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Ruling On Lab Rodents Could Reduce Oversight Of All Animal Sites WASHINGTON--Animal rights activists are pleased about a federal judge's ruling last month that the United States Department of Agriculture acted in an "arbitrary and capricious" manner in excluding rats, mice, and birds from its interpretation of a federal law meant to protect research animals. But the judge's favorable decision in their suit could result in less-frequent inspections of research facilities housing these and othe

Engineers may be quaking over the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's announcement last month that it may cut 5,000 space shuttle-related jobs over the next five years. But space science researchers are viewing the move as nonthreatening, or even as a boon. In a January 6 speech broadcast to NASA employees, Robert Crippen, the new director of the Kennedy Space Center and a former shuttle astronaut, said that if Congress cuts the agency's budget it will be the space shuttle program

Not Just Passing Through A Critical Eye on Critical Technologies Math Society to Open D.C. Office The High Price of Public Understanding NIH Salary Cap Lifted, A Little National Science Foundation director Walter Massey says that he has no plans to leave the foundation before his six-year term ends in March 1997. But he's not surprised about persistent rumors, the latest involving Stanford University, that he's soon to become president of a major research institution. "I'm not trying to br

The National Academy of Sciences has operated NSF's graduate fellowship program since 1952. But it has never had to compete for the contract, now worth close to $2 million annually. That's because of the academy's own rule that prohibits it from doing any work for the government if it first must submit a bid and be chosen over several competitors. "We can't compete," says Frank Press, academy president. "If an agency accepts other bids, then we can't do the work. The rule stems from our 1863

As the eminent institution moves to recover from the David Baltimore scandal, some scientists continue in assessing its impact A business-as-usual mood prevails these days at New York City's Rockefeller University. The prestigious research institution is moving to regain its balance following the dizzying chain of events leading to the December resignation of scandal-hounded scientist David Baltimore from its presidency. Meanwhile, university scientists and administrators around the United St

The fiercely competitive atmosphere in introductory courses is said to cause more females than males to drop out of science WASHINGTON--College professors are too eager to weed out students enrolled in introductory science classes, say two sociologists from the University of Colorado, Boulder. And women, disproportionately more than men, appear to fall victim to the rigid practice. Thus, the sociologists say, many women are abandoning their interest in pursuing careers in science not because t

While the five hopefuls have opinions on such matters as education and science funding, their views lack depth WASHINGTON--The five major Democratic contenders for president of the United States generally agree that the country needs to strengthen its technology base, that spending on civilian research should be increased, and that universities remain the key to the nation's scientific preeminence. At the same time, they differ over whether it makes sense to build the superconducting supercol

The International Union of Physiological Sciences offers fellowship support to physiology faculty at medical schools in developing nations. Funds will support one scientist for one year of advanced work in physiology at a well-established university, or two scientists for six months of study each. The fellowship will provide tuition support and a stipend of $25,000 per year, prorated for periods shorter than 12 months. Eligible applicants must plan to return to their faculty positions for at le

Eli Lilly & Co. provides travel funds for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral women chemists to present their research at meetings. Available to United States citizens or permanent residents, the grants cover registration fees, accommodations, and travel within the continental U.S. Applicants who have not made a previous presentation at a major meeting will receive preference. There is a limit of one application per research group. To be eligible, an applicant must submit a rsum and an ab

The U.S. Army Research Office (ARO) is looking for proposals in the mathematical, physical, biological, and earth sciences, as well as engineering. Areas of special interest include biodegradation, sensory factors in performance enhancement, biological systems as conceptual models for materials development, theoretical chemistry, and artificial intelligence. Educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private companies may submit proposals. Each proposal should cover a three-year per

WASHINGTON--Biomedical researchers need to win over the public to survive attacks on their integrity and answer questions about the value of their work to society, says cardiologist Kenneth Shine, the new president of the Institute of Medicine (IoM). "We have to work harder to bolster confidence in universities and in research," says Shine, named last month to a five-year term as president of the 470-member institute that is closely affiliated with the National Academy of Sciences. "People hav

Holiday Memories of Shakhashiri Global Warming Generates A Heat At Los Alamos Going The Extra Mile For Science Who Needs Supercomputers, Anyway? It's been more than a year since University of Wisconsin chemist Bassam Shakhashiri was removed as head of the National Science Foundation's science education directorate, but the memory of his five-year campaign for a $600 million budget for the program--as well as his clashes with former NSF director Erich Bloch--have lingered on, even at Yul