Science’s Jeffrey Mervis is reporting that The National Science Foundation (NSF) is saying No to the Chair of the House of Representatives Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Lamar Smith’s request for the reviewer comment from the peer review process for specific awards: The National Science Foundation (NSF) today rebuffed a request from the chairman of the House of Representatives science committee to obtain reviewer comments on five social science research projects it is funding. The refusal is the latest twist in an increasingly edgy battle between the agency and Republicans in Congress over the agency’s grants-making process and, in particular, its support for the social and behavioral sciences.   In a letter […]

Tomorrow, May 16, at 2:00 p.m. EDT, watch the first ‘We the Geeks” Hangout on WhiteHouse.gov and on the White House Google+ page. On May 16th, the White House is kicking off “We the Geeks,” a new series of Google+ Hangouts to highlight the future of science, technology, and innovation here in the United States. Topics such as commercial space exploration, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, turning science fiction to science fact, and others will be discussed with Administration officials and key private sector contributors.   The first We the Geeks Hangout will focus on Grand Challenges, ambitious goals on a national or global scale that capture the imagination and demand […]

The United States-Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF), the Fulbright commission for Israel, offers 8 fellowships to American post-doctoral researchers in support of work to be carried out at Israeli universities during the course of the 2014/2015-2015/2016 academic years. The Fulbright award totals $40,000, $20,000 per academic year.  Fulbright funding supplements basic post-doctoral stipends provided by Israeli host institutions. This program is open to post-doctoral researchers in all academic disciplines. USIEF awards are granted on the basis of academic excellence, the leadership promise of the applicant, and the potential of the proposed visit to both advance knowledge and enhance mutual understanding between the peoples of the U.S. and Israel. The Foundation gives preference to applicants who […]

Today, a feature story in the technology section of NBC News, Dawn of the bot? New era nears, experts say, brings additional attention to the exciting future of robotics. Science fiction is quickly taking a back seat to science fact. Just look at a new report by the country’s leading roboticists. By 2030, it says, robots will be everywhere.   At the gym, they’ll help you train. In operating rooms, flea-sized robots will zip through your blood vessels to repair tissues. Using voice commands and hand gestures, humans will control robots in the cold vacuum of space, while bots deep underwater and high in the air will collaborate to protect the […]

The CCC congratulates three computer scientists recently elected as members to the National Academy of Sciences: Naomi Halas, Juris Hartmanis, and Éva Tardos. Last week, 84 new members and 21 foreign associates from 14 countries were elected to the organization in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Halas is the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and founding director of the Laboratory for Nanophotonics and director of the Rice Quantum Institute at Rice University. From the Rice news release: “Since joining the Rice faculty in 1990, Halas has specialized in studying how light interacts with engineered nanoparticles. Her research spans a broad […]

In recent weeks, several new activities of the Federal Big Data Initiative have been launched with the goal of addressing the challenges and opportunities of Big Data. The initial launch last year featured more than $200 million in new commitments from six Federal departments and agencies. Now in its second year, Federal agencies continue to launch programs that use cutting-edge technologies analyze and extract useful knowledge from Big Data for the benefit of society. The community has been encouraged to participate, the NIH announced increased involvement, and this Friday, May 3 the White House will host a Big Data workshop. The workshop is sponsored by the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the NITRD Big Data […]