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April 3, 2000

For more information on these science news and feature story tips, please contact the public information officer at the end of each item at (703) 292-8070. Editor: Amber Jones

Innovation Effort Seeks to "Grease the Skids"

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking to "torque" the link between fundamental science and engineering discoveries and their use for innovation through a new program called Partnerships for Innovation. NSF released the first solicitation for proposals last week, following a workshop NSF hosted in early March to solicit inputs and to plan for a larger November workshop.

"This is an effort to formalize connections between knowledge and its use, to ensure that taxpayer money does work at the frontier--but that the knowledge generated doesn't lie fallow there," said NSF Deputy Director Joseph Bordogna. "We want to 'grease the skids,' so to speak. This connection is made informally now in many of our programs, but we want it to work better." When the connection works well, the economy benefits, said Bordogna.

This program reflects NSF's draft strategic plan for FY2000-2005, as approved by the National Science Board in February. This plan defines NSF's vision as "enabling the nation's future through discovery, learning and innovation." [Mary Hanson]

For the NSF draft strategic plan, see: http://www.nsf.gov/od/gpra/start.htm

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Asteroid Named for NSF Astronomer

Terrence Rettig, a planetary astronomer and current NSF program officer, has received the rare honor of having an asteroid named after him.

Previously known as "1985 GA1," the space rock will now be called "Asteroid Rettig" in recognition of his work in contributing to a better understanding of comets and planet formation. As a professor at the University of Notre Dame, Rettig has been active in programs to provide undergraduate students with hands-on research in physics and astrophysics. He also is the director of the Education and Interdisciplinary Research Program in NSF's Physics Division.

Asteroid Rettig was discovered in 1985 by Ted Bowell of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz.

Asteroids are the only celestial bodies that can be named for someone other than their discoverers, according to the International Astronomical Union. The IAU, based in Paris, bestows the honor. [Amber Jones]

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Women Earned Record Percentages of Doctorates in 1998

In 1998, women earned their largest percentage of research doctoral degrees in U.S. history, according to a new survey performed for NSF. A report on the survey, Doctorate Recipients from United States Universities, shows that women received 41.8 percent of all doctorates granted in the United States in 1998.

Women earned more doctorates than ever in almost all fields: 62.8 percent of all doctorates granted in education, 54.2 percent in the social sciences, 48.6 percent in the humanities, 45.4 percent in the life sciences and 41.6 percent in business/professional fields of study. While increases occurred in the number of degrees granted women in the physical sciences and engineering, the percentages remained small: 23.7 and 13 percent of these degrees, respectively, went to women.

The report is based on the Survey of Earned Doctorates conducted for the NSF and four other federal agencies by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.
[Charles S. Drum]

For more information, see: http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/srs00410/ and http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/nsf00304

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-NSF-

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