ASME convenes third Energy Grand Challenge briefing

On July 12, ASME held a Congressional briefing entitled, "The Future of Biofuels: An International Perspective," the third briefing in ASME's Energy Grand Challenge briefing series. The briefing featured Mauricio Tolmasquim, the president of Brazil's Energy Research Company (EPE) and former vice minister of Mines and Energy. Tolmasquim discussed Brazil's use of biofuels and other related policy decisions, and what the lessons and implications might be for the United States.

Video from this briefing will be available on the Energy Grand Challenge Web site in the near future, at www.asme.org/Communities/Technical/Energy. You can also visit this site to find information on ASME's public policy activities, energy-related programs of ASME divisions and institutes, and news and announcements.

The briefing was held in conjunction with the House Congressional Research and Development (R&D) Caucus, which is co-chaired by Reps. Rush Holt, D-N.J., and Judy Biggert, R-Ill. Information about the R&D Caucus is available at www.researchcaucus.org.

DOE releases second U.S. Climate Change Science Program report

The second in a series of 21 Synthesis and Assessment reports has been released by the Department of Energy's U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). CCSP was established in 2002 to integrate federal research on global environmental change within 13 federal agencies.

• Scenarios of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Atmospheric Concentrations, and Review of Integrated Scenario Development and Application" provides a long-term global reference for greenhouse gas stabilization scenarios and an evaluation of the process by which those scenarios may be developed and used. As its title would suggest, the report is presented in two parts.

• Scenarios of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Atmospheric Concentrations" uses computer-based scenarios to evaluate three integrated assessment models:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Integrated Global Systems Model;

• Electric Power Research Institute's Model for Evaluating the Regional and Global Effects of Greenhouse Gases; and,

• DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's integrated assessment model, MiniCAM.

The second part of the report, "Review of Integrated Scenario Development and Application," concludes that:

• Scenarios can support decision making by providing insights regarding key uncertainties;

• Useful scenarios require a combination of scientific knowledge and judgment and speculation; and,

• Improving scenario practice does not require avoiding speculation, but rather making it more disciplined and transparent.

For additional information, see www.doe.gov/news/5214.htm, as well as www.climatescience.gov.


Defense Department announces "wearable power" public prize competition

The Department of Defense Office of Defense Research and Engineering has announced a public prize competition to develop a wearable electric power system for soldiers. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams: The first-prize winner will receive $1 million; the second-place winner, $500,000; and third-place winner, $250,000.

The objective of the competition is the development of a wearable, prototype system that can power a standard soldier's equipment (such as radio, night vision devices, global positioning system, etc.) for 96 hours at less than half the weight of the current battery-powered devices. All components and attachments must weight four kilograms or less. William S. Rees Jr., deputy undersecretary of defense for laboratories and basic sciences, said, "In many missions, the batteries are heavier than the ammunition they are carrying."

The competition is open to international participation; however, the individual or team leader must provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Registration must be completed by Nov. 30. The Defense Research and Engineering Office will hold a public information forum to discuss the technical details, competition rules, and qualification requirements in the Washington, D.C., area in September.

Details on that forum, as well as contest registration and rules may be found at www.dod.mil/ddre/prize. For additional information, see www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11089.


NASA announces new aeronautics research opportunities

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has amended its "Research Opportunities in Aeronautics 2007" announcement to solicit research in several new topic areas. Included in this amendment are research opportunities for the Integrated Vehicle Health Management Project, and in entry, descent, and landing research, a combined effort by the Hypersonics and Supersonics Projects.

According to the official announcement, "The goal of the Integrated Vehicle Health Management Project is to conduct research to advance the state of highly integrated and complex flight-critical health management technologies and systems." The building of future high-mass Mars entry systems will require "significant improvements in entry, descent, and landing capabilities. Addressing this problem requires advances in computational tools and capabilities, advances in modeling of pertinent physical phenomena, improvements in our capability to acquire relevant experimental data, and the development of new architectures, concepts and technologies." See www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/jul/HQ_07151_aero_NRAs.html.

Specific evaluation criteria, deadlines, and points of contact for these and other research topics are available at http://nspires.nasaprs.com.


EPA outlines voluntary regulation of nanomaterials

The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on its proposed approach to develop a Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP) to "increase the scientific understanding and ensure appropriate oversight of nanoscale industrial chemicals to facilitate the responsible development of this growing technology." The agency is also seeking comment on a document outlining how a nanoscale material is determined to be a "new" or "existing" chemical substance under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

The NMSP will cover existing chemical nanoscale materials as defined under TSCA. It will also "provide a firmer, scientific foundation for regulatory decisions by encouraging the development of key scientific information and use of basic risk management practices in developing and commercializing nanoscale materials." See http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/bb1285e857b49ac4852572a00065683f/
f4630db352e0ca758525731500647356!OpenDocument.

Documents are open for public comment for 60 days. A public hearing will be held on Aug. 2 to solicit comments. Information on the public meeting, as well as the documents themselves, are available at http://epa.gov/oppt/nano/nmspfr.htm.


Technology assessment funds included in GAO fiscal 2008 budget

Funding for a technology assessment capability for Congress has been included in both the Senate and House Legislative Branch fiscal year 2008 appropriations measures. If the provisions are signed into law, Congress would have access to nonpartisan technology assessment function within the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

From 1972 until 1995, members of Congress had such support through the Office of Technology Assessment. However, that entity was abolished through passage of a broad package of budget-cutting proposals. Since that time, there have been a number of attempts to reinstate the technology assessment function; however, none has progressed as far as the current proposals.

House Report 110-198 states that "the Committee believes as technology continues to change and expand rapidly it is essential that the consequences of technological applications be anticipated, understood, and considered in determination of public policy on existing and emerging national problems. The Committee believes it is necessary for the Congress to equip itself with effective means for securing competent, timely and unbiased information concerning the effects of scientific and technical developments and use the information in the legislative assessment of matters pending before the Congress."

The House bill provides $2.5 million to GAO to perform technology assessment in FY 2008. In contrast, Senate Report 110-89 would provide $750,000 and four full-time employees to establish a permanent technology assessment function in GAO.

Each of the committee reports may be found at http://thomas.loc.gov by searching by the respective report number.

— Melissa Carl
ASME Government Relations

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