What's New @ IEEE-USA - Eye On Washington

1) CAPITOL HILL WATCH

• Down to Two FY 2006 Appropriations Bills and Congress is Running Out of Time

• Senate Passed Bill To Increase Use of Electronic Medical Records

2) WHITE HOUSE & EXECUTIVE AGENCY WATCH

• Nano-Switches Could Become Part of your iPod, Computer, Etc....

• IEEE Members Receive National Medal of Technology

3) REPORTS, SPEECHES & DOCUMENTS OF NOTE

• New Gao Reports

• NSF Says Science and Engineering Doctorates Are Up for Second Year in a Row

4) U.S. COURTS ACTIVITY

None at this time.

5) U.S. STATES WATCH

• N.C. Judge Refuses Protection For E-Voting Machine Maker

• 2005 Science and Technology Action Plan for Maine

6) AWARDS & GRANTS

7) CONFERENCES, FELLOWSHIPS, PROGRAMS & INTERNSHIPS FOR ENGINEERS, and STUDENTS and SCHOLARS OF ENGINEERING

• 2007 Government Fellowships

• IEEE Student Members Encouraged to Apply for 2006 WISE Program

• WISE Program Seeks Senior Science & Technology Public Policy Advisor to Engineering Students (Nine Week Summer Position)

8) LATEST IEEE-USA ACTIVITIES

• Track IEEE-USA's Progress

9) U.S. COMPETITIVENESS: WHO'S DOING WHAT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE?

• IEEE-USA Resource Web Page - U.S. Competitiveness: The Innovation Challenge

10) OTHER ITEMS OF POSSIBLE INTEREST

None at this time.

1) CAPITOL HILL WATCH

• Down to Two FY 2006 Appropriations Bills and Congress is Running Out of Time

As of today, Friday, 2 December, all but 2 of the FY06 funding appropriations bills had become public law.  (For a full status report, visit http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app06.html.) The unfinished appropriations bills include the bills that will fund the Departments of Labor, Education and Health and Human Services, and the Department of Defense.

The Labor/ HHS bill failed a full House vote shortly before Thanksgiving. Congressional Quarterly described the failure as a "revolt by 22 Republicans." The defeat is a setback for GOP leaders, especially House Speaker Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) who recently assumed the position after Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) was forced to step down after a criminal indictment. No Democrats voted for the $602 billion spending bill which they charged would shortchange critical health and school programs.

Republican leaders had their own complaints and attributed the defeat to a variety of issues. Some were upset about the lack of earmarks in the bill; and others criticized cuts to rural health care programs. Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.) said the bill did not contain enough money for education. It would provide $12.8 billion for programs for low-income school districts, which is $100 million, or about 1 percent, more than in FY 2005. The funding is $503 million less than the President's request.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) voted against the legislation, saying he could not support the measure because it included language that would block the federal government from paying for drugs such as Viagara, starting in 2006 – a move not to preserve sexual dysfunction drugs for seniors, but to protect the government from lawsuits. The government has signed contracts with Medicare providers to offer drugs to beneficiaries starting 1 January, and the companies have already set their formularies and begun marketing their plans. If the government is barred from reimbursing them, Thomas said, "it puts [Medicare and Medicaid] and drug plans in legal jeopardy."

All of these agencies are currently running under a stopgap spending measure that expires on 17 December, and were threatened with continuation under another stopgap measure that could have lasted all of 2006. However, today, Senate majority leader Frist said that's unlikely, "We'll get it done."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she thinks appropriators are likely to attach the Labor/HHS bill to the must-pass FY 2006 Defense appropriations bill. That strategy would make it difficult for many members to vote against the objectionable  Labor/HHS items, since lawmakers do not want to seem unsupportive of troops in Iraq. The Defense appropriations measure was tied up over whether to include a Senate provision to ban torture of U.S. detainees captured in the war in Iraq or elsewhere. The White House has threatened to veto any legislation that restricts the government's ability to interrogate terrorist suspects.

