In this issue:
ASME CO-HOSTS INAUGURAL DISCOVERE SUMMIT TO CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE IN STEM EDUCATION
On February 22nd, ASME and the National Engineers Week Foundation hosted the inaugural DiscoverE Summit, an event that showcased the importance and successes of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) educators with an emphasis on the "E" for engineering. The DiscoverE Summit was held at the Knight Studio at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., and was one of many events scheduled during the national observance of Engineers Week 2012, Feb. 19-25.
ASME President Victoria Rockwell kicked off the Summit by providing opening remarks, stating "We are here today because we believe that our children are our future and shaping their education is profoundly important. We are here to emphasize the E in STEM - engineering. We are here because ASME and EWeek believe that fostering a vibrant and more diverse workforce, is a strategic priority."
The proceedings were moderated by news veteran and Emmy award winner, Miles O'Brien, lead science reporter for PBS NewsHour. Keynote speakers included Dr. Subra Suresh, director of the National Science Foundation, and Dr. Charles M. Vest, president of the National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Suresh discussed the importance of improving U.S. STEM education and NSF's role and recent efforts, while Dr. Vest challenged the engineering community to ramp up its efforts to inspire the next generation of engineers.
The Summit also featured the winners of the inaugural DiscoverE Educator Awards, which celebrated the outstanding achievements of exceptional STEM educators who have helped their students discover engineering. The three winners, selected by a committee of distinguished national education, engineering and business leaders, were: Shella Rivano Condino of Presidio High School, Presidio, Texas; Javaris Powell of Friendship Public Charter School, Washington, D.C., and Derek Sale of Paul Robeson Malcolm X Academy, Detroit, Michigan.
Engineers Week and ASME, 2012 chair, established the DiscoverE Educator Award Program to identify and celebrate outstanding STEM educators who have had an extraordinary impact on their students and to provide them with a forum to tell their compelling stories. Each winner received a $3,000 cash prize, courtesy of 3M and ASME, and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., during Engineers Week 2012, Feb.19-25.
"At the recent White House Science Fair, President Obama spoke about the importance of recognizing the vital work of today's STEM teachers," said Rockwell. "The purpose of the DiscoverE Educator Award program is to celebrate the teachers who are the 'unsung heroes' behind many exceptional engineers. The award offers engineers and engineering students the opportunity to recognize those teachers who dedicate their lives to nurturing the nation's future STEM talent pool – a crucial component of America's future economic growth."
The event also featured two panel sessions. The first panel, "Teachers and Educators,"featured the aforementioned STEM education change-agents, and allowed them an opportunity to share the stories behind their success. The panel also included Dr. Linda Katehi, chancellor, University of California, Davis, who discussed her work on the new National Research Council K-12 science framework, which for the first time promotes the use of engineering concepts to teach STEM subjects. Corey S. Powell, editor-in-chief, DISCOVER magazine, and John Manahan, special assistant, Office of the Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education also delivered remarks.
The second panel, "Volunteers and Partners," addressed the important role that volunteers and partnerships play in advancing STEM education. Dr. Michael Smith of the National GEM Consortium discussed the Outreach for Change initiative, an effort to build and deliver inclusive engineering outreach programs (http://www.outreach4change.org/). Then NASA Associate Administrator Leland Melvin provided an overview of the work of NASA employees to enhance the knowledge of engineering and technology for people of all ages and to inspire the next generation of engineers, inventors, and scientists. Next Dr. Rosemary Truglio of Sesame Workshop outlined Sesame Street's efforts to incorporate STEM education lessons into the current season, as well as how the engineering community's volunteer workforce could help. Finally, Diane Melley of IBM discussed IBM's corporate citizenship efforts with specific mention of their global volunteer efforts.
The program also included comments by Victoria A. Rockwell, president, ASME, and co-chair of Engineers Week 2012 and Thomas G. Loughlin, executive director, ASME.
