[Oradlist] INTERAGENCY CONFERENCE ON LIFE AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES (fwd)

[Mel Kantor]

As radiologists, we live at the intersection of the life and physical
sciences. This conference may be of some interest.

Mel Kantor


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 09:33:41 -0400
From: NIBIB Info <info at NIBIB.NIH.GOV>
To: NIBIB_LISTSERV at list.nih.gov
Subject: INTERAGENCY CONFERENCE ON LIFE AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES


NIH-NSF TO CONVENE INTERAGENCY CONFERENCE ON LIFE AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation
(NSF) are convening the "Research at the Interface of the Life and Physical
Sciences: Bridging the Sciences," on November 9, 2004, at the Natcher
Conference Center on the main campus of the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland.

The objectives of the conference are to identify opportunities, grand
challenges, and issues at the interface of the life and physical sciences
that could result in major advances and to develop approaches for bridging
these traditionally separate fields.

"Strengthening and encouraging research at the interface of the life and
physical sciences is crucial in leveraging our national resources. This
interdisciplinary approach to research will undoubtedly provide
unprecedented collaborative opportunities, as well as remarkable advances in
the future that are underpinned by breakthroughs in both areas," said Elias
Zerhouni, M.D., NIH director.

"The progress of medicine in the past 100 years is one of the great success
stories in human history. It simply would not have occurred without
continuous fundamental research in physical sciences and engineering," said
Arden Bement, NSF acting director.  "To sustain the pace of progress, we
must  enhance the hugely productive synergy between the physical and life
sciences."

Planning for this conference is the result of language in the FY 2004 House
Appropriations Report that recognized the importance of research at the
interface of the life and physical sciences. NIH and NSF were asked to
convene a conference of Federal agencies whose missions involve the conduct
or support of research in the life and physical sciences to discuss ways to
strengthen research at the interface. One recommendation resulting from the
initial meeting held May 10, 2004, was to convene scientific researchers in
order to obtain community input on effectively bridging the life and
physical sciences.

Structured as a one-day, interactive meeting, the conference will be
co-chaired by Dr. Jose Onuchic, professor of physics and co-director of the
Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, University of California, San
Diego; Dr. Ken Dill, professor of biophysics and associate dean of research,
School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco; and Dr. Claire
Fraser, president and director of The Institute for Genomic Research,
Rockville, Maryland. A core of invited extramural scientists will serve as
primary discussants to address the conference objectives. Representatives
from appropriate Federal agencies will also attend and participate as agency
resources.

Attendance at the conference is open to the public, although seating is
limited.  No registration fee is required.  Individuals interested in
attending should send an e-mail to [ <mailto:nibibinterface at mail.nih.gov>
nibibinterface at mail.nih.gov], indicating their potential contribution to the
conference objectives and providing contact information. The deadline for
responding is October 15, 2004.

Additional details on the life and physical sciences conferences can be
found at the following link: [http://www.nibib.nih.gov/
<http://www.nibib.nih.gov/> ].

CONTACT:  Dr. Richard Swaja,  (301) 451-4779