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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: Bill Noxon Contents of this News Tip:
NSF DIRECTOR OFFERS SCIENCE TOY TIPSParents seeking last-minute gifts and stocking-stuffers for their youngsters should consider simple toys that kindle their child's natural curiosity, says National Science Foundation (NSF) director Neal Lane. Lane acknowledges the pressure to buy the latest equivalent of "Tickle Me" toys, but he encourages parents to also "'tickle' your children's intellectual inclinations and brighten their future with a toy that stimulates creativity and thinking skills." As examples, Lane suggests a magnet or simple gyroscope; or a pocket-sized illuminated magnifier which "can cost less than $10 and provides a wonderland view of nature for children. Simply add insects to create a hands-on science experience." Building and construction toys teach spatial relations, and the familiar Slinky teaches fundamentals of wave motion, he adds. Lane suggests an Internet search for TOYS and SCIENCE for more gift ideas; or, lacking Internet access, visiting a science museum or nature store, or just consulting the child's teacher. More than the gift itself, though, Lane emphasizes the importance of parental involvement in a child's discovery process. "Your active participation in your child's intellectual development is perhaps the greatest gift of all," he says. (Mary Hanson/Lee Herring) Y2K PROBLEM GOES BEYOND COMPUTERS, SAYS EXPERTThe much-publicized computer problem that will accompany the turn of the century is a symptom of a changing and complex relationship between humans and computers, according to the expert NSF has appointed to help its grantees. "We need to change how we think about information technology and systems," says University of Washington technical communication professor Mark Haselkorn. Haselkorn is on assignment to NSF to provide advice, oversight and assistance to the scientific research and education community that NSF supports. Haselkorn points out that the "Year 2000 problem" -- also known as "the century date change problem," "the millenium bug," and simply "Y2K" - encompasses more than hardware and software. "Certainly there are major hardware, operating system, software and data issues, but fixing any of these in isolation doesn't assure that the entire information system is compliant," Haselkorn says. "It's also about people and organizations. It's about how information systems are used, maintained and evolved in the real world." The most difficult aspects of Y2K stem from rapid technology development that has not been sufficiently guided by human needs and the actual environments in which the technology is used, according to Haselkorn. "We are moving away from a focus on technology to information and its uses," he says. "Information technology must serve people and policy, not the other way around." Since November, Haselkorn has been working with some of the major research activities supported by NSF to reduce potential disruptions to the national research program. (Mary Hanson) NSF CITED IN R & D MAGAZINE TECHNOLOGY AWARDSR&D Magazine has listed NSF among recipients of the publication's annual R&D 100 Awards, recognizing the year's100 most technologically significant new products and processes. R & D cited NSF for supporting research leading to the development of the TurboToolTM, a spindle system developed by engineers at Aesop Inc. of Bow, N.H., in collaboration with Boston Digital Corp. of Milford, Mass. and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, using a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from NSF and the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences in Ann Arbor, Mich. The spindle system uses a water-driven, water-bearing-supported turbine for high-speed, high-power milling. It reportedly weighs and costs less, produces more and lasts longer than competing products. Its only moving part is the turbine-bearing toolbit, centered by hydrostatic bearings to substantially reduce errors. It features an innovative hole along its axis to permit critical water cooling during high-friction milling. The system's speed and power are reportedly almost 2.5 times greater than conventional systems, and the bearing has been demonstrated to withstand high forces during machining operations. (George Chartier)
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