artificial science, research Intelligence (AI) World and We Are All disposition or temperament. The high-tech wristband could help people with conditions data needs to be as Just Living in It” by the Association of open as possible, American Medical College’s Dr. Keith such as Asperger’s syndrome. “The general AI of science fiction movies as closed as Dr . Mark Hahnel Horvath, may offer some reassurance. necessary.” “AI is virtually omnipresent,” he is still a ways away,” Horvath reported. It’s specific AI—exemplified by machines such as For Hahnel, “open as possible” admitted. “It’s already telling us what to means data that is published openly and watch, what to listen to, how to get from IBM’s Deep Blue chess master computer of SEE HORVATH, PAGE 4 SEE HAHNEL, PAGE 8 CORRALLING COVID OLDEST ACTIVE SCIENTIST Behavioral Science Can Help Life, Longevity of Tabor Increase Social Mitigation Celebrated Adherence Dr. Herbert Tabor, the world’s foremost BY ERIC BOCK authority on the enzymatic pathways of polyamines, died The CDC has recommended that, in on Aug. 20. He response to the global coronavirus served 77 years pandemic, everyone at the National wash their hands Institutes of often, stay at least Health, the Everyone can help keep NIH cyber safe . See p . 3 . 6 feet away from oldest active NIH ALSO THIS ISSUE other people, wear scientist ever. face coverings in He was, until his Protecting NIH from Cyberattacks—What’s Your Role? . 3 public and stay death at age 101, home if they’re sick, a senior investi- WALS Resumes, Virtually . 5 said Dr. William gator in NIDDK’s Gopal Is NCI Global Health Center Director . 7 Riley. Adhering to Dr . Herb Tabor in 2005 Laboratory of Brown Set for 2020 Mendelson Lecture . 7 these mitigation Dr . William Riley Biochemistry and ‘Mind the Gap’ Webinar Features Rivera. 9 strategies is critical Genetics, where he had served as lab chief Digest . 11 to slowing the spread of Covid-19. until 1999. NIAMS Intramural Staff Get Virtual Taste of Just telling people to follow these recom- “His death is such a great loss for the Life in Space . 12 mendations, however, won’t persuade them NIH and broader scientific community of SEE RILEY, PAGE 6 SEE TABOR, PAGE 10 BRIEFS Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Is you before? Perhaps you’ve spotted a family of Kirsten, who served as associate director of the NCI Open Sept. 21-Nov. 2 deer, baby turtles, a colorful bird or butterfly, which at Frederick in the 1980s and 1990s . seem to be out in greater abundance these days . The 2020 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey “It truly is the mentors who are the heart and soul (FEVS) will be open Monday, Sept . 21 through Nov . The NIH Record wants to see your photo . We will of the Kirsten program,” said program manager 2 . The survey gives eligible federal employees an publish the most remarkable images we get . Send Marsha Nelson Duncan . “They generously offer our annual opportunity to provide confidential feed- your photo (high-resolution color digital image) students some of the most precious commodities: back about their work satisfaction, leadership and with a brief caption to rm26q@nih .gov or cg9s@ their time, their wisdom and their guidance . Several work/life balance . This year, the survey will include nih gov. generations of students are the better for it ”. an extensive section on the impact of Covid-19 . Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Kirsten NCI at Frederick Internship Program Wins program is at present on hiatus, save for a handful Presidential Honor of students working remotely . Thanks to the The National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Md ., has continuing commitment of so many mentors, its won a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, return will be eagerly anticipated by the program’s Mathematics and Mentoring for its Werner H . mentors, as well as Kirsten students and the Kirsten Student Internship Program . partner school systems . Now 30 years old, the Kirsten program each year brings to NCI’s Frederick campus a cadre of high ORWH Hosts Webinar on Social school students, who spend a summer, followed by Determinants of Health, Disease their senior year, working in government and con- Outcomes tractor laboratories and offices . A hallmark of the The Office of Research on Women’s Health recently program, NCI’s only year-long immersion opportu- hosted an online panel discussion titled “Improving Last year, more than 11,000 employees took the nity for high schoolers, is the close involvement of