Organization: Penn State University
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 16:58:21 EST
From: <WTU@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: sci.physics
Subject: "What`s New" Jan-1-93


 WHAT'S NEW (according to Bob), Friday, 1 Jan 93    Washington, DC

 1. PRESIDENT-ELECT PICKS JOHN GIBBONS OF OTA FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR.
 A nuclear physicist, Gibbons has served as director of the Office
 of Technology Assessment of Congress since 1979.  In the 1960's,
 he led important experimental work related to stellar evolution;
 in the 70's he turned to environmental problems. He was recipient
 of the Federation of American Scientists' Public Service Award in
 1990; in 1991, the APS Szilard Award for physics in the public
 interest; and in 1992, the AAAS Abelson Prize for contributions
 of a public servant to advancing science.  The selection of
 Gibbons appears to mark a transition from the "chief scientist"
 role of his predecessor to a politically astute facilitator who
 can be trusted not to upstage the Vice-President. The low profile
 of the science advisor is reflected in the meager coverage given
 to the Gibbons appointment, but at least Clinton did not delay
 for four months as President Bush did before naming Bromley. In
 his acceptance, Gibbons stressed basic research: "We place very
 great weight on the intrinsic value of basic science, out of
 which has flowed extraordinary and often unanticipated benefits
 to society, including enormous enrichment of the human spirit."

 2. ONE OF THE ISSUES GIBBONS MUST CONFRONT IS THE SPACE STATION.
 Although Clinton and Gore endorsed the space station during the
 campaign, some of their key economic advisors are reported to be
 advising them to reconsider.  An article in the Washington Post
 notes that Leon Panetta, who has been picked by Clinton to head
 the White House Office of Management and Budget, was a foe of the
 station while in Congress. Rep. Louis Stokes (D-OH), who replaces
 Bob Traxler (D-MI) as the chair of the VA/HUD/IA appropriations
 subcommittee, also voted against the bloated boondoggle.  In the
 Senate, Sam Nunn (D-GA) and Pete Domenici (R-NM) now call for
 killing the station along with the space shuttle. The most ardent
 Senate supporter of the orbiting budget buster, Jake Garn (R-UT),
 will not be returning.  That leaves born-again trekkie Barbara
 Mikulski (D-MD) as the most influential champion of the station.

 3. ROBERT E. MARSHAK, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE APS, IS DEAD AT 76.
 One of the last of the giants of physics who had developed the
 atomic bomb at Los Alamos and gone on to become the leaders of
 American science, Bob Marshak remained active in particle theory
 to the very end.  He stepped down as President of City College of
 New York in 1979, a job he had taken in 1970 out of a desire to
 help the socially disadvantaged.  The same commitment was evident
 in 1982 when Marshak became APS President and initiated programs
 to assist physicists in China and South America.  By then he had
 moved to Virginia Tech and undergone heart by-pass surgery.  One
 of my jobs was to accompany him on long walks he took before and
 after meetings of the APS Council as part of his recovery. It was
 an adventure.  An impatient man, he sent off sparks.  According
 to press accounts, he died while swimming in Cancun, Mexico, "far
 from the shore."   Bob Marshak never stayed close to the shore.

 Robert L. Park  (202) 662-8700      The American Physical Society

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