Report offers advice to McCain, Obama on science and technology appointments

(National Academy of Sciences) The importance of research in solving many of our national challenges, including economic ones, was emphasized today in a new report titled "Science and Technology for America's Progress: Ensuring the Best Presidential Appointments In the new administration." The report, sent to John McCain and Barack Obama with guidance for whomever is elected president in November, provides suggestions on filling key science appointments after the election.

Spain picks Oscar shortlist

Film News: 'Billiards, ' 'Sunflowers, ' 'Sangre' chosen -- Gracia Querejeta's "Seven Billiards Tables, " Jose Luis Cuerda's "The Blind Sunflowers" and Jose Luis Garci's "Sangre de mayo" have made the Spanish Academy's three-film shortlist for its foreign-language Oscar contender.

Presidential science and technology appointments

(National Academy of Sciences) A new report from the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine, offers advice to presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama on filling high-level federal science and technology positions after the election.

LSUHSC awarded grant to address nursing shortage

(Louisiana State University Health Science Center) LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Nursing has been awarded a $100, 000 grant by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to provide scholarships to individuals under-represented in nursing or from disadvantaged backgrounds in an accelerated nursing degree program. The funding will support ten scholarships in LSUHSC's Career Alternative RN Education, or CARE, Program, expanding enrollment and the number of fully qualified nurses prepared to practice.

Creation theory call creates a classroom dilemna

A top biologist has suggested controversial idea should sit alongside science teaching, write FIONA MACLEOD and RICHARD SADLER

USGS Coalition to honor Reps. Dicks, Regula with Leadership Award

(Crop Science Society of America) Representatives Norman Dicks (D-WA) and Ralph Regula (R-OH) will be presented with the first USGS Coalition Leadership Award on Monday evening, Sept. 15, 2008. The USGS Coalition is an alliance of 70 organizations united by a commitment to the continued vitality of the unique combination of biological, geological, hydrological and mapping programs of the US Geological Survey.

Arctic science conference to focus on northern sustainability

(University of Alaska Fairbanks) More than 150 scientists are expected to attend the 59th annual American Association for the Advancement of Science Arctic Division conference in Fairbanks, Alaska, Sept. 15-17, 2008.

NJIT architecture professor opens Newark conference with challenge to revitalize Newark buildings

(New Jersey Institute of Technology) With a charge not to tear down Newark's older buildings, but to rehabilitate them, NJIT research professor Deane Evans, an architect and executive director of NJIT's Center for Architecture and Building Science Research will open Newark's Green Future Summit tomorrow morning at NJIT. Evans, an advocate of sustainable building practices, also said that in the process of fixing and repairing people learn trades, skills and knowledge about the science behind good buildings.

Hedlund to star in 'Tron' sequel

Film News: Credits include 'Friday Night Lights, ' 'Troy' -- Disney has inked Garrett Hedlund to star in "Tron" its sequel to the pioneering 1982 computer-graphics action pic of the same name. Hedlund's credits include "Friday Night Lights, " "Four Brothers" and "Troy."

Deakins nabs two ASC nominations

Film News: 'Reader, ' 'Revolutionary' on award shortlist -- For the second year in a row, the American Society of Cinematographers has given two feature nominations to Roger Deakins, this time for “Revolutionary Road” and “The Reader.”

Polanski to return to Los Angeles?

Film News: Debate continues over misconduct charges -- Does Roman Polanski have to return to L.A. in order to get 32-year-old sexual misconduct charges dismissed? L.A. County's D.A. office says he does, but his attorneys don't agree.

Rotterdam festival favors new talent

Film News: Event picks 14 first, second films for award -- Fourteen first and second features compete for the VPRO Tiger Awards at this year's International Film Festival Rotterdam.
The three winners of the fest's top honor will be announced Jan. 30.

BAFTA unveils foreign film shortlist

Film News: Nominations include two animated films -- The noms for the foreign-language pic BAFTA have gone to German terrorist thriller “The Baader Meinhof Complex, ” Italian mafia drama “Gomorrah, ” French family drama “I’ve Loved You So Long, ” and innovative animated pics “Persepolis” and “Waltz With Bashir.”

Berlin Panorama nabs 'Garapa'

Film News: Julie Delpy's 'Countess' also picked -- New works by Jose Padilha, who won the Golden Bear last year with “The Elite Squad, ” Julie Delpy and cult filmmaker Ulli Lommel are among the films selected for the Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama section this year, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

'Watchmen' fate goes to federal judge

Film News: Fox, WB forego jury trial on legal tussle -- Fox and Warner Bros. have decided to forego a jury trial in their legal tussle over which studio has distribution rights to "Watchmen" and agreed to let a federal judge decide the case on Jan. 20.

Palm Springs rolls out red carpet

Film News: Eastwood receives career achievement award -- The world economy is in dire straits, but you sure wouldn't know it from the red carpet at the 20th-annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala.

Welsh agency boosts local films

Film News: FAW puts $2.6 milllion into projects -- The Film Agency of Wales invested $2.6 million (£1.7 million) in local pics last year, its first in operation.

Image Awards unveil nominations

Film News: NAACP honors to be handed out on Feb. 12 -- The NAACP has named “Cadillac Records, ” “The Secret Life of Bees, ” “Miracle at St. Anna, ” “Seven Pounds” and “Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys" as best pic contenders for its 40th annual Image Awards.