A National Innovation Foundation?

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and the Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program are calling for a National Innovation Foundation. Want to find out more? Join Brookings, the Council on Competitiveness and the ITIF as they release a report calling for an NIF.

"On April 22, 2008, from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. ITIF, MPP and the Council on Competitiveness will host a briefing. The event will preview two major new reports on federal economic policy: “Boosting Productivity, Innovation, and Growth Through a National Innovation Foundation,” by ITIF President Robert Atkinson and Howard Wial, a Brookings economist; and “Clusters for Competitiveness: A New Federal Role for Stimulating Regional Economies,” by venture capitalist Karen Mills; Liz Reynolds, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology doctoral student; and Andrew Reamer, a fellow at Brookings.

MPP Director Bruce Katz, along with Council president, Deborah Wince-Smith, will open the briefing with an overview of the innovation policy landscape. Atkinson, Wial, and Mills will follow by offering an overview of the two reports’ findings and policy recommendations. Following that Randall Kempner, vice president, regional innovation at the Council on Competitiveness, will moderate a discussion of the proposals with Ron Blackwell, chief economist, AFL-CIO; Emily DeRocco, president, National Center for the American Workforce, National Association of Manufacturers; Ernest Dianastasis, managing director, CAI, Inc.; and Ray Sheppach, executive director, National Governors Association. Time for questions and answers from attendees will round out the morning."

Please RSVP to Kathleen Kruczlnicki at 202.797.6319 or kkruczlnicki@brookings.edu.

What: Event to Release Report Calling for a National Innovation Foundation

When: Tuesday, April 22 – 8:30 – 10:00 am (buffet breakfast available at 8:00 a.m.)

Where: The National Press Club (529 14th Street, NW) in Washington, D.C. Read more!

Science and Technology Working for the Environment

CISTP students have been invited to attend a panel presentation on 'science and technology working for the environment' in recognition of Earth Day, April 22, 2008. The event is being hosted by the U.S. Department of State.
Each university invited to the event is limited to 20-25 attendees, so rsvp as soon as possible to ensure your participation.

Undersecretary Paula Dobriansky will begin with opening remarks and Assistant Secretary Claudia A. McMurray will introduce the panelists. The panelists include Fernando Echavarria on GIS and Urban Planning, Bill Gibbons-Fly on turtle exclusion devices, James Tucker on remote sensing and infectious diseases, and Robert Rudnitsky on Nanotechnology Applications. Nina Federoff will give brief remarks and there will be a Q&A with each panelist.

The event takes place Tuesday, April 22, 2008 from 10am to 11:30am at the Department of State. More information and registration details can be found here Read more!

Event: Natural Security: A New Perspective on International Security

The AAAS Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy is hosting this upcoming event on Natural Security.

Natural Security: A New Perspective on International Security
(http://cstsp.aaas.org/content.html?contentid=1579)

April 10, 2008
AAAS Auditorium
1200 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005

Registration and Light Refreshments 4:00 PM
Presentations and Discussion 4:30-6:00 PM

Ellen Laipson, President and CEO Henry L. Stimson Center
Raphael D. Sagarin, Assistant Research Professor Duke University

In this globalized world, international security has become exceedingly complex, involving terrorism, sectarian wars, territorial struggles, space competition, natural disasters, and nuclear and biological weapons. Economic development, health and disease, and poverty are also elements that affect national and international security, complicating life for policymakers in search of a secure world. From observations of nature and studies in evolutionary biology, Dr. Sagarin has drawn some intriguing conclusions that he suggests may have applications to security in human society. Biological organisms have been developing and adapting novel solutions to myriad threats for their own security for over 3.5 billion years. Across that immense span, literally millions of natural features have emerged that keep organisms safe against a broad range of threats. But can we find answers to our own security challenges from the lessons of nature?

With an introduction to the broad range of security threats facing the world today, Ms. Laipson will set the stage for an outside-the-box discussion on how evolutionary biology can inform our current security debates. Dr. Sagarin will discuss this fascinating subject from the multiple perspectives presented in his recent book, Natural Security: A Darwinian Approach to a Dangerous World (co-editors, Raphael Sagarin and Terence Taylor; http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/10738.php). Ms. Laipson and Dr. Sagarin will entertain questions from the audience following the talks. We also hope to have copies of the book available for sale. RSVP to kberger@aaas.org Read more!

