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Nasa university program review conference. summary report, mar. 1 - 3, 1965
The purpose of the NASA University Program Review Conference was to describe the nature of the Program, the manner in which it is being conducted, the results that it is producing, and the impact it may be having. The presentations, except for some expository papers by NASA offi- cials, were made by members of the university and nonprofit community. ference message as it has come to me, a university professor spending a year in making a study of NASA-University relations under a NASA contract with my institution. In preparing the report, my guiding principle has been to try to maximize its usefulness by making it accurate, brief, and prompt. These qualities are largely incompatible, and I am sure that the result of my search for an optimum compromise will please no one. Open editorializing is mainly confined to a brief section constituting my Evaluation of Program. The complete transcript will shortly be available, to stand as the authoritative source for statements that anyone may wish to attribute to the speakers.
Automatic editing of manuals
The documentation problem is discussed that arises in getting all the many items included in a computer program prepared in a timely fashion and keeping them all correct and mutually consistent during the life of the program. The proposed approach to the problem is to collect all the necessary information into a single document, which is maintained with computer assistance during the life of the program and from which the required subdocuments can be extracted as desired. Implementation of this approach requires a package of programs for computer editorial assistance and is facilitated by certain programming practices that are discussed.
Creative revision - From rough draft to published paper
The process of revising a technical or scientific paper can be performed more efficiently by the people involved (author, co-author, supervisor, editor) when the revision is controlled by breaking it into a series of steps. The revision process recommended here is based on the levels-of-edit concept that resulted from a study of the technical editorial function at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology. Types of revision discussed are Substantive, Policy, Language, Mechanical Style, Format, Integrity, and Copy Clarification.
Controlled flexibility in technical editing - The levels-of-edit concept at JPL
The levels-of-edit concept, which can be used to specify the amount of editorial effort involved in the preparation of a manuscript for publication, is discussed. Nine types of editing are identified and described. These include coordination edit (preparing estimates, gathering cost data, monitoring production processes), policy edit, integrity edit (making sure that parts of a publication match in a physical or numerical sense), screening edit (ensuring that the quality of camera-ready copy is sufficient for external publication), copy clarification edit, format edit, mechanical style edit, language edit, and substantive edit (reviewing the manuscript for content coherence, emphasis, subordination and parallelism). These functions are grouped into five levels of edit. An edit-level number is assigned to each manuscript, providing a quantitative and qualitative indicator of the editing to be done which is clearly understood by authors, managers, and editors alike. In addition, clear boundaries are drawn between normal and extraordinary editing tasks. Individual organizations will group various edits in different ways to reflect their needs and priorities; the essential element of the system is unambiguous definition and coding of the types and amount of work to be done.
A study of the potential impacts of space utilization
Because the demand for comprehensive impact analysis of space technologies will increase with the use of space shuttles, the academic social sciences/humanities community was surveyed in order to determine their interests in space utilization, to develop a list of current and planned courses, and to generate a preliminary matrix of relevant social sciences. The academic scope/focus of a proposed social science space-related journal was identified including the disciplines which should be represented in the editorial board/reviewer system. The time and funding necessary to develop a self-sustaining journal were assessed. Cost income, general organizational structure, marking/distribution and funding sources were analyzed. Recommendations based on the survey are included.
NASA Publications Guide
The publication programs and management policies of NASA are described and the details that authors and publication specialists need to know to carry out the agency's mission of disseminating the scientific and technical information derived from its activities are highlighted. Topics covered include the various kinds of NASA formal publications; selection of publication medium; printing and distribution; and requirements concerning style and format standards, copyright transfers, the cover, color, and foldouts. The sections of a report are delineated and editorial and page make-up responsibilities are also discussed.