The House is expected to resume business on Tuesday, 6 December. The Senate will resume on Monday, 12 December.

• Senate Passed Bill To Increase Use of Electronic Medical Records

18 NOV: The Senate passed bipartisan legislation aimed at increasing the use of electronic medical records to prevent errors and increase efficiency in the health care system. The Senate has taken a huge step into the information age, finally, said Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) who has touted the measure as one of his top priorities. This bill will do as much as anything we have done in this Congress . . . to cut waste and inefficiency out of our health care system. This measure was an interesting bipartisan effort in that it combined elements of two information technology bills. One was cosponsored by Frist and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY); and the other was cosponsored by Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.)and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.).

The biggest benefit is that this bill is going to allow the medical data to move with the people as they move, said Enzi. He called it a truly monumental piece of legislation. Privacy concerns caused some members to be wary of the legislation, but Enzi submitted an amendment to address those questions.

The bill establishes an Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). A government-sponsored board would make recommendations for setting national standards for medical data technologies. It also would award competitive grants to health care providers that distribute and store health information electronically. To protect the privacy of the data, the measure would clarify that current health privacy rules apply to any health information stored or transmitted electronically. The President has set a goal for most Americans to have electronic medical records within the next decade. David Brailer, Bush's national coordinator of health information technology, estimates the technology could reduce health care costs by $140 billion a year.

In the House, Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.) and Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) introduced health care information technology legislation to allow HHS to set national medical privacy standards if the department deemed them to be necessary and Congress failed to legislate them. Johnson's bill would set up a permanent governing structure for national interoperability standards, she says, because I think it's important to . . . structure the collaboration between the public and private sectors.

2) WHITE HOUSE & EXECUTIVE AGENCY WATCH

• Nano-Switches Could Become Part of your iPod, Computer, Etc....

22 NOV: National Science Foundation reports that Molecular Turn-Ons Could Find Use in Future Computers and Other Electronic Devices – Taking an essential step in the emerging field of molecular electronics, a research team led by scientists at the Pennsylvania State University, Rice University, and the University of Oregon have developed a way to control single-molecule switches by engineering their design and surrounding environment. More specifically, the researchers have shown that single-molecule switches can be tailored to respond in predictable and stable ways: some switches will turn on when an electric field is applied, while others will turn off in response to the same electric field.

The discovery could further the development of nano-components as small as molecules, or even atoms, for use in future generations of computers and other electronic devices. The team's work was funded in part by the National Science Foundation. Details will be published Dec. 21, 2005, in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

• IEEE Members Receive National Medal of Technology

President Bush announced the recipients of the 2004 National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology, the nation's highest honors for science and technology research.

The National Medal of Science honors individuals for pioneering scientific research that has led to a better understanding of the world around us, as well as to innovations and technologies that give the United States its global economic edge. The National Medal of Technology recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness, standard of living, and quality of life through technological innovation. Many recipients of the 2004 awards are members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, or Institute of Medicine.

The 2004 Technology Medal Award Laureates include IEEE Life Senior Member Ralph Henry Baer of Manchester, N.H.; and IEEE Life Fellow Roger Lee Easton of Canaan, N.H.  For a full listing of recipients, please visit http://www.nationalacademies.org/headlines/20051116.html

3) REPORTS, SPEECHES & DOCUMENTS OF NOTE

• New GAO Reports

Potential Spectrum Interference Associated with Military Land Mobile Radios - In response to an April 27, 2005, request bye Todd Platts (R-Pa.), Chairman of the Government Reform Committee's Subcommittee on Government Management, Finance, and Accountability, the GAO reviewed the potential spectrum interference caused by DOD's recent deployment of Land Mobile Radios. This report summarizes the results of GAO's review and makes a recommendation to the Department of Defense.

