ASCB M A R C H 2 0 0 9 NEWSLETTER VOLUME 32, NUMBER 3 Science Funding Included in U.S. Celebrating Darwin Stimulus Plan Page 2 There is disagreement in the halls of the U.S. Bethesda campus. During Senate debate on the Congress about many of the provisions of the bill, NIH champions Senators Arlen Specter economic stimulus plan recently approved (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) offered an by Congress and signed into law by U.S. amendment to the Senate bill to increase the Exploring President Obama. There appears to be no NIH funding in the bill. The amendment Unconscious disagreement, however, that federally funded would have provided the NIH with $10 science will play an important role in reviving billion: $9.2 billion for research and $800 Bias the ailing U.S. economy. million for capital equipment purchases and Page 11 NIH building renovations. The final version National Institutes of Health of the plan, signed into law by the President, The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the provides the NIH with $8.2 billion for federal science program that will see the biggest research, $1 billion for renovating university Careers in benefit from the stimulus bill. The House research facilities around the U.S., $300 version and the original draft of the Senate million for the purchase of instrumentation Patent Law version of the stimulus plan both provided and other research equipment, and $500 Page 15 the NIH with $3.5 billion, to be spent over million for the construction, improvement, two years, for research, lab renovation, and and repair of NIH buildings and facilities. the renovation of buildings on the NIH’s Science Funding, continued on page 5 Inside Changes Align ASCB Did You Programs with Resources President’s Column 2 Programs begun with high hopes leave behind sadness when they Know...? Public Policy Briefing 5 must be suspended. Similarly, saying farewell to staff due to funding constraints is always difficult. As reported in the February 2009 March 31 is the ASCB Profile 6 ASCB Newsletter, the ASCB Council had tough decisions to make deadline for nomination about cutting expenses in light of declining market returns. Those submissions for seven InCytes from MBC 10 decisions included: ASCB awards—all of n Suspending development of the ASCB Image & Video Library, which will be presented at WICB Column 11 BioEDUCATE, CellBASE, and concept question repository digital the 2009 ASCB Annual resources (These sites are still available for use, but the ASCB Meeting in San Diego, Call for Nominations 14 cannot accept submissions at this time. The Society is seeking CA, December 5–9. For information on Dear Labby 15 funding to support future development of these resources.) n Implementing layoffs of staff eligibility and submission Half-Century Fund Donors 16 n Discontinuing production of the ASCB Annual Meeting requirements, see “Call Abstracts CD-ROM (All abstracts will remain searchable online for Nominations” on Members in the News 16 and will remain available for referencing.) p.14 or go to www.ascb. n Eliminating the mailing of the ASCB Annual Meeting Program org and click on “Awards/ Member Gifts 16 Book to pre-registrants (This not only cuts a significant expense, Grants.” and furthers ASCB “green” efforts, it allows for a September Please take the time Letters to the Editor 17 regular submission deadline, otherwise impossible given the early to nominate a deserving date of the 2009 ASCB Annual Meeting. The Program Book will colleague, postdoc, Grants & Opportunities 18 be available online as a searchable PDF before the meeting, and mentor, or student. n Calendar 20 printed copies will be distributed onsite.) n —Joan Goldberg The American Society for Cell Biology PRESIDENT’S Column 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA Tel: (301) 347-9300 Fax: (301) 347-9310 Celebrating Darwin and the [email protected], www.ascb.org Joan R. Goldberg Scientific Method Executive Director The year 2009 marks the 200th anniversary Curiosity and wonder at the everyday world Officers of the birth of Charles Darwin, whose ideas were hallmarks of Darwin’s mind. He never and writings revolutionized biology. They were seemed to stop asking questions! Importantly, Brigid Hogan President radical and far-reaching. And they continue to his curiosity was coupled with both careful Timothy J. Mitchison President-Elect resonate through every branch observation and a tenacious Bob Goldman Past President Thoru Pederson Treasurer of natural science, not least of drive to test ideas. He studied Jean E. Schwarzbauer Secretary all cell biology. So, as a society, barnacles, beetles, butterflies, let’s cell-ebrate Darwin, and try birds, climbing plants, Council to follow his great example. insect-eating plants, orchids, earthworms, seeds, pigeons, and Pascale Cossart domesticated animals… the Susan K. Dutcher Celebrating an D. Scott Emr Inspiration list goes on and on. He