Science Committee Views on the Budget

The House Science Committee released its annual Views and Estimates, its analysis of the President's budget request for the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction. The Committee provides this analysis to the House Budget Committee, which is in the process of putting together the House Budget Resolution for FY 2005.

The document confirms that the Science Committee's top objective for the coming year will be evaluating the President's space exploration initiative. But also cited for attention interagency efforts for networking and information technology R&D and cyber security R&D. Here's what the Committee had to say about the President's request in those areas:

To read more about this issue or comment on this or other policy-related issues, visit the Computing Research Policy Blog at http://www.cra.org/govaffairs/blog/index.php.

U.S. R&D Projected to Have Grown Marginally in 2003

NSF projections indicate that U.S. research and development (R&D) increased by 1 percent between 2002 and 2003 after controlling for inflation. Since 2000, there has been little change in total U.S. R&D in real terms (constant or inflation-adjusted dollars). After adjusting for inflation, total R&D increased 1 percent between 2000 and 2001 and declined a marginal amount between 2001 and 2002. This contrasts with the mid- to late 1990s, when R&D performance in the United States surged. In real terms, total R&D performance grew 40.5 percent between 1994 and 2000 with an average annual real growth rate of 5.8 percent over the period.

The complete InfoBrief can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/infbrief/nsf04307/start.htm.

Fewer International Graduate Students Applying to Study in the U.S.

A recent survey of U.S. universities indicates significant declines in the number of applications by prospective graduate international students this year. Among the survey's findings:

• 130 of the survey respondents were doctoral/research institutions. 59% of these institutions indicated a decline in international graduate applications, 28% indicated no change in application numbers, and 11% indicated an increase.

• Nineteen of the survey respondents are ranked among the 25 research institutions that enroll the most international students. All of these respondents indicated declines in international graduate applications. Nine indicated a decrease of 30% or more; six reported a decrease of between 11 and 30%.

• Declines in applications by Chinese applicants to graduate programs were more dramatic among the 25 research institutions that enroll the most international students. Seventeen of these institutions responded regarding Chinese applicants. Of these, thirteen of them indicated a decline of 30% or more in applications by Chinese applicants. Four experienced decreases of 50% or more.

The survey was conducted jointly by a number of education-related associations. The press release and results are available as PDFs.

Investments and Business Alliances by U.S. Corporations in China Surged in the 1990s

According to a recent NSF report, foreign direct investment and research and development (R&D)-related activity by U.S.-owned companies in mainland China expanded substantially during the 1990s, especially in the information technology sector. Among the report's findings:

• U.S. affiliates in China were among the most R&D-intensive overseas affiliates in 2000, making China the eleventh largest host of U.S. R&D expenditures overseas, up from the number 30 spot in 1994.

• After adjusting for inflation, cumulative investments of U.S. multinational corporations in China grew at an average annual rate of 20.1 percent, about twice the average inflation-adjusted annual growth rate of total overseas investments by U.S. companies during the same period.

• The largest industry in terms of gross product was computer and electronic products at $2.0 billion, about 5 percent of the $41.9 billion in U.S.-owned overseas gross product by this industry.

• Majority-owned affiliates of U.S. parent companies in China performed $506 million in R&D spending in 2000, compared with only $7 million as recently as 1994.

The NSF InfoBrief, "U.S.-China R&D Linkages: Direct Investment and Industrial Alliances in the 1990s," is available online at http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/infbrief/nsf04306/start.htm

CRA-W's Cohort of Associate Professors Project

CRA-W announces the formation of a cohort of women in CS&E who have been promoted to Associate Professor. Cohort activities, sponsored by an NSF ADVANCE grant, aim to increase the percentage of women who attain the rank of full professor and move into leadership roles within the CS&E community. The project, called CAPP, has appointed 12 Distinguished Professors -- chosen for an outstanding record of excellence in research and a demonstrated commitment to mentoring -- who will participate as colleagues, role models, and advisers. CAPP will begin with a two-day Professional Development Seminar for cohort members on April 30-May 1, 2004 in Denver, Colorado. Critical career information will be discussed along with workshops on building strategic leadership skills. The format will be highly interactive, including time for discussions and social interactions along with presentations and panels.

Women who have been promoted to the Associate Professor rank are invited to participate in the cohort. Travel support is available. The deadline for application is March 29th. More information and an application for this program can be found at http://www.cra.org/Activities/craw/capp/index.php.

Computing Leadership Summit Speaker Discusses S&E Workforce Trends

As part of the Computing Leadership Summit (leadership of CRA's society members), John Sargent, Senior Policy Analyst, Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, presented on the "Adequacy of the U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce". The presentation, using statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources, shows that it is likely that the most significant growth over the next decade will be in professional IT occupations. Dr. Sargent will also be writing an article on this topic for the May issue of CRN.

The powerpoint presentation is available at: http://www.cra.org/govaffairs/content.php?cid=22.

Bement named Acting Director of NSF

Arden L. Bement, Jr., became Acting Director of the National Science Foundation on February 22, 2004. He joins NSF from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where he has been director since Dec. 7, 2001. Prior to his appointment as NIST director, Bement served as the David A. Ross Distinguished Professor of Nuclear Engineering and head of the School of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue University. He has held appointments at Purdue University in the schools of Nuclear Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering, as well as a courtesy appointment in the Krannert School of Management. More information is available at http://www.nsf.gov/home/hghlghts/040301.htm.

Purdue University Faculty Development Program

Applications are now being accepted for the following 3 programs at Purdue University.

Protecting Information in the Computer and Beyond  This is a one year-institute for undergraduate faculty who are looking to integrate ethical, social, security, and professional practice uses into the undergraduate computer science or computer engineering program.  More information and an application may be found at (http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/protecting_information).

Information Assurance Education Graduate Certificate Program In order to meet the demand for trained faculty to develop and teach Information Assurance programs at colleges and universities across the nation, Purdue University is offering an 11 credit hour graduate certificate program for college and university educators who want to develop Information Assurance (IA) programs at their institutions. Support is available for qualified applicants. More information and application guidelines may be found at  (http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/iae).

CISCO Critical Infrastructure Assurance Group (CIAG) Security Bootcamp for Professors This program is designed to enhance Information Assurance instructor's knowledge and professional development in the area of network and host security. College, university, and community college professors and instructors involved in Information Assurance instruction are invited to attend. The program consists of 4 days of extensive, lab intensive, hands-on security exercises.  More information and an application may be found at (http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/bootcamp).

Questions about any of the programs may be sent to laf@cerias.purdue.edu.