Offshoring of Services: An Overview of the Issues (GAO-06-5, November 28, 2005) - Much attention has focused on the offshoring of services to lower-wage locations abroad. Extensive public debate has arisen about both the potential benefits of services offshoring, such as lower consumer prices and higher U.S. productivity, as well as the potential costs, such as increased job displacement for selected U.S. workers. In response to widespread congressional interest, GAO conducted work under the Comptroller General's authority to help policy makers better understand the potential impacts and policy implications of services offshoring. This report: (1) provides an overview of experts' views on the potential impacts of services offshoring, (2) describes the types of policies that have been proposed in response to offshoring, and (3) highlights some key areas where additional research might help advance the debate about offshoring. In its comments, the Department of Commerce generally agreed with the findings of this report. Commerce, Treasury, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative also provided technical comments that have been incorporated as appropriate.

• NSF Says Science and Engineering Doctorates Are Up for Second Year in a Row

According to new survey results, the number of Ph.D. degrees granted in science and engineering (S&E) fields has increased for the second year in a row. Despite the gains, the 26,275 Ph.D. degrees earned in the 2004 academic year--the period the survey covers--are still shy of the 1998 peak of 27,278. For more info, see

http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=105627

4) U.S. COURTS ACTIVITY

None at this time.

5) US STATES WATCH

• N.C. Judge Refuses Protection For E-Voting Machine Maker

A North Carolina judge refused to grant prosecutorial immunity to electronic voting machine maker Diebold should the company fail to disclose its software code. Under state law, e-voting machine makers must make that information available in the event of an election mishap. With the recent ruling, Diebold is worried that it might face a lawsuit given that some of its code is owned by third-party software firms like Microsoft. As a result, the Ohio-based company will have no alternative but to withdraw from a certification process currently underway by the North Carolina State Board of Elections, said Diebold lawyer Doug Hanna. About 20 North Carolina counties already use Diebold voting machines.

• 2005 Science and Technology Action Plan for Maine

Maine plans to make big investments to better support R&D and other innovative activities in the state. Maine's new 2005 Science and Technology Action Plan lays out a program to achieve $1 billion in state R&D activity by 2010. Part of the plan focuses on improving the quality of the state's workforce and investing in Maine's research universities and other institutions. It also involves an active embrace of entrepreneurship via creation of new capital sources for emerging businesses and the development of a strong statewide network of support and technical assistance for entrepreneurs. To access the 2005 Science and Technology Action Plan for Maine, by the Maine Office of Innovation, visit http://www.maineinnovation.com/studies_reports/pdfs/science_technology_action_plan_2005.pdf

6) AWARDS & GRANTS

• AAAS Grant Site

The American Association for the Advancement of Science has a service called GrantsNet Express.  Each week GrantsNet will provide a listing of science funding opportunities from private foundations and organizations, and new U.S. government grant announcements in the sciences. AAAS will send GrantsNet by e-mail to AAAS member subscribers. The weekly emails will include: — New science funding programs, divided into opportunities for postdocs/graduate students and undergraduates — Submission deadlines for funding opportunities scheduled in the upcoming week — New listings of funding for science-related grant programs from U.S. government agencies To register, visit http://www2.sciencecareers.org/promos/grantsubmit.asp

• Department of Defense

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is soliciting proposals for research in systems and component technologies to address a variety of chem/bio/rad/nuclear threats, including threats to buildings and urban environments. Individual awards are expected to be shorter than 12 months and less than $1 million. Eligibility is unrestricted. Proposals may be submitted at any time until Nov. 15, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/DOD/DARPA/CMO/BAA06-02/listing.html

DARPA is soliciting proposals for advanced R&D in six areas: (1) counter underground facilities, (2) next generation space technologies and systems, (3) global tailored tactical surveillance, (4) defense against chemical, biological and radiological weapons, (5) assured urban operations, and (6) GPS-free guidance and navigation. Awards having a project period of up to five years is anticipated. Eligibility is unrestricted. Proposals may be submitted at any time until Nov. 14, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/BAA06%2D02/listing.html