drew Joan R. Goldberg, ex officio There are many sources from on a worldwide network of Holly V. Goodson which to draw inspiration fellow naturalists, experts, and Kathleen J. Green about Darwin in the coming laypeople to supply him with Paul W. Sternberg specimens and information. He Elizabeth Sztul year (see, for example, had close friends and colleagues Clare M. Waterman www.darwin200.org; www. Fiona M. Watt darwin2009.cam.ac.uk; www. Brigid Hogan who advocated his ideas. Susan R. Wente nature.com/news/specials/ Curiosity, experimentation, Susan M. Wick darwin; and www.sciencemag.org/darwin). communication, and community… all Virginia A. Zakian Some contributions highlight the very latest characteristics that we strive to emulate. The ASCB Newsletter advances in evolutionary research and their is published 12 times per year application to fields such as social behavior Communicating What Science Is by The American Society I remember that the parts of On the Origin of for Cell Biology. and medicine. Others reach out to the general public. These will help to address the gap Species that I enjoyed the most as a high school Joan R. Goldberg Editor between Darwin’s stature among scientists student were the descriptions of the experiments W. Mark Leader Editor and the way in which he is perceived by large that Darwin had carried out almost in his Elizabeth M. Rich Production Manager numbers of people in our communities. own “backyard.” For example, to test his ideas Kevin Wilson Public Policy Director about the geographic dispersal of seeds, he Ed Newman Advertising Manager It is no news to any of us today that John Fleischman Science Writer evolution and science have been under siege. asked how long seeds and fruits could survive Thea Clarke Editorial Manager I remember being astounded not long after I being immersed in seawater or being fed to came to the U.S. to hear Darwin referred to as animals; he questioned how many could be one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse on germinated from dried earth found stuck on Deadlines for submission of a religious TV station! Surely this was not the dead migratory birds. The take-home message articles and advertising for me as a youngster was that one doesn’t materials: same Charles Darwin as the gentleman hero I had revered since high school? need fancy equipment to think and act like a Issue Deadline Today, I still have a picture of Darwin scientist. The important values are curiosity and April March 1 on my desk; and I still find inspiration from experimentation, and conclusions based on data May April 1 his example. Like all of us, I deeply admire and logical analysis. If we fail to communicate June May 1 his insatiable curiosity and his ability to the importance of data-driven scientific inquiry ASCB Newsletter communicate his ideas to a wide audience. I to our elected officials, nonscientific colleagues, ISSN 1060-8982 have particular admiration for his courage in friends, neighbors, and the public, then we Volume 32, Number 3 fail to live up to Darwin’s example. We must March 2009 holding to his beliefs even though he knew they would be unpopular. I hope that as scientists, continue to press for the application of the © 2009 teachers, and mentors, we can pass along to scientific method to the urgent problems that The American Society for Cell Biology future generations not only the fundamental face our society. Postmaster: Send change of address to principles of evolution and natural selection, Scientists—and the ASCB—have an ASCB Newsletter The American Society for Cell Biology but also the essence of Darwin’s great mind and obligation. As many of you know, the ASCB is 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 very active in promoting the public understanding Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA personality. 2 ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2009 of science. The celebrations of the 200th resources to help you teach your students. anniversary of Darwin’s birth provide a great The ASCB BioEDUCATE website links to opportunity to promote not only sites showcasing evolution. Our a greater public understanding education journal CBE—Life of evolution, but of scientific Sciences Education (www.lifescied. concepts in general. By the org), published online four times time you read this, we will be a year, features numerous articles celebrating a substantial increase about teaching evolution. The Annual in U.S. funding for science in spring issue, online as of March 2, general, and for the NIH budget features a timely look at Darwin- Meeting in particular. However, we need related Web resources. And our to make our voices heard about Education Committee, under the how the money should be best able leadership of Chair Caroline Lost & spent. The next issue of this Kane, is working on new sessions Newsletter will highlight how the for educators at the next ASCB Found funds will be spent.