Yesterday, the Department of Education announced the next group of finalists for Race to the Top funds.  The finalists include 18 states and the District of Columbia. 

The ...

The Union of Concern Scientists (UCS) has launched a national advertising campaign designed to show the dedication and professionalism of those scientists studying climate change.  I think this is fantastic.  Hopefully this will help non-scientists better understand the science surrounding climate change.  Information on the UCS campaign can be found ...

In today's Politico five members of Congress write an opinion piece on the need for innovation to "jump start" the economy.  The piece begins with
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Last week, Stephen Joel Trachtenberg and Gerald Kauvar, both professors at GW, published an op-ed in the NY Times...

Twenty of the nation’s top high school chemistry students, representing 11 states, will compete for a spot on the United States’ team in the 42^nd annual International Chemistry Olympiad to be held in Tokyo, Japan, July 19-28, 2010.

Historically, the U.S. team, which is sponsored by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society, has been a strong competitor at the international event.  In 2009, the U.S. team won a gold medal and three silver medals.  In 2008, the team won one silver and three bronze medals. In 1999 and 2000, the American team won the top gold medal.

“ACS is proud of its 20 Olympiad finalists –– the best and most promising chemistry students in our country today. These young men and women will become the scientific leaders of tomorrow,” said Joseph S. Francisco, Ph.D., President of the ACS.  “The Olympiad is important not only because it stimulates broad interest nationally in chemistry, but because it brings students into a global perspective. In Tokyo this summer, the U.S. team will compete with their peers from around the world. And I’m pleased to say the caliber of our students is just outstanding; they reflect the best of this country.”

The 20 U.S. finalists who will compete for positions on the Olympiad team are from the following location and school:

City/State                                                                   High School

Arcadia, Calif.                                                                                    Arcadia High School

Cerritos, Calif.                                                                                   Gretchen Whitney High School

Folsom, Calif.                                                                                    Mira Loma High School

Fullerton, Calif.                                                                                  Troy High School                

Westport, Conn.                                                                                                Hopkins School

Zionsville, Ind.                                                                                   Zionsville High School

Clarksville, Md.                                                                                  River Hill High School

Hopkinton, Mass.                                                                                              St. Mark’s School

Hopkinton, Mass.                                                                                              St. Mark’s School

North Potomac, Md.                                                                          Wootton High School

Plymouth, Minn.                                                                                 Wayzata High School

Edison, N.J.                                                                                       John P. Stevens High School

Kendal Park, N.J.                                                                                              Princeton Day School

Monmouth Junct., N.J.                                                                     South Brunswick High School

Montvale, N.J.                                                                                    Bergen County Academies              

Vestal, N.Y.                                                                                         Vestal High School

Cary, N.C.                                                                                           North Carolina School, Sci. & Math

Chalfont, Pa.                                                                                      Central Buck South High School

Wexford, Pa.                                                                                       North Alleghany High School

McLean, Va.                                                                                       Thomas Jefferson Sci. & Tech.

Eighteen boys and two girls, chosen from a pool of more than 11,000 high school students nationwide, will spend June 1-16 preparing at a study camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.  During the camp, the students will receive college-level training, with an emphasis on organic chemistry, through a series of lectures, problem-solving exercises, lab work, and testing.

The 2010 finalists will be mentored by chemistry teachers Kimberly Gardner, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.; Kristin Fletcher, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.; Ara Kahyaoglu, Bergenfield High School, N.J.; and peer mentor, Brian Lee, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mass.

At the conclusion of the study camp, a four-member U.S. team and two alternates will be chosen to participate in the international contest that will include teams from more than 65 other countries.  Each country sends four contestants and two coaches to the host country for nine days of exams, lectures, recreation, and tours.

The International Chemistry Olympiad originated with Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Hungary in 1968.  Soon, other Eastern European countries joined the event; Western Europe began participating in 1974.  The first U.S. team competed in 1984, winning one silver and two bronze medals.

The American Chemical Society has sponsored the American team annually since the United States joined the Olympiad.  Principal funding is through the ACS’ Othmer Olympiad Endowment with additional support from the Air Force Academy; Advanced Chemistry Development; Carolina Biological Supply Company; Fisher Scientific; Flinn Scientific, Inc; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; McGraw-Hill Companies; Merck Publishing Group; Pearson Prentice Hall; Texas Instruments, Inc.; University Science Books; and Sigma Aldrich Co.

The reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act will be on the House floor today.  Below is the press release from House Science & Technology Chair Bart Gordon (D-TN) about this news.

Starting with the DC Meeting last fall, ACS has begun to record select presentations at national meetings and provide the content free on the web.  I think this is a great asset provided by ACS.  If you couldn't make the last meeting or couldn't decide which sessions to attend, now you can catch up.

The reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act is schedule for full House consideration next Wednesday or Thursday.  Right now, no Republicans have co-sponsored the bill and it is likely that no Republicans will vote for the bill.  The bill will provide a unified blueprint for strenghening our nation's innovation and competiveness--including the authorization for DOE, NSF, and NIST funding.