Journal Club: Alternative Energies - Ethanol

As spring draws near, we'll start planning road trips and cranking up the ACs. So what better time than now to discuss alternative energy/fuels?

The next SISTP journal club will take place on Friday, April 11, 2008 from 6pm-7:30pm.
We'll discuss alternative energies, specifically ethanol. This will be the last JC of the spring semester, however, there has already been expressed interest on keeping the JCs going over the summer months. We'll keep you posted on summertime JCs.

We'll meet in room 403 of the Elliott School (1957 E Street, NW).

Below are the links to the four articles (3 scholarly and 1 media), which various members have suggested for the discussion. All of the links enable you to download the articles for free.

Fuel Ethanol from Cellulosic Biomass
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/251/4999/1318

Challenge of biofuel: filling the tank without emptying the stomach?
http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/1748-9326/2/4/044004/

Forget the ethanol myth - avoid the biofuel bubble
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_wasik&sid=aOS8e5kvDESE

Gasohol: Does it or doesn't it produce positive net energy?
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;206/4420/789 Read more!

Journal Club: GMOs

This Friday, March 28, 2008, we will hold our second journal club meeting and we hope you can attend. The topic is broadly based on GMOs and Biotech. The attached readings will be used to initiate discussion.

We will meet at CISTP in the Elliott School from 6pm to 7:30pm on Friday, March 28, 2008. Beverages will be provided. Although Friday is not the best evening for everyone, it seems to be the time when the most people are available (no classes, etc.). Also, if this Friday is anything like the last, we will most likely move to a local watering hole following the JC.

Below are four articles (relatively short):
1- ISAAA Executive summary gives a brief overview of biotech/GMOs
2- GMO_risks_ethics: covers the risks and concerns of omitting research in the context of GMOs
3- GMO_scientific responsibility: a short piece covering the roles of scientists in the use of 'golden rice'
4- Labeling Policy for GMOs: covers the debate on labeling GMOs

We hope to see you there! Read more!

Journal Club: Science in the Capitol

The first ISTP Society Journal Club (henceforth JC!) will be held on Friday, March 7 at CISTP Conference Room starting at 5:30-7:00pm. The first half-hour will be devoted to ISTP Society updates followed by the JC.

The readings are:

Science_USPresidentialCandidat

es: A brief summary of the candidates position on S&T issues published in Science.
Science-OTA-Mooney: A brief opinion piece about the possibility of reviving Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) by science writer Chris Mooney.
Science-Politics-Kelly: An analysis of the conflict between science and politics by Henry Kelly, President of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).

I have provided links below for additional information about S&T topics and Elections 2008-

AAAS - http://election2008.aaas.org/
Student Pugwash - http://www.spusa.org/2008vote/
Science Debate 2008 - http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=8

Read more!