More information about the DiscoverE Educator Award winners can be found at: Engineers Week 2012 Names Outstanding STEM Teachers at the Inaugural DiscoverE Awards Program
The DiscoverE Educator Awards also included eight runners-ups and 12 honorable mentions. The names of these outstanding STEM educators are listed on the EWeek website at: http://www.eweek.org
Melissa Carl handles public policy-related STEM issues for ASME. She can be reached at carlm@asme.org
NASA PROPOSES $17.7 BILLION BUDGET FOR FY 2013
Earlier this month, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced a $17.7 billion budget request for fiscal year 2013, essentially flat with last year's funding level.
The NASA budget includes:
- $4 billion for Space Operations, a -4.5 percent decline from last year's $4.2 billion;
- $3.9 billion for Exploration activities, a +5.7 percent increase over last year's 3.7 billion, which includes funding for the close-out of the Space Shuttle Program and funding for the International Space Station;
- $4.9 billion for science missions, a -3.2 percent decline from last year's $5.0 billion level;
- $669 million for Space Technology development, a +27.6 percent increase over last year's level of $458 million;
- $552 million for Aeronautics Research, a -3.1 percent decline from $570 million last year;
- $100 million for education programs, a -26.5 percent cut from last year's $136 million; and
- $2.8 billion for Cross Agency Support, a -5.2 percent decline from $3.0 billion last year.
Following the outline of NASA's most recent congressional authorization bill, the budget supports NASA's continued work to develop the Space Launch System, a new heavy-lift rocket to carry astronauts to destinations such as an asteroid and Mars, and the Orion crew capsule in which they will travel. Included are resources for final preparation and manufacturing milestones for Orion's 2014 Exploration Flight Test 1 and preliminary design reviews of major Space Launch System elements. NASA has requested $830 million in funding for its partnership with the commercial space industry to facilitate crew and cargo transport to the station. NASA's Space Technology portfolio will work to drive advances in new 'high-payoff' space technologies, such as laser communications and zero-gravity propellant transfer, seeding technologies that will expand and support NASA's capabilities for both human and robotic exploration missions.
Despite the reduction for Science missions, NASA will continue the development of the James Webb Space Telescope, successor to the famed Hubble Space Telescope, leading to its planned launch in 2018. Despite cutting its support for Mars exploration missions, NASA stated that it is developing an integrated strategy to ensure the next steps for its robotic Mars Exploration Program.
The NASA budget and supporting information are available at http://www.nasa.gov/budget
Paul Fakes handles public policy-related research and development (R&D) issues for ASME. He can be reached at: fakesp@asme.org
PRESIDENT'S FY 2013 BUDGET REQUEST FOR NIST TARGETS ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, CRITICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS
The President's fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget for the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) submitted to Congress proposes an appropriations funding level of $857 million, an increase of $106.2 million from FY 2012. More than half of the proposed increased funding would be focused on advanced manufacturing research, both at NIST laboratories and through a new industry-led consortia program.
The total request of $857 million for NIST is divided into three appropriations:
- Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS): $648 million which includes
- Measurement Science for Advanced Manufacturing (+$45 million);
- NIST Centers of Excellence (+$20 million);
- Measurement Science and Standards in Support of Forensic Science (+$5 million);
- Measurement and Standards for Disaster Resilience and Natural Hazards Risk Reduction (+$5 million);
- Measurement Science to Support Advanced Communications Networks (+$10 million); and,
- National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (+$8 million).
- Industrial Technology Services (ITS): $149 million which includes
- Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) - $128 million. This proposed budget represents a decrease of $443,000 from the FY 2012 enacted appropriations. The MEP is a federal-state-industry partnership that provides U.S. manufacturers with access to technologies, resources and industry experts. The funding decrease will not affect available MEP Center renewals in FY 2013; and,
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech) - $21 million. This new program will establish industry-led consortia to identify and prioritize research projects supporting long-term industrial research needs. AMTech creates the incentive for manufacturers to share financial and scientific resources with universities, state and local governments and non-profits.
- Construction of Research Facilities (CRF): $60 million which includes
- Boulder Laboratories Building 1 Renovation - $11.8 million. This renovation of the 60-year-old Building 1 began in FY 2010.
As part of the Administration's efforts to revitalize manufacturing, the President's budget proposes $1 billion in mandatory funding to establish a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). NNMI is a collaborative effort between NIST, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, to promote the development of manufacturing technologies with broad applications.
Detailed information on NIST's proposed FY 2012 budget may be found at: http://www.osec.doc.gov/bmi/budget/FY13BIB/fy2013bib_final.pdf beginning on page 111.
Paul Fakes handles public policy-related research and development (R&D) issues for ASME. He can be reached at: fakesp@asme.org
Robert Rains handles public policy-related NIST issues for ASME. He can be reached at rainsr@asme.org
ENERGY SECRETARY ANNOUNCES DOE SBIR/STTR FUNDING AWARDS
Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced 142 Phase I award recipients to support 180 projects as part of the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs at the DOE. Selected projects range from designing more efficient wind turbines to developing a chemical-free approach to killing bacteria in power plant cooling water and from developing instruments to improve nanomaterials to making new coatings to improve the efficiency of gas turbines. The companies will use their awards -- in amounts up to $150,000 -- over the next nine months to explore the feasibility of their innovative concepts. They will then be eligible to compete for awards up to $1 million under a two-year, Phase II of research and development.
"These small businesses are working to develop new technologies to bring to the marketplace, creating new jobs and potentially new industries here in America," said Secretary Chu. "As part of the Obama Administration's Startup America Initiative, these innovative small businesses are helping the Department improve America's energy security, grow our economy, and ensure U.S. companies can compete in the global economy."
The SBIR/STTR grant awards total $26.4 million. After receiving $163 million for fiscal year (FY) 2011, the SBIR would not receive additional funding in FY 2012 or FY 2013. SBIR is managed by the Office of Science.
To learn more about the SBIR/STTR awards, please visit: http://energy.gov/articles/small-businesses-nationwide-begin-work-cutting-edge-innovative-research-projects
More information about the Phase I award winners and their projects can be found at: http://www.science.energy.gov/sbir/awards-and-general-stats/fy-2012/release-i-phase-i-by-state/
Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at rainsr@asme.org
ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES NEW TRANSBOUNDARY OFFSHORE DRILLING DEAL
With prices at the pump set to rise this spring and into the summer for many Americans, the Administration recently announced the framework of a new agreement with Mexican officials to expand access to offshore areas for oil and gas.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar recently joined Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Mexican Minister of Foreign Relations Patricia Espinosa, and Mexican Minister of Energy Jordy Herrera in Los Cabos, Mexico, at the signing of an agreement on the exploration and development of oil and natural gas reservoirs along the United States' and Mexico's maritime boundary in the Gulf of Mexico. If ratified, the agreement would expand access to oil and gas in the U.S. outer continental shelf by an area roughly the size of Delaware. It would open up resources in the so-called "Western gap," an area that is not included in either country's 200-mile exclusive economic zones. Resources in the area have been off limits to both countries under a treaty that runs through 2014.
The Transboundary Agreement sets guidelines for the development of oil and natural gas reservoirs that cross the maritime boundary. Under the Agreement, U.S. companies and PEMEX will be able to voluntarily enter into agreements to jointly develop those reservoirs. In the event that consensus cannot be reached, the Transboundary Agreement establishes the process through which U.S. companies and PEMEX can individually develop the resources on each side of the border while protecting each nation's interests and resources. The agreement still has to be ratified by both the U.S. and Mexican legislatures.
The Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently estimated that the area under the agreement could contain upwards of172 million barrels of oil and 304 billion cubic feet of natural gas. In total, the Gulf contains about 48 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and 219 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to BOEM's most recent assessment.
To read the 2011 BOEM Assessment of Undiscovered Technically Recoverable Oil and Gas Resources of the Nation's Outer Continental Shelf, please visit: http://boem.gov/uploadedFiles/2011_National_Assessment_Factsheet.pdf
Additional information about the Transboundary Agreement can be found at: http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Sec-Salazar-Joins-Mexican-President-Calderon-Sec-Clinton-Mexican-Officials-to-Announce-Agreement-Providing-Access-to-Nearly-1-point-5-Million-Acres-of-the-US-Outer-Continental-Shelf.cfm
Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at rainsr@asme.org
U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON PROPOSED FEES
Earlier this month, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published proposed fees for all of its patent services after working with IP stakeholders – taking the first step in setting fees through the regulatory process under authority provided in the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) for the first time in USPTO's history.
"The new fee setting authority provided by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act has presented the USPTO with a tremendous opportunity to continue improving our nation's intellectual property system, and we take this responsibility very seriously" said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director David Kappos. "The fee schedule published this week represents only an initial proposal and is far from final. We invite feedback and recommendations from the public and look forward to a meaningful dialogue over the coming months as we work to set these fees at the optimal levels," he continued.
Throughout the fee setting process, the USPTO will be guided by two overriding principles:
- First, the agency must operate within a more sustainable funding model to avoid disruptions in agency operations caused by fluctuations in the economy. Doing so requires that the fees charged for services more closely reflect the actual cost of delivering those services. This cost must responsibly account for both planned expenses and unanticipated events.
- Second, the USPTO is adhering to the strategic imperative set by its user community to dramatically reduce patent pendency and the backlog of unexamined patent applications in accord with the USPTO 2010 – 2015 Strategic Plan.
The USPTO has published a proposed patent fee schedule and related supplementary information for public viewing at Leahy-Smith America Invents Act Implementation.
The USPTO invites feedback and recommendations and encourages stakeholders to examine the methodology and highlight any areas where the Agency's calculations, assumptions, or methods may be improved.
VOTE ON ASME'S 2013-2014 PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES!
Your help is needed in establishing the top six federal Public Policy Agenda issue priorities for ASME to address during the legislative session for 2013 – 2014. ASME's Public Policy Agenda is a compendium of federal issues of concern to the Society put together from the results of a survey issued every two years by ASME Government Relations. Information on ASME's 2011-2012 Public Policy Issues, along with our Public Policy Agenda, are available to review at http://www.asme.org/about-asme/advocacy-government-relations and http://files.asme.org/asmeorg/NewsPublicPolicy/GovRelations/17695.pdf
It may come as no surprise to you, but out of 435 members in the U.S. House of Representatives and 100 in the U.S. Senate, only 10 have engineering backgrounds. Policy decisions should be backed with sound science, engineering and economics, so the Public Policy Agenda is a very important tool for the Society, as it will drive Government Relations activities and programs at the federal level. This includes position statements issued by ASME and its various groups and divisions, which are available to review at: http://www.asme.org/About-ASME/Advocacy-Government-Relations/Position-Statements
All ASME members can vote on the issues that they believe are having the biggest impact on ASME and engineers in general by completing our online policy survey at:
http://asme.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_56Ejj7v8kHEdkMY
It will only take 10 minutes to fill out the survey.
As a thank you for taking this survey, you will be included in a drawing for one of three Amazon.com gift card valued at $100. Winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries. Employees and contractors of ASME and their immediate families (spouses and children) are not eligible to win. Void where prohibited.
As a member, your participation – your vote! – is vital to ensuring that ASME's Public Policy Agenda represents your priorities to federal policymakers.
Thank you in advance for completing the survey. We greatly appreciate your involvement in public policy issues that affect mechanical engineers and the engineering profession. Please share this email with other ASME members.
THE ARTICLES CONTAINED IN CAPITOL UPDATE ARE NOT POSITIONS OF ASME OR ANY OF ITS SUB-ENTITIES, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY NOTED AS SUCH. THIS PUBLICATION IS DESIGNED TO INFORM ASME MEMBERS ABOUT ISSUES OF CONCERN BEING DEBATED AND DISCUSSED IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS, IN THE STATES, AND IN THE FEDERAL AGENCIES.
ASME Government Relations
1828 L Street, NW, Suite 906
Washington, DC 20036