Articles by Thomas Durso

'DAUNTING TASK': James Wyche of the Leadership Alliance says that increasing minority representation in the sciences isn't easy. By exposing young minority researchers to established scientific luminaries and opportunities that might be denied them otherwise, minority research societies are helping to even out a playing field that advocates believe still needs leveling. These organizations run the gamut of scientific fields and of minority population groups. Though more poorly funded and

Nearly everyone must learn to deal with rejection, and authors of research papers are no exception. Many reviewers and other knowledgeable individuals say the key is not to take rejection of one's manuscript personally, and they point out that papers turned down by one publication often have gone on to enjoy success in others. In fact, according to one observer, several papers that were initially rejected went on to earn their authors the Nobel Prize. The topic is of particular interest to new

A major academic research center and three private companies are touting their recently announced functional-genomics consortium as the first of its kind. Officials from the participating entities as well as industry analysts are unsure whether the partnership will inspire similar deals, and they differ on whether it will launch a trend whose net result is more jobs for scientists. DANGER? Dorin Schumacher of the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research warns of a "non- peer-review researc

Combine the explosion of genetic information fostered by the Human Genome Project (HGP) with huge advances in computer technology, and the result is the relatively young field of bioinformatics. The news is good for those seeking work in this burgeoning area: Bioinformaticians anticipate plenty of job openings. Loosely defined, bioinformatics is the management and analysis of biological information contained in databases. An example of such information is the genetic sequencing being generated

MARKET FORCE: Harvard's Joyce Brinton says tech-transfer officers are best equipped to determine what has commercial potential. Technology-transfer professionals have a simple piece of advice for new faculty members who believe their ideas have commercial potential but who have never brought products to the market: Get help-immediately. "Call your friendly technology-transfer office if you've got a good idea," urges Joyce Brinton, director of Harvard University's Office for Technology and Trad

Interviewer: Thomas W. Durso Editor's Note: Bill Frist is the only United States senator ever to hold a medical degree. The Tennessee Republican was trained as a heart and lung transplant surgeon and is a former biomedical researcher at Vanderbilt University. Without any prior political experience, he ran for the Senate in 1994 and won 56 percent of the vote, defeating a three-term incumbent. In his short tenure, Frist has emerged as something of a science spokesman among politicians. With Re

EVOLVING PARADIGM: Allison Rosenberg of the Government-University-Industry Roundtable feels the insider-trading case reflects changes in drug research funding. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sent waves of concern through the scientific community by bringing what it calls its first insider-trading case against drug researchers. It is illegal to trade stocks while in possession of information not available to the general public or to inform other traders of such i

GOOD NEWS: NSF's Paul Herer found the positive reaction to his agency's new review criteria somewhat surprising. Scientists who review National Science Foundation grant applications soon will have a new system by which to judge them. Beginning October 1, the current four merit-review criteria will be eliminated, and reviewers will be asked to assess research proposals based on the proposals' "intellectual merit and property" and their "broader impacts," such as potential effect on societal nee

Many observers endorse waiving the pedagogy requirement initially, but say additional training in education is crucial Facing a shortage of qualified applicants, some public school districts have begun hiring college graduates who majored in the sciences, rather than in education, to teach science, primarily in high schools. Science education observers say the practice is likely to increase in coming years. Most are cautiously optimistic about its effectiveness, although many warn that greater

A Scientific American forum on the controversial issue has some scientists crying foul, contending editors failed to delete misstatements. TRUST BUSTED: UC-Berkeley’s Sharon Russell says her faith in Scientific American has been shaken. Some biomedical researchers are responding with disappointment and concern to the February issue of Scientific American, contending that portions of the magazine's cover package, a forum on the benefits and ethics of animal research, were misleading and

AUTHORSHIP ISSUES: Washington University's Fredrick Sweet says papers often cause conflicts. All professional situations involving people working together have the potential to foster conflict, but laboratory environments can present unique sources of tension, scientists report. The collaborative nature of the work can lead to clashes over authorship of papers, conflict-of-interest questions, and struggles between junior and senior researchers, both within and outside the lab. When allowed to

Sidebar: Advisory Panel's Recommendations to NIH But budget concerns may force the agency's heralded Fogarty Center to stand pat A comparatively small proposed budget increase for the center that coordinates international programs of the National Institutes of Health may prevent any significant expansion of its global efforts in the near future. A report submitted last fall by an external advisory panel recommended "a strengthening of international activities" at NIH (see list of recommendatio

The external advisory panel that reviewed international efforts of the National Institutes of Health made 10 recommendations "to enhance and strengthen" these activities. They are as follows: "The panel strongly endorses an international role for all NIH components, consistent with the mission of each component, and a strengthening of international activities at the NIH." "To meet the challenges in international health, the panel advocates retention of the FIC [Fogarty International Center] as

OVERCOMPENSATION: Atoning for wrongs led to exclusion of minorities, notes Robert F. Murray, Jr. Minority Americans' mistrust of science, fostered in large part by the notorious Tuskegee study and advanced by inequities in health care, continues today, according to observers. While hard evidence is lacking, many scientists believe that bad feelings make it difficult for them to recruit minorities as participants in biomedical research studies in such areas as cancer and AIDS. Others say that

OBSTACLE COURSE: Former 4S president Sal Restivo fears downsizing more than science wars. Science and technology studies (STS), and their attempts to explain science by social constructs such as language and culture, have given sociologists of science new opportunities for teaching and research. However, STS is viewed by many natural scientists as a dangerous attack on rationality and truth, and not worthy of academic legitimacy. The "science wars" that have arisen between STS's critics and d