Dear Colleagues,

International scientific engagement, US competitiveness, energy and climate change, global health, and the budget outlook for science research and development (R&D) were among the topics discussed during the 35th annual AAAS Forum on S&T Policy. More than 500 US and foreign leaders from government, education, and business attended the nation's premier S&T policy conference, held 13-14 May in Washington, D.C.

Speakers included John P. Holdren, President Obama's Science Adviser, who gave a keynote address summarizing Obama's science and technology initiatives from the past year and emphasizing how central energy and climate are to US science policy; Patrick Gallagher, Director of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), who addressed the need to promote the manufacturing sector to drive innovation; and Kerri-Ann Jones, Assistant US Secretary of State, who discussed the role of science diplomacy in advancing global health. US Representative Vernon J. Ehlers delivered the William D. Carey Lecture, open and free to the public, urging scientists and engineers to join the political process.

The annual Forum is an initiative of the AAAS Research and Development Budget and Policy Program, which released the 283-page comprehensive analysis, AAAS Report XXXV: Research and Development FY 2011, during the meeting. Established in 1976, the program provides independent, continually updated coverage and analysis of R&D funding trends and budget legislation as a service to the science, engineering, and policy-making communities. You'll find more information about this and other AAAS Science and Policy Programs at http://www.aaas.org/spp.

Thank you for your membership support of our initiatives to advance high quality science policy and increased federal funding for research so critical in meeting global challenges.

Sincerely,

Alan I. Leshner, CEO, AAAS