This select group of Members are currently meeting in a joint House-Senate Conference to work out differences in their respective versions of the FY2002 budget plan. At issue is an amendment that the Senate passed in its budget resolution to add $1.44 billion in R&D funding above the level recommended by President Bush for the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, and science programs in the Department of Energy. Without this amendment, most non-health related federal research programs will receive budget cuts or flat funding. Time is of the essence, as the member-level conference negotiations are expected to be completed quickly. Contact IEEE-USA Legislative Representative Bill Williams, 202-530-8331, bill.williams@ieee.org if you have any questions or need any assistance.
IEEE-USA CO-SPONSORS CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING ON K-12 EDUCATION - IEEE-USA joined a coalition of engineering associations and the International Technology Education Association in co-sponsoring a congressional briefing on April 4, which focused on the roles that engineering and technology can play in supporting math/science education at the K-12 level. Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) was the host of the event, "Engineering Our Future With Partnerships," which featured Ioannis Miaoulis, Dean of Engineering at Tufts University, and Charles Lovas, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Southern Methodist University. Dr. Miaoulis highlighted a Massachusetts initiative to include engineering-related instruction as part of its required K-12 educational curriculum. Dr. Louvas highlighted the engineering societies' pre-college education initiatives and how he is implementing The Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology (SMET) program in Texas schools. SMET is a cooperative effort of industry, engineering societies, school districts, community, and K-8 teachers of English, math, science, social studies, and technology. Lovas' program uses the nationally acclaimed A World in Motion (AWIM) materials developed and classroom-tested by the Society of Automotive Engineers Foundation as the vehicle for introducing science, math, and technology. During the A World in Motion experience, students work together in "engineering design teams" as they explore mathematics and physics through a series of hands-on, inquiry-based learning activities.
ITAA CLAIMS DEMAND FOR IT WORKERS DOWN 44% - The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), who helped champion legislative increases last year in the number of high-tech guestworker (H-1B) visas based on claims of wide-spread shortages of skilled IT workers, has released an updated study (When Can You Start?) that acknowledges that demand for new IT workers is way down from their 2000 projections. ITAA reports that 900,000 new IT workers will be needed in 2001 -- a drop of 44% from 2000. The study also concludes that the shortfall of workers in 2001, estimated at 425,000 more positions than available workers, is only half of the shortfall predicted 12 months ago. ITAA President Harris Miller acknowledged that "the downswing in the US economy has undoubtedly affected the demand for IT workers this year." Miller also sited improvements in education and training as strengthening the US IT workforce, but avoided acknowledging the increased number of H-1B guestworkers as a factor.
Meanwhile, EE Times reports that the current trend in the US economy and the resulting decline in applications for US high-tech visas this year pose an immediate threat to the job prospects of many software engineers from India and around the world.
STUDY FINDS AMERICAN'S ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INTERNET CRIME AND SUPPORT E-MAIL MONITORING - A survey conducted by the Pew Charitable Trust's Internet and American Life Project finds that 54% of Americans support FBI or other law enforcement agencies intercepting email over the Internet sent to and from people suspected of criminal activities. At the same time, respondents split equally for or against the FBI's current e-mail wiretap system, formerly dubbed "Carnivore," with opponents saying the potential for abuse outweighs any crime-fighting benefits. Sixty-two percent of respondents said new privacy laws were needed to protect online communications against unwarranted surveillance, while 14% said existing laws covering telephone conversations were adequate. The study also confirmed that Americans are deeply concerned about criminal activity on the Internet, including concerns about child pornography, credit card theft, Internet terrorism, hackers accessing government and business computer networks, and destructive computer viruses.
IEEE AND JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC. CO-BRANDING - IEEE has joined with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. to develop and publish a co-branded imprint of books in the fields of electrical, electronics, and computer engineering. View the complete list of Wiley-IEEE Press online by title or by technical category.
Note that IEEE standards, conference proceedings, Computer Society titles, education and training products and some books will continue to be sold directly by the IEEE. All order processing, fulfillment, and title information for IEEE Press books will be handled by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
IEEE GOLD IN AUSTRALIAN BOAT RACE - At this year's Australian Science Festival in Canberra, an IEEE GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) group participated in the SolACT Smart Race--Australia's only solar and advanced-technology boat race. The race provides a venue for the exchange of ideas between researchers, engineers, students, backyard inventors and boating enthusiasts and inspires innovation in the field of clean-energy water transport. The IEEE GOLD team used a commercially available Windrush catamaran, adapted to run on an electric drive system. Says team member Eric Lensson, "Our team entry is based on a commercial off-the-shelf approach, with the aim to gain experience and have a bit of fun. We are planning on mounting a more serious technology based entry in 2002." Visit: http://www.sciencefestival.com.au/boat/index.htm
IEEE GLOBAL TRAVEL OFFERS AA DISCOUNTS - IEEE Members can obtain American Airlines discounts off select published fares this year as a result of contract negotiations with the carrier. Preferred pricing has also been negotiated for select markets. Some restrictions apply. For more information, call Travel Services at 732 562 5387.
Jean Eason, Editor