December CSSP meeting highlights

Meeting expands presidents' knowledge of leadership

• CSSP Chair Jim Baur opened the meeting by welcoming and introducing the first time attendees, and providing an outline of the program and the CSSP business to be addressed.
• Marty Apple discussed how to be an effective change leader, a 20-year plan to reach zero CO2 emission energy systems in the USA, a growing list of failures of university leadership, processes and sources of political power and public policy, and framing science to ensure its place on the national agenda.
• The opening session centered on educational leadership and leadership in education. Judy Jeffrey, Iowa State School Officer, expressed concern about the increasing unfunded accountability requirements that have a negative impact on teaching and learning. It is anticipated that there will be substantial revision (and re-naming) of "No Child Left Behind."
• Lesa Mitchell of the Kauffman Foundation urged research universities to promote entrepreneurism by faculty and research trainees, and to reduce impediments to university-industry relations. She specifically encouraged consulting arrangements and criticized university Intellectual Property Offices for inhibiting technology transfer.
• Howard Gardner of Harvard University described his concept of five mindsets and their consequences on the learning process: disciplined; synthesizing; creating; respectful and ethical.
• George McHaffey, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, called upon undergraduate programs to reform curricula to prepare citizens for democracy.
• Jerald Jacobs, an attorney, reviewed the responsibilities of offices of scientific societies: due diligence; integrity and oversight of staff and operations.

• The Sunday morning focus groups addressed issues encompassing energy, information technology, public appreciation of science, science and mathematics education, international science, science ethics, government and public affairs, and diversity and science careers. The focus groups catalyzed drafting a statement calling upon federal agency heads to encourage participation of federal employees in scientific societies. The ethics committee plans to conduct a survey to determine if their ethics codes have enforcement provisions. In addition, the ethics committee encourages member scientific societies to included programming on scientific integrity in their meetings and communications.
• The Sunday afternoon session was devoted to cutting edge science. Lene Hau, Harvard University, described her work on “slow light,” light that moves at 18 miles per hour. Angela Belcher, Massachusetts Institute of Technology described her progress on growing photovoltaic crystals on the surface of filamentous bacteriophages. A graduate student from the University of Colorado and one from the University of Maryland described their solar energy projects, displayed in October 2007 on the Capitol Mall. The University of Maryland placed second and the University of Colorado seventh in their respective energy independent solar houses. The University of Colorado placed first in solar transportation.
• Michael Mandel of Business Week presented a contrarian’s view of the economy. He is not concerned about the negative balance of trade, or the weak US dollar, but is concerned that the US work force is not being employed by international businesses. 
• Ken Weiss and Usha McFarling, Los Angeles Times, were recognized for their series on the adverse impact of over-fishing and pollution on the ocean. CSSP also recognized Arden Bement for his leadership of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and currently, of the National Science Foundation. CSSP continues it advocacy for doubling of the NSF budget.
• The Monday morning session focused on the Washington DC scene. Assistant Secretary Lyle Laverty of the Department of Interior discussed the complex biological network of water and wildlife. For example, if carbon dioxide is sequestered and deposited in abandoned mineshafts, will it ultimately gain access to aquifers and acidify lakes? Jack Marburger assessed the sustainability of US leadership in science. He encouraged efforts to increase the US professional workforce to meet the needs for international economic competitiveness.
• Rudolf Jaenisch of Massachusetts Institute of Technology gave an update on progress in ”adult stem cell research” and regenerative therapies that did not require destruction of a human egg. Several critical factors or genes have been identified, making it possible for differentiated cells to return to an undifferentiated state, and then be re-programmed to new differentiated states. Duncan Watts, Columbia University, described random and clustered networks, and how these affect collaborative and interdisciplinary research. Elizabeth Churchill, Yahoo Research, described on-line interactive bulletin board that was used in a pilot project to facilitate collaborative research by information scientists on three different continents.
• CSSP honored Congressman Bart Gordon for his vigorous and effective leadership in the 110^th Congress. A strong delegation met with Congressional Aids to discuss reauthorization of the Clean Act, energy, and the languishing omnibus appropriation bill.

The next CSSP meeting is May 3-6, 2008, and CSSP alumni members who have paid their annual dues may register for $250, a substantial savings!