DARPA is soliciting proposals to develop large-area addressable masks for adaptive coded aperture imaging systems operating in the mid-wave infrared. Extremely wide field-of-view coded aperture imaging technology is needed to support single sensor day/night persistent tactical surveillance of all moving vehicles in a large urban battlefield. Multiple awards are anticipated. Eligibility is unrestricted. Proposals are due Feb. 4, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/BAA06%2D11/listing.html

The Air Force is soliciting white papers for funding under the Full Spectrum Protection Program. This program seeks to enhance warfighter capability by increasing the produciblity and affordability of countermeasures in order to protect aircrews and weapon systems from emerging threats. Approximately $2 million over fiscal years 2006-08 is expected to be available for awards. Eligibility is unrestricted. White papers are due Dec. 16, 2005. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLWRS/BAA%2DML%2D05%2D16%2DPKM/listing.html

The Air Force is soliciting white papers for funding under the FY 2006 Test and Evaluation Research Program. The solicitation outlines 10 areas of interest, including (1) automated calibration of turbine performance simulations using optimum robust estimation of engine model parameters, (2) investigation of microchannel cooling critical heat flux, and (3) optical tracking without targets using digital cameras, to name a few. Awards of approximately $100,000 for a project period of up to three years are anticipated. Eligibility is unrestricted. Proposals are due Jan. 5, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFOSR/AFOSR%2DBAA%2D2006/listing.html

The Air Force is soliciting proposals for basic and applied research in support of the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program. The solicitation highlights numerous research areas organized and managed under four scientific directorates: (1) aerospace and materials sciences, (2) physics and electronics, chemistry and life sciences, and (3) mathematics and space sciences. Proposals involving two or more partners from academia, industry and Air Force organizations are encouraged. Grant, cooperative agreement and contract awards are anticipated. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFOSR/AFOSR%2DBAA%2D2006%2D1/listing.html

The Air Force is soliciting white papers for research in technologies and methods for enhancing collaboration and analyst/system effectiveness. The solicitation outlines three main areas of interest: (1) modeling the analytic process, (2) prior and tacit knowledge, and (3) hypothesis generation and tracking. Approximately $49 million over fiscal years 2006-10 is expected to be available for awards having a project period of up to 53 months. Eligibility is unrestricted. White papers are due Dec. 6, 2005, for the initial evaluation phase. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLRRS/Reference%2DNumber%2DBAA%2D06%2D02%2DIFKA/listing.html

The Air Force is soliciting white papers for research in the area of intelligence and and analytic support systems. Projects are sought in (1) system research, (2) component research, (3) gap filling research, and (4) system evaluation architecture. Approximately $49 million over fiscal years 2006-10 is expected to be available for awards. Eligibility is unrestricted. White papers are due Dec. 15, 2005, for the initial evaluation phase. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLRRS/Reference%2DNumber%2DBAA%2D06%2D04%2DIFKA/listing.html

The Air Force is soliciting white papers for funding under the Commander's Predictive Environment program. The goal of this program is to provide a decision support environment that enables the Joint Force Commander/Joint Force Air Component Commander to anticipate and shape the future battlespace. Approximately $4.9 million over fiscal years 2006-08 is expected to be available for awards having a project period of up to one year. Eligibility is unrestricted. White papers are due Dec. 19, 2005, for the initial evaluation phase. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLRRS/Reference%2DNumber%2DBAA%2D06%2D07%2DIFKA/listing.html

The Air Force is soliciting white papers for R&D in warfighter interface technologies. Research will primarily be focused in five areas: (1) battlespace visualization, (2) system control interfaces, (3) cognitive systems, (4) collaborative interfaces, and (5) battlespace acoustics. Approximately $25 million is expected to be available over fiscal years 2004-09. Eligibility is unrestricted. White papers may be submitted at any time until Sept. 30, 2009. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLWRS/BAA%2D04%2D06%2DHE/listing.html