Advances in magnetospheric physics by numerical simulations - A critical analysis by an outsider
This is a selective, somewhat editorialized assessment, based on a literature survey, of computer simulation as it exists today in magnetospheric physics. Both large (MHD) and small scale dynamical simulations are described and considered from the perspective of what they are trying to do and with what success. Several specific problem areas where simulations are being carried out are called for commentary: global magnetospheric structure, magnetotail and magnetopause reconnection, Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, hydrodynamic expansion of ionospheric ions, electric double layers, heavy ion heating, and auroral kilometric radiation. It is concluded that simulation is a necessary tool for understanding magnetospheric physics and that significant progress has been made in simulation development. However, results should be evaluated knowing that many factors, some real and physical, others structural, may contribute to such output. A plea is made for greater intercalibration among different simulators working in parallel areas, so that facts can be distinguished from artifacts.
Reports of workshops on Probe Measurements of Particles and Radiation in the Atmosphere of Titan
The planned 1995 joint ESA-NASA Cassini mission to the Saturnian system will include an atmospheric probe to be dropped into the atmosphere of Titan for in situ measurements during descent. Because of the unique properties of the Titan atmosphere it is necessary to consider the peculiar requirements for such measurements and applicable techniques. The proceedings of two workshops dealing with the measurement of particles and radiation in the atmosphere of Titan are presented in two parts. The first part dealt with the measurement of particulate matter in the atmosphere of Titan. The second part dealt with the measurement of radiation in the atmosphere of Titan. The proceedings were first published and distributed informally, and are presented with only minor editorial changes. In the report of the particulate matter workshop, discussions of the mission background, the importance of the measurements, and descriptions of the desired information are followed by a description of appropriate measurement techniques and conclusions and recommendations. The proceeding for the workshop on radiation measurement and imaging contains a discussion of the importance of radiation measurements and imaging, and presents a summary of participants' experience with such measurements made from entry probes. This is followed by a description of appropriate measurement techniques and conclusions and recommendations.
Grammar, Punctuation, and Capitalization: a Handbook for Technical Writers and Editors
Writing problems are addressed which are often encountered in technical documents and preferences are indicated (Langley's) when authorities do not agree. It is directed toward professional writers, editors, and proofreaders. Those whose profession lies in other areas (for example, research or management), but who have occasion to write or review others' writing will also find this information useful. A functional attitude toward grammar and punctuation is presented. Chapter 1 on grammar presents grammatical problems related to each part of speech. Chapter 2 on sentence structure concerns syntax, that is, effective arrangement of words, with emphasis on methods of revision to improve writing effectiveness. Chapter 3 addresses punctuation marks, presenting their function, situations when they are required or incorrect, and situations when they are appropriate but optional. Chapter 4 presents capitalization, which is mostly a matter of editorial style and preference rather than a matter of generally accepted rules. An index and glossary are included.
A joint university-government technical editing program
The NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) and Old Dominion University have designed a mutually useful technical editing program. A university team made up of an English instructor and two graduate students - one from English, one from engineering - works with a senior editor from LaRC to prepare technical reports for publication. A round-robin technique gives the university team editorial commentary from both language and technical specialists; the senior editor from LaRC supervises reports through final publication. To date, the system has provided LaRC with a respectable product and university students with valuable on-the-job training.
Microinvertebrates in CELSS Hydroponic Rhizosphere: Experimental Invasion as a Test of Community Stability and a Test of a Method to Measure Bacterivory
This report consists of two separate draft manuscripts, each prepared for submittal to a peer-reviewed journal after Kennedy Space Center (KSC) colleague editorial review and final revision. References for the two papers have been combined in this report. The two manuscripts are: (1) Experimental invasion of aquatic rhizosphere habitat and invertebrate communities, and (2) Lysozyme analysis is neither protistan- or bacteriore-specific.