Event: The 33rd Annual AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy

If ever attended the AAAS Annual Forum on S&T Policy, you know that the event is attended by the movers and shakers of S&T policy and debates often ensue regarding the future of funding and policy related to a wide range of S&T issues. If you've never been, check out the below topics and consider the conference this year. This year, S&T policy in the upcoming elections and for the next administration is a key topic to be discussed during the forum and was also the topic of SISTP's first journal club meeting.

The annual AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy is the conference for people interested in public policy issues facing the science, engineering, and higher education communities. Since 1976, it has been the place where insiders go to learn what is happening and what is likely to happen in the coming year on the federal budget and the growing number of policy issues that affect researchers and their institutions. Come to the Forum, learn about the future of S&T policy, and meet the people who will shape it. The next S&T Policy Forum will be 8-9 May 2008 at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, DC.

The program will include:

Keynote address by President's science advisor, Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Overview of FY 2009 federal research and development (R&D) budget proposals.

Major sessions on:

- The budgetary and policy context for R&D in FY 2009, including congressional treatment of R&D budgets, and a discussion of what kind of world science and technology will face - and help create - in the 21st century
- New models for funding science
- Science & Technology, the 2008 election, and beyond
- Human enhancement: promise and/or threat?
- Advocacy in science: what is the proper role?
- Science and the new media

The William D. Carey Lecture, an invited address by a notable figure in S&T - Lewis Branscomb, Harvard University

Reception Thursday evening, and meal functions featuring distinguished speakers (luncheons Thursday (John Kao, author of Innovation Nation) and Friday; breakfast Friday (speakers to be announced))

For more information and to register, please go to:
(http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/forum.htm)

Note: There is a cost to attend this event, there is a student discount, CISTP may be able to support student attendance. Read more!

Events: Innovation Nation: Collaboration and Competition in a Globalised World

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the British Embassy cordially invite you to a public lecture by:
Rt. Hon. John Denham, Secretary of State, Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills, United Kingdom

"Innovation Nation: Collaboration and Competition in a Globalised World"

Monday, April 21, 2008 4:30 PM, reception to follow
AAAS Auditorium
1200 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
RSVP by noon on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 to Ms. Linda Stroud (international@aaas.org)

You can also sign up for the Washington Science Policy Alliance Seminars are other events here: http://www.aaas.org/spp/wspa Read more!

Event: Democratizing Development: How Technology is Disrupting Traditional Development Models

On April 15, 2008 the Society for International Development's Washington, DC Chapter and the Academy of Educational Development are co-sponsoring this event on technology and development.

Will technology put the traditional development model and development players "out of business"? Or, will technology enable both old and new players to contribute effectively to combating poverty?

During the session, panelists will demonstrate their technology and share their views. Panelists in attendance will include:

• Raj Kumar, President, The Development Executive Group
• Premal Shah, President, Kiva
• Pierre Wielezynski, Communications Officer, Online Outreach, World Bank

The session will be moderated by: Matthew Clark, Director, Global Strategic Accounts, Microsoft

For more information and to RSVP: http://www.sidw.org/event/

*Thanks to OID for the pointer.

Read more!

Linking Knowledge with Action for Sustainable Development, National Academies Event

The Arthur M. Sackler Colloquia of the National Academies of Sciences for 2008 is focusing on sustainable development.
This upcoming Thursday and Friday, April 3-4, 2008, experts on topics ranging from scientific assessment, HIV/AIDS, R&D funding and dispersion, agricultural partnerships, etc. will speak on the issues in relation to sustainability.
More information and descriptions of the event can be found here.
Although the colloquium is not free ($100 for students), the 8th Annual Sackler Lecture is free and open to the public. The lecture takes place on Thursday. From 4:40-6pm, a reception and poster session will take place. From 6-7pm, Michael Crow of Arizona State University will give the lecture: Opportunities and Limits in the Creation of Useful Knowledge for Sustainable Development.
RSVP is required for the lecture. Read more!