The Air Force is soliciting proposals to establish a Collaborative Center in Aeronautical Sciences. The initial focus for this center will be on developing and integrating all of the computational tools required to perform reliable, high-fidelity, multidisciplinary analysis of airbreathing, hypersonic vehicle concepts. Approximately $2.25 million over fiscal years 2006-10 is expected to be available to support the center. Eligibility is unrestricted. Proposals are due Jan. 20, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLWRS/BAA%2DPKV%2D05%2D10/listing.html

The Department of the Army is seeking sources capable of developing a ground vehicle mounted high performance ground penetrating radar (GPR) to detect improvised explosive devices and antitank landmines. The goal of this market research is to identify companies having either a mature close-in GPR system or the capabilities to rapidly mature such a GPR system. White papers are due Dec. 5, 2005. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/USAMC/DAAB15/W909MY%2D06%2DR%2DPM01/listing.html

The Army invites members of the National Small Arms Technology Consortium, or applicants for membership, to submit proposals for a requirement in one or more of eight small arms technology areas. These areas were identified to improve the ability of the soldier to execute his tasks. No funding is available at this time for this requirement. Proposals are due Jan. 18, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/USAMC/DAAE30/W15QKN%2D06%2DR%2D0250/listing.html

The Army is soliciting proposals to develop autonomous mine detection sensors technology. The goal is to evaluate and demonstrate approaches for autonomous mine detection of anti-personnel (AP) and anti-tank (AT) mines from a small robotic platform. Technology approaches are sought that can detect AP and AT mines at a minimum distance of 10 meters in front of the detection sensor. Proposals are due Jan. 12, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/USAMC/DAAB15/W909MY%2D06%2DR%2D0001/listing.html

The Navy is soliciting proposals to develop technologies to detect, access, examine, render safe and dispose of unexploded ordnance. Applicants may request a project period of up to three years and a total budget of up to $1.5 million. Proposals are due March 24, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/NAVSEA/N0464A/BAAN0464A0601/listing.html

The Missile Defense Agency is seeking information supporting the potential establishment, operation and management of an Industrial Partnership to include a wide variety of Ballistic Missile Defense System industry primes, lower tier suppliers, and small businesses. Technical work will focus on the MDA Producibility and Manufacturing Technology Deputate key investment areas: electro optics/infra-red, radiation hardened electronics and components, advanced materials and structures, power systems, radar & RF, propulsion, anti-tamper, and manufacturing processes. Responses are due Dec. 13, 2005. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/MDA/WASHDC1/Reference%2DNumber%2DHQ0006%2D05%2DRFI%2DBMDSIP/listing.html

• Department of Education

ED invites small business firms to submit research proposals for funding under its FY 2006 SBIR Program. This highly competitive program encourages small businesses to explore their technological potential and profit from its commercialization. Firms with strong research capabilities in educational technologies in any of the priority areas listed in the solicitation are encouraged to participate. Approximately 35 Phase I awards of up to $100,000 for project periods of up to six months are anticipated. Applications are due Jan. 6, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/ED/OCFO/CPO/errd080008/listing.html

• Department of Energy (DOE)

DOE invites applications for applied research in the Solid-State Lighting Product Development Program. This solicitation includes four areas of interest targeting innovations in both light emitting diodes (LED) and organic light emitting diodes (OLED): (1) LED materials issues – device materials, (2) LED device issues – optical, (3) OLED efficient materials development, and (4) OLED architectures that improve device robustness, lifetime, and efficiency. Approximately $3.75 million is expected to be available for 2-5 awards having a project period of 1-3 years. Cost-sharing of at least 20 percent is required. All types of domestic applicants are eligible to apply, except other federal agencies, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, and some nonprofit organizations. Applications are due Jan. 17, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/DOE/PAM/HQ/DE-PS26-06NT42480-00/listing.html

DOE has announced the availability of funding for its seven Office of Science program areas and the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). The program areas are: (1) basic energy sciences, (2) high energy physics, (3) nuclear physics, (4) advanced scientific computing, (5) fusion energy sciences, (6) biological and environmental research, and (7) energy research analyses. Approximately $400 million in FY 2006 funding is expected to be available for awards. Eligibility is unrestricted. Applications may be submitted at any time. More information is available at: http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/DOE/PAM/HQ/DE-FG01-06ER06-01/listing.html