The Next Generation Space Telescope
In Space Science in the Twenty-First Century, the Space Science Board of the National Research Council identified high-resolution-interferometry and high-throughput instruments as the imperative new initiatives for NASA in astronomy for the two decades spanning 1995 to 2015. In the optical range, the study recommended an 8 to 16-meter space telescope, destined to be the successor of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), and to complement the ground-based 8 to 10-meter-class telescopes presently under construction. It might seem too early to start planning for a successor to HST. In fact, we are late. The lead time for such major missions is typically 25 years, and HST has been in the making even longer with its inception dating back to the early 1960s. The maturity of space technology and a more substantial technological base may lead to a shorter time scale for the development of the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST). Optimistically, one could therefore anticipate that NGST be flown as early as 2010. On the other hand, the planned lifetime of HST is 15 years. So, even under the best circumstances, there will be a five year gap between the end of HST and the start of NGST. The purpose of this first workshop dedicated to NGST was to survey its scientific potential and technical challenges. The three-day meeting brought together 130 astronomers and engineers from government, industry and universities. Participants explored the technologies needed for building and operating the observatory, reviewed the current status and future prospects for astronomical instrumentation, and discussed the launch and space support capabilities likely to be available in the next decade. To focus discussion, the invited speakers were asked to base their presentations on two nominal concepts, a 10-meter telescope in space in high earth orbit, and a 16-meter telescope on the moon. The workshop closed with a panel discussion focused mainly on the scientific case, siting, and the programmatic approach needed to bring NGST into being. The essential points of this panel discussion have been incorporated into a series of recommendations that represent the conclusions of the workshop. Speakers were asked to provide manuscripts of their presentation. Those received were reproduced here with only minor editorial changes. The few missing papers have been replaced by the presentation viewgraphs. The discussion that follows each speaker's paper was derived from the question and answer sheets, or if unavailable, from the tapes of the meeting. In the latter case, the editors have made every effort to faithfully represent the discussion.
Scholarly Electronic Full-Text Publications via the Internet: Issues and Impacts
On-line access to complete texts of scholarly journal articles, conference papers, and books is facilitated by rapidly developing World-wide Web Internet access and capabilities. Meanwhile, print publications continue to be produced and read in spite of the proliferation of many networked electronic publications. The purpose of this presentation is to highlight fundamental issues impacting stakeholder groups, as the trend continues towards migration from paper to affordable ubiquitous networked full-text publications. Librarians, publishers, authors and end-users have various viewpoints, interests, and concerns. There are many issues challenging all stakeholder groups. For instance, all share concerns about administering copyright compliance and enforcing fair use. Uncontrollable electronic downstreaming could result in infringed copyright, while limiting a publisher's entitled revenue stream. Moreover, metered fee-based access may hamper scholarly information research. And, self-authoring on the Internet without peer filtering could lead to information clutter. Many related issues challenge librarians in particular. Among these are rising journal subscription prices, regardless if offered in print or electronic. Some electronic offerings are independent of print, others supplement or duplicate print; several publishers presently require subscribing to print in order to access electronic. Furthermore, numbers of publications are n'ow being marketed via the Internet directly to end-users, which can be viewed as encouraging users to bypass the traditional library. A key issue challenging publishers today is the rapidly expanding electronic user base that is demanding delivery of added-value full-text to desktop computers. Also of growing concern appears to be the decline in print sales to libraries, thereby reducing traditional revenue stream potential. Nowadays, publishers are more hesitant about investing in the production of publications geared toward small niche subjects, since these tend to require higher pricing and carry limited sales potential. Both electronic and print publications necessitate similar editorial, production, operating, and marketing dollars. Tradeoffs owing to delivery format difference do not necessarily mean less dollars need to be spent. Authors wishing to publish books are facing a decline in the role of scholarly monographs in electronic media. However, they are witnessing increased roles of electronic preprints and electronic journal articles. Moreover, the Internet fosters self-publishing without peer monitoring or formal review. Issues challenging end-users include electronic barriers to peer-reviewed formal published works (i.e., fee-based subscriptions to journal literature vs. traditional free-library concept). This often means password only access or IP address controlled site-licensed access. Also, in an uncontrolled Internet environment, sometimes there is a blurring of publication authorship/ownership, as various pieces of publications are cut/pasted into/re-posted on various, disconnected Web searchable home pages.
Remote sensing of biomass burning
The following represents a comprehensive summary of significant accomplishments over the duration of the grant. In the field of publications, I published one journal article, two conference proceedings, and two chapters in scholarly books. In the field of conference presentations, JOVE allowed me to present six papers at local, national, and international scientific meetings. In the field of outreach, JOVE support has allowed me to incorporate astronaut photography into meteorology classes which involved 900 students over five years. I also wrote an editorial for our local daily newspaper, 'The Kearny Hub.' Lