News Notes

Energy research report. The National Research Council, in a study released in mid-July, looked at $22.3 billion spent by the US Department of Energy between 1978 and 2000 on energy efficiency and fossil energy research programs and asked, Was it worth it? The answer, according to the NRC, is yes, especially if more than direct economic benefits are counted.

The report, Energy Research at DOE: Was It Worth It?, said it is important to include "options for the future" and "knowledge benefits" when assessing the return on investment for DOE research programs. For example, the report said the feasibility of future energy technologies is better understood because of DOE research, although such research has brought no monetary return.

In looking at "net realized economic benefits associated with the energy efficiency programs," the study said that about $7 billion (1999 dollars) was spent over 22 years, resulting in about $30 billion in savings. Fossil energy programs didn't fare as well, generating $3.4 billion in return on $6 billion spent between 1978 and 1986, and $7.4 billion in benefits for $4.5 billion in costs from 1986 to 2000.

In addition to modern-day astronomical instruments, the displays include 900-year-old astrolabes, devices used to describe the night sky at a given time, a full-scale replica of Tycho Brahe's equatorial armillary, and a replica of Edwin Hubble's 1920s equipment from the Mount Wilson 100-inch observing chamber. As they leave the exhibition, visitors can explore a typical astronomer's office with near-real-time access to the activities of national observatories. The new permanent exhibition opens this month. More information is available on the Web at http://www.nasm.edu/galleries/gal111/univ.htm.

MATERLIK

A joint project of the UK and French governments and the Wellcome Trust, the world's richest biomedical foundation, DIAMOND will come with a price tag of £195 million ($278 million) and a 3-GeV electron storage ring, providing soft and hard x rays from 5 eV to 200 keV. The synchrotron is scheduled to come on line in 2006.

NSF education post. On 1 August, Judith Ramaley became NSF's assistant director for education and human resources. The job comes with an annual budget of more than $800 million, or about a fifth of NSF's total funding. It covers all NSF programs in math and science education, from kindergarten through the graduate level. Efforts range from system-wide school improvement programs and mentoring and education programs for underserved female and minority students to undergraduate research stipends and graduate fellowships.

A biologist who has been on the faculties of five universities and served as the president of two, Ramaley has an impressive track record on education issues. Most recently, as president of the University of Vermont, she spearheaded an alliance with state colleges and education officials aimed at improving education from early childhood through advanced degrees, with a focus on distance learning and an eye to the state's workforce needs.

Ramaley succeeds Judith Sunley, who served in an interim capacity for two years and is now a senior adviser to NSF director Rita Colwell.