DOE invites U.S. colleges and universities with nuclear engineering programs to submit applications for the Matching Grants Program. The program is designed to encourage collaborative support for nuclear engineering education between the nation's nuclear industry and DOE. Approximately $1 million is expected to be available for 20-30 awards having a project period of 12 months. DOE will award up to $60,000 per award per university, with an equal or greater match from a private sector sponsor. Applications are due Dec. 14, 2005. More information is available at: http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/DOE/PAM/HQ/DE-PS07-06ID14719/listing.html

DOE invites applications from U.S. colleges and universities with licensed operating reactors for participation in the University Reactor Sharing program. The purpose of the this program is to strengthen nuclear science and engineering instruction in the curricula of the nonreactor-owning colleges, universities and other education institutions. Approximately $600,000 in FY 2006 funding is expected to be available for 20-22 awards. Applications are due Dec. 14, 2005. More information is available at: http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/DOE/PAM/HQ/DE-PS07-06ID14720/listing.html

• Environmental Protection Agency

EPA is soliciting proposals for funding to support new and innovative programs, technologies or strategies for achieving additional air pollution emissions reductions. This includes nontraditional and voluntary measures. Approximately $100,000 is expected to be available for two awards. Eligible states, territories, Indian tribes, and possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, international organizations, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private nonprofit institutions. Proposals are due Jan. 6, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/EPA/OGD/GAD/EPA-OAR-EMAD-05-22/listing.html

• Department of Labor

The Employment and Training Administration invites applications for funding under the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative. This initiative is intended to support regions in their effort to implement a transformational approach to their workforce and economic development systems. Approximately $50 million is expected to be available for awards of up to $5 million per year for up to three years. Up to 10 regions will be selected to participate. Only governors may apply on behalf of regions within their states. Applications are due Jan. 5, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/DOL/OGCM/OGCM/SGA-DFA-PY-05-04/listing.html

• NASA

NASA is seeking sources to perform aeronautical rotary wing engineering, R&D, systems analysis, and modeling and simulation. The solicitation lists six areas as examples of task order subjects: (1) rotorcraft aeromechanics modeling and analysis, (2) simulation facility hardware and software development for experimental research and feasibility assessments, (3) aircraft performance, handling qualities, cockpit displays, and flight control systems analysis and evaluation, (4) distributed and non-distributed models and simulation information technology services, (5) human-in-the-loop simulation RDT&E, and (6) operations effectiveness analysis, modeling and simulation, program analysis and management. Responses are due Dec. 13, 2005. More information is available at: http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/synopsis.cgi?acqid=118331

• National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF is soliciting proposals for funding under the Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology program. This program seeks to enhance the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research. Minority-serving institutions are defined as those U.S. institutions of higher education ave enrollments of 50 percent or more of members of minority groups underrepresented among those holding advanced degrees in science and engineering fields: Alaskan Natives, African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, and Native Pacific Islanders. Approximately $9.7 million is expected to be available for 13-21 awards. Required letters of intent are due Jan. 6 and Feb. 3 of 2006; proposals are due March 3 and April 3 of 2006, respectively. More information is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf06510

• Microsoft Research

Microsoft Research is soliciting proposals for research into the use of technologies that make computing affordable, accessible and relevant, including cell phones, wireless technologies and applications. Research should seek to expand capabilities of computing technology worldwide to better serve social and economic challenges of underserved communities. Approximately $1.2 million is expected to be available for 15-20 awards ranging from $20,000 to $100,000. Proposing institutions must be accredited baccalaureate-granting colleges or universities, or the international equivalent, with nonprofit status. Proposals are due Jan. 13, 2006. More information is available at: http://research.microsoft.com/ur/us/fundingopps/RFPs/DigitalInclusion_2005_RFP.aspx

