Congress to help spur innovation and protect U.S. economic competitiveness

ASME President Gene Feigel has commended the bipartisan sponsors of the "Protecting America's Competitiveness Edge (PACE)" Act, a package of three bills introduced on Jan. 25, which will implement 20 recommendations contained in the recent National Academy of Science report, "Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future" (available at http://books.nap.edu/catalog/11463.html).

Sens. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., jointly sponsored the legislation to help the United States maintain its leading edge in science and technology. This action immediately follows the year's first meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), where the council noted the need to protect U.S. global leadership in science and technology.

In his letter, Feigel noted that ASME "has long been concerned that fundamental scientific and engineering research, which is critical to technology development and innovation, is not being adequately funded by the federal government, thereby jeopardizing U.S. technological leadership in the long term. We are pleased that our concern, shared by many other engineering and scientific societies, is being recognized on Capitol Hill and that remedies are being actively sought."

To read the letter in full, visit www.asme.org/NewsPublicPolicy/GovRelations/
PositionStatements.

Among the key provisions of the PACE Acts are the following:

• Strengthening the nation's traditional commitment to research through more research opportunities for scientists and engineers, as well as targeted research grants for early-career scientists and engineers;

• Improving K-12 science and math education with scholarships for future math and science teachers, specialty math and science high schools and summer academies for teachers;

• Increasing the talent pool by improving higher education through scholarships and fellowships for future scientists and by attracting the brightest foreign students to U.S. universities; and

• Growing the U.S. economy by providing incentives for innovation by doubling the R&D tax credit, creating a tax credit to encourage employers to invest in employees' education and development of science parks.

To read the press statement coinciding with the introduction of the PACE Acts, go to http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?
FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=
234829&Month=1&Year=2006.

For a section-by-section breakdown of the PACE Act, go to www.compete.org/newsroom/readnews.asp?id=340.

Sandia selected as lead lab for Yucca Mountain Project

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) has selected Sandia National Laboratories as the lead lab to integrate repository science for the Yucca Mountain Project. That work is currently the responsibility of OCRWM's contractor, Bechtel SAIC.

In his announcement, OCRWM's acting director, Paul Golan, said, "We believe that establishing Sandia as our lead laboratory is an important step in our new path forward. The independent, expert review that the scientists at Sandia will perform will help ensure that the technical and scientific basis for the Yucca Mountain repository is without question."

To read more about DOE's decision, visit www.doe.gov/news/3005.htm.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., observed, "Today's announcement by the Department of Energy means that Sandia National Laboratories will be a major contributor to research and work done on nuclear waste issues, which is the key to the future of nuclear power development in our country. Sandia features some of the best scientists in the country and will be able to provide the Yucca Mountain Project with strong, centralized leadership. This is good news for Sandia and for Yucca Mountain."

For additional comments from Domenici, go to http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?
FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id
=234822&Month=1&Year=2006&Party=1.

ASME seeks Federal Fellow applicants for OSTP, DHS and Congress

ASME's Federal Government Fellows Program enables selected ASME members to devote a year to working in government. They provide engineering and technical advice to policy makers in Congress, federal agencies, and the White House. Federal Government Fellowships provide a valuable public service to the nation, while providing engineers with a unique opportunity to participate directly in the policy making process.

ASME is currently seeking applicants for the following Fellowships:

1) Fellowship with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), Executive Office of the President.

Applicants interested in serving as a Federal Fellow for OSTP must be established engineers or scientists with expertise in nanotechnology. Duties and responsibilities of the Federal Fellow include articulating the policies of the administration, planning and coordinating interactions with federal and state agencies and representatives, interacting with industry and Congress. Additional information is available at www.asme.org/NewsPublicPolicy/GovRelations/
Programs/Seek_White_House_Fellow.cfm.

2) Fellowship with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Interested applicants must be well versed in the area of risk analysis. Potential activities with which the ASME Fellow could provide technical assistance include: creating and implementing preparedness plans; developing procedures and policies to guide the nation's actions in the event of a terrorist attack; conducting training and exercises to ensure that first responders possess a necessary level of preparedness; and enhancing partnerships with state and local governments, private sector institutions, and other organizations. Candidates who possess (or can easily obtain) a security clearance are encouraged to apply. Additional information is available at www.asme.org/NewsPublicPolicy/GovRelations/
Programs/DHS_Fellowship.cfm.

3) Congressional Fellowship.

Congressional Fellows will have the opportunity to spend one year in Washington, D.C., working with the staff of a congressional committee, U.S. Senator, or a U.S. Representative. The program provides a valuable public service to the nation, while offering engineers the unique opportunity to participate directly in the policy-making process. Congressional Fellows may serve from January through December or September through August, at their option. Additional information is available at www.asme.org/NewsPublicPolicy/GovRelations/
Programs/Congressional_Fellowships.cfm.

While a fellowship applicant must be a U.S. citizen and an ASME member at the time of application, the following additional credentials will also be considered in the selection process: at least five years of professional experience, an advanced engineering degree, professional engineer registration, and some public policy experience.

A stipend of $50,000 will be awarded to each Fellow for the year. In addition, Fellows will also be reimbursed for up to $1,000 in moving expenses. To apply, fill out an application at https://secure.asme.org/fedgovfellows/appform.cfm and send the required attachments, along with a writing sample, to Kathryn Holmes at (202) 785-7390, or e-mail holmesk@asme.org.

Additional information about the Federal Government Fellowships is available at www.asme.org/gric.

NIST seeks applicants for summer 2006 research fellowships

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks applicants for 125 full-time undergraduate research fellowships for students majoring in engineering, mathematics, physics, chemistry, materials science, and computer science.

The fellowships, funded by the National Science Foundation, provide students an opportunity to work in NIST research laboratories in Gaithersburg, Md., and Boulder, Colo., for 12 weeks, from May 22 through Aug. 11, 2006. Applications are due Feb. 15, 2006.

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program originated in 1993 and provides students with hands-on learning experiences using cutting-edge technology.

To view a video featuring former SURF participants, visit www.surf.nist.gov/gallery.htm. For more information on the SURF Program, including the application, go to www.surf.nist.gov/surf2.htm (for the Gaithersburg location) or to http://surf.boulder.nist.gov (for the Boulder location).

— Josh Craft
ASME Government Relations

 

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