WHO WE ARE…

The Board on International Scientific Organizations (BISO) oversees a network of more than 20 U.S. National Committees (USNCs) corresponding to the various International Council for Science (ICSU) scientific member bodies in an effort to strengthen U.S. participation in international scientific, engineering, and medical organizations. 
Learn more about BISO… 

WHAT'S NEW…

In Memoriam: Professor Salah Baouendi
USNC/M is extremely saddened to announce the passing of Dr. M. Salah Baouendi on December 24, 2011.  He was a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of California, San Diego.  His service with the National Academies was instrumental since he was member and chair of the U.S. National Committee for Mathematics (USNC/M).  Dr. Baouendi also served as U.S. delegate in two General Assemblies of the International Mathematical Union (IMU).  He was a great colleague and friend to many mathematicians, and his service as member of the Executive Committee of IMU has been invaluable to the work of the union and also to the USNC/M. View the obituary.

ICSU’s New Executive Director Appointed
The International Council for Science (ICSU) welcomes Dr. Steven Wilson as Executive Director. Dr. Wilson will provide important leadership as ICSU seeks to implement its newly approved second Strategic Plan 2012–2017. View the press release. Image and description copied from www.icsu.org.

34th International Geological Congress Travel Grant and Mentoring Program
The GSA Foundation, the U.S. National Committee for Geological Sciences (of the National Academy of Sciences), Shell, Inc., and the American Geosciences Institute are excited to announce a travel grant and mentoring program for students and early career scientists who are enrolled in, or employed at, U.S. institutions. Early career scientists are defined as those within 7 years of receiving their Ph.D. Each award is anticipated to be a maximum of $3,000 (view the flyer by clicking on the image to the left). To apply, please submit the following items by February 17, 2012, to http://rock.geosociety.org/igc/:

• An on-line application/résumé,
• Proof of abstract submission and a copy of the submitted abstract,
• A record of relevant courses and grades (students only),
• Two letters of recommendation, and a
• Cover letter addressing your reasons for attending the meeting and a prioritized budget of expenses.

2012 AAAS Symposium - “Toward Stabilization of Net Global Carbon Dioxide Levels”
Sponsored by the four USNCs for the Earth Sciences and spearheaded by the U.S. National Committees for Soils and for Geodesy and Geophysics, this session aims to provide a clear understanding and comparison of the attributes of the various sequestration strategies, including their capacity, economics, risks, application time-scales, and long-term stability. The symposium will be held February 17, 2012 at the AAAS meeting in Vancouver, Canada. Speakers include:

• Isabel Montanez (University of California): Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Climate Sensitivity in a Warmer World
• Sally Benson (Stanford University): Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in Deep Sedimentary Formations
• Peter Brewer (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute): Impacts of Stabilizing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels: The Role of the Oceans
• Keith Paustian (Colorado State University): Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in Agriculture: Living Up to Potential?
• Karen Haugen-Kozyra (KHK Consulting Ltd.): Carbon Pricing Policies in North America: Past, Present, and Future
• Ben Yamagata (Coal Utilization Research Council): Managing Carbon Dioxide Emissions Today: An Industry Perspective

Organizer: Paul M. Bertsch, University of Kentucky
Co-Organizer: Ester Sztein, The National Academies
Discussants: James E. Hansen, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Cesar Izaurralde, Joint Global Change Research Institute

2012 AAAS Symposium - “Causes and Effects of Relative Sea-Level Changes in the Northeast Pacific"
This session, spearheaded by the U.S. National Committee for Geodesy and Geophysics, will first review the various contributing factors to relative sea-level changes in the Northeast Pacific and then examine likely adaptations with an emphasis on shores in British Columbia. The symposium will be held February 19, 2012 at the AAAS meeting in Vancouver, Canada. Speakers include:

• John J. Clague (Simon Fraser University): Impacts of Rising Seas on the British Columbia Coast in the 21st Century
• Denise J. Reed (University of New Orleans): Surviving Sea-Level Rise: What Can Be Done To Maintain Viable Coastal Wetlands?
• David Flanders (University of British Columbia): Flood Adaptation Near Vancouver: A Regional Adaptation Collaborative

Organizer: Brian F. Atwater, U.S. Geological Survey
Co-organizers: C.K. Shum, Ohio State University and Ester Sztein, The National Academies
Moderator: Brian F. Atwater, U.S. Geological Survey
Discussants: Margaret Davidson, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center and Philip R. Hill, Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada

Overview of the 2011 ICSU General Assembly
Eyes were on the future at the ICSU General Assembly in Rome, Italy. Delegates approved a number of key documents and initiatives, including a new Strategic plan, 2012-2017; the Earth System Sustainability Initiative; and the Urban Health and Well-Being Initiative. Reports were received on the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) program, a science education report, the ICSU regional offices, and the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). ICSU Statute 5, which deals with the freedoms and responsibilities of science, was revised to include more responsibilities, and weighted voting on financial matters was approved.

Rio+20: UN Conference on Sustainable Development June 20-22, 2012
The UN Conference on Sustainable Development, or Rio+20, is shaping up to be a landmark event in international discussions on sustainable development. The event, co-organized by the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. It will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 20-22, 2012. A number of preparatory meetings are occurring both in the United States and around the world in the months leading up to the meeting.

The UN General Assembly identified two principal themes for Rio+20: the green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and the institutional framework for sustainable development. It also identified three objectives: securing a renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing progress and remaining gaps in implementation, and addressing new and emerging challenges. ICSU and its partners, including the National Academies, will work to ensure that policy recommendations resulting from the conference integrate the best available knowledge from across the natural, social and engineering sciences. More than 15 U.S. federal agencies are preparing for Rio+20, and most of their discussions revolve around the “three pillars” of sustainable development: economic, environmental, and social. Image copied from http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/.

Sponsor
BISO is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0614728.