7) CONFERENCES, FELLOWSHIPS, PROGRAMS & INTERNSHIPS FOR ENGINEERS, and STUDENTS & SCHOLARS OF ENGINEERING

• 2007 Congressional & State Department Fellowships

An engineer once changed careers to serve as Calvin Coolidge's Vice President. As vice president, Charles Dawes influenced the public policy process and won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Dawes might be an extreme example, but that doesn't mean engineers can't influence the public policy process in other ways.  If you don't want to run for office but would like to take a year off from your regular job, IEEE-USA is now accepting applications for the 2007 government fellowship program that links engineers with government.  Our 2005 fellows are working on issues such as homeland security and R&D funding. For more information on what past fellows have learned and experienced, see http://ieeeusa.com/policy/govfel/cfalumni.html.  The deadline is 20 February 2006 and application materials are available at:http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/govfel/default.asp

• IEEE Student Members Encouraged to Apply for 2006 WISE Program

Next summer, the IEEE will sponsor three outstanding student members to participate in the 2006 Washington Internships for Students of Engineering (WISE) Program. The select candidates will spend nine weeks in Washington, D.C., learning how engineers contribute to the legislative the decision-making process. For more information, visit www.wise-intern.org, or contact Sharon Richardson at s.richardson@ieee.org. The application deadline is 16 December 2005.

• WISE Program Seeks Senior Science & Technology Public Policy Advisor to Engineering Students (Nine Week Summer Position)

An outstanding individual capable of teaching and mentoring engineering students on the interaction between engineering, technology, and public policy is sought to serve as Advisor-In-Residence (AIR) for the 2006 WISE Program (Washington Internships for Students of Engineering).For more information, please visit: http://www.wise-intern.org/advisor.html

View a PDF of the announcement, here:  http://www.wise-intern.org/FMR/WISEAdvisor.pdf

8) LATEST IEEE-USA ACTIVITIES

• Track IEEE-USA's Progress

Review IEEE-USA's year-to-date progress in working for the IEEE's U.S. members at the new IEEE-USA Year-in-Review Web page. Check out what IEEE-USA activities and programs helped the IEEE's U.S. members in 2004 at the new IEEE-USA Annual Report online. And find out what's on IEEE-USA's agenda through 2009, with the new, online IEEE-USA Strategic & Operational Plan.For the IEEE-USA Year-in-Review, go to: http://www.ieeeusa.org/about/yearinreview.asp

For the IEEE-USA Annual Report, go to: http://www.ieeeusa.org/about/Annual_Report/2004.pdf

For the IEEE-USA Strategic & Operational Plan, go to:

http://www.ieeeusa.org/volunteers/strategicplan/index.html

Also, full listing of IEEE-USA lobbying activities can be found on our web site at: http://ieeeusa.com/policy/policy/index.html

9) U.S. COMPETITIVENESS: WHO'S DOING WHAT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE?

• IEEE-USA Resource  Web Page

U.S. Competitiveness: The Innovation Challenge http://ieeeusa.org/policy/issues/innovation/index.html

10) OTHER ITEMS OF POSSIBLE INTEREST

None at this time.

Top of Page | What's New@IEEE | EyeOnWash Archive | IEEE-USA

What's New @ IEEE-USA's Eye on Washington highlights important federal legislative and regulatory developments that affect U.S. engineers and their careers. In addition to this biweekly newsletter, subscribers receive legislative bulletins and action alerts on IEEE-USA priority issues, including: retirement security, employment benefits, research & development funding, computers and information policy, immigration reform, intellectual property protection and privacy of health/medical information.

EDITOR: Erica Wissolik, IEEE-USA, 2001 L Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036-5104

You can change your IEEE-USA Eye on Washington subscription status by using the forms at http://whatsnew.ieee.org/ or at http://www.ieeeusa.org/emailupdates/.

Copyright © 2005, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.  Permission granted to copy for personal use or for non-commercial republication with appropriate attribution.

Updated: 02 December 2005
Contact: e . wissolik @ ieee . org