FDA Chapter of Sigma XI
The Scientific Research Society
Newsletter for March 13, 2003

1. Report on Winter Meeting
   
   FDA Chapter Sigma Xi Winter meeting was held on February 21, 2003 (despite the Presidental Holiday Day snowstorm) at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (PWRC), Laurel, MD. Some DC Sigma Chapter members (NIH and USDA) joined FDA members in a wonderful meeting. Dr. Graham W. Smith and Dr. Marshall Howe told us about some of the exciting research that is being conducted on this 12,000 acre Center. PWRC contains numerous wildlife habitats such as river, riparian zones, natural and constructed wetlands, forests, ponds and fields. There is a broad spectrums of National Programs located the PWRC including the North American Amphibian Monitory Program, Bird Banding Program, the Breeding Bird Survey, plus programs to restore the ecology of the Whooping Cranes. One of projects described was what is and how adaptive management is used to predict what habitat changes will have on migratory birds. Another project described was the bird banding program that researches the movement, survival and behavior of birds. They have valuable data dating back to 1902 on the distribution, movement of various species, relative numbers, annual production, life-span and causes of death. We held a brief business meeting following the talks.
   
   
2. 9th Annual, 2003 FDA Science Forum
   
   
   • Registration
     Have you registered for the 2003 Science Forum? The date is April 24-25, 2003, at The New Washington Convention Center. The cost is $25.00 and includes 2 days of exciting talks, workshops, job fair, exhibits, posters (box lunch is included) etc. Among the outstanding speakers for this years Science Forum is Dr. Zerhouni, Director of NIH and Dr. Mark McClellan, Commissioner, FDA.
     
     Special Attention: Retired FDA Sigma Xi members. Susan Bond (OC) has set aside 15 VIP complimentary passes for FDA Sigma Xi- retirees to attend the 2003 FDA Science Forum. You must act quickly by calling (301) 827-6687 or e-mail sbond@oc.fda.gov to reserve one of the special passes. Only a few people have taken advantage of this opportunity. Others may register on line at the following address: www.dcscienceforum.org
     
     
   • 2003 FDA Science Forum Poster Judges Needed!
     Center Science Forum Poster Judges needed. Would you, as a member for the FDA Chapter of Sigma Xi, or a previous winner of a Science Forum Poster Award, serve as a 2003 Science Forum poster judge? Sigma Xi will provide you with materials for judging the posters. Currently we have 3 CFSAN volunteers, one representative each from CDRH and from CVM, but none from CDER, ORA, NCTR, and CBER. There are 359 posters this year. We need your help. The judging will take place on the first day, during the lunch break.
     
     
   • Criteria for Judging Posters
     5 basic criteria are used to judge the posters. They must be clear, concise, important, relevant and eye-catching. Refer to our Chapter's web-site for a complete description: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sxfda.html
     
     
   • Recognition of Top 3 and Peoples Choice Posters
     We ask that each person report their top 3 best posters. Sigma Xi officers will tabulate results. Everyone attending the poster session will also be able to vote again this year for the "Peoples Choice" Poster (Howard Cyr's idea).
     
     
   • New this year: Clear Science Award
     The Clear Science Communication team will select the poster that they feel best supports their criteria of clear communication e.g. that demonstrates the importance of the research to someone who is not an expert in the field.
     
     
   • Contacts for Science Forum
     If you can serve as a poster judge, please contact one of the following:

     Fred Fry (ffry@cfsan.fda.gov)
     Howard Cyr (hwc@cdrh.fda.gov) or me
     Paddy Wiesenfeld (pwiesenf@cfsan.fda.gov)

3. Local Science Fairs
   
   Jeffrey Yourick (jyourick@cfsan.fda.gov) is our Sigma Xi local science fair chairman. Please consider giving 4 or 5 hours of your time, once a year. We need 3 or 4 judges for each science fair. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet lots of wonderful young people and see some exciting work. For more information contact Jeff. Dates for local science fairs are as follows:
   
   

   Fairfax, VA	March 15, 2003 (winners selected)
   Washington, DC	March 15, 2003 (winners selected)
   Montgomery County, MD	March 22, 2003 (new location GE Global Exchange Services this weekend!)
   Prince Georges County, MD	April 5, 2003

   
   
   
4. Annual Banquet: Joint FDA & DC Sigma Xi Chapters
   http://www.sigmaxi.org/chapters/web/index.php?chapter_id=22&event;_id=74

   Date:	May 2, 2003
   Location:	Anchor Inn, Wheaton, MD
   Cost:	$20.00 - $25.00
   Reservations:	send checks to: Dr. T.F.X. Collins, Treasurer FDA Chapter Sigma Xi
   Speaker:	Dr. John D. Rummel Biologist and NASA Planetary Protection Officer "Life in the Universe and Safe Solar System Exploration" Learn about sample returns from comets, the solar system and Mars or ask him about his research in Antarctica
   Biographical Information:	Dr. John D. Rummel is the NASA Planetary Protection Officer, based at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. While at NASA Headquarters from 1986-1993, Rummel held posts as the Deputy Chief of the Mission From Planet Earth Study Office, and in the Life Sciences and Solar System Exploration Divisions served as the Exobiology Program Manager and the SETI Program Scientist, and as the Branch Chief for the Gravitational Biology, Life Support, and Biospheric Research Programs in the Life Sciences Division. He led the US teams responsible for defining joint exobiology and life support activities with the Soviet Union/Russia, and served for the first time as the NASA Planetary Protection Officer. From 1994-1998, he was the Director of Research Administration and Education at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, where he was responsible for the MBL's year-round and summer research efforts, its fellowship program, and for the MBL's world-famous program in advanced biological education. He is also a Faculty Associate at the Department of Civil Engineering at Colorado State University, and was detailed from there to NASA during 1999-2001. For his work at Headquarters Dr. Rummel was the recipient of NASA performance and achievement awards, and was made a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His research interests have included ecosystems ecology, community ecology and evolutionary biology, the ecology and biogeography of deep sea hydrothermal vents, and the potential for life elsewhere in the universe. Dr. Rummel first came to NASA in 1985 as a National Research Council Research Associate, conducting research on microbial ecology and on the modeling of Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems at the Ames Research Center in California. He was awarded a Doctorate by Stanford University for his research in community ecology and evolution in 1985. He was an undergraduate at the University of Colorado in Environmental Biology, and served on active duty as a Naval Flight Officer for five years before attending graduate school.

   
   
   
5. Other:
   
   Remember for information about the national organization go to: http://www.sigmaxi.org
   • Sigma Xi Exchange is now on line. Submit and read announcements about conferences, funding opportunities, internships, job listings and more.
   Grants in Aid for Research - supports both undergraduate and graduate students.
   • Pay dues on line