Chronic Disease Outcomes Through Approaches survey . Results from FEVS are communicated to that Address Social Determinants of Health ”. NIH and IC leadership as soon as they become available and are used to develop specific pro- The webinar was part of ORWH’s Understudied, grams and resources aimed at making NIH and its Underrepresented and Underreported (U3) institutes and centers a better place to work . Each Women’s Health Lecture Series . Dr . Marie Lynn IC has designated representatives who focus on Miranda of the University of Notre Dame and communicating FEVS results to staff and are tasked Dr . Leah H . Rubin of Johns Hopkins University, a with conducting actionable plans to ensure NIH former scholar in the NIH Building Interdisciplinary continues to be employees’ leader of choice when Research Careers in Women’s Health program, it comes to employee engagement . gave lectures . A moderated Q&A session followed . NIH has posted all 2019 IC-specific FEVS results Miranda’s lecture, “Assessing Residential to a public FEVS website (https://hr .nih .gov/ Segregation’s Role in Shaping Health and Well- workforce/fevs/2019-fevs-survey-results) in order Being,” characterized national and local population to enhance leadership accountability and open Mentor and mentee work together on a project patterns as they pertain to race, educational up conversation about how NIH can provide a with a GeneAmp PCR System 9700 . safe, effective and engaging workplace for all employees . mentors, who work one-on-one with students to FEVS is administered by the Office of Personnel develop their research, analytical and writing skills . Management and will be available to full- and More than 1,200 students have gone through the part-time permanent, non-seasonal employees, Kirsten program, which also includes discussions, on-board on or before Oct . 26, 2019 . Currently, seminars, poster presentations and journal clubs . contractors are not eligible for FEVS participation . More than 80 percent of Kirsten graduates, the For more information, visit https://hr .nih .gov/work- majority of whom are women, have continued force/fevs or email NIHFEVS@nih .gov . onto careers in STEM fields, and 100 percent of Kirsten graduates completed a minimum of a attainment, health care availability and other factors correlated with health . What Have You bachelor’s degree, with many pursuing higher Noticed in Nature? academic achievements . Rubin’s lecture, “Social Determinants of Central Our formerly hurried The award, which is administered by the National Nervous System Dysfunction in Research and lives—with long, traf- Science Foundation, “recognizes the critical role Clinical Practice: A Lesson from HIV,” described fic-filled commutes—may mentors play outside the traditional classroom cognitive problems and mental health issues have prevented us from setting in the academic and professional develop- associated with HIV infection . noticing a lovely sunrise ment of the future STEM workforce,” said the White ORWH’s lecture series has been designed to or sunset, a post-storm House announcement . stimulate interest in the complex issues affecting giant rainbow or roaming In their comments, the award review panel cited the health of women, including the influences of wildlife . As many NIH’ers community attributes . continue to work from “the efforts of this program to effect change in home, or for those In 2018, baby the community” and the “scope and capacity To view the video recording of the webinar, visit back in their labs with a bluebirds recorded of this program to create impact on a national https://www yo. utu .be/eK0-j9AzBGU . quicker commute, what near Safra Lodge level” in giving the program its highest marks of have you noticed outside PHOTO: JENNIFER excellence . WATSON that might have escaped The internship program is named for Dr . Werner H . 2 • NIH RECORD • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 ATTACKS ARE RELENTLESS you’ll join a cadre of more than 40 volunteers who have already stood up to embrace their Protecting NIH from Cyber commitment to cyber safety by spreading the Attacks—How You Can Help word through their own networks . BY JOTHI DUGAR Regardless of your title, IC or function, you are an essential part of NIH’s security posture . Your daily Picture this: You open your NIH laptop in the decisions regarding cyber safety matter and they morning and find an email asking you to provide can be the deciding factor between keeping NIH your NIH login credentials for verification safe and exposing us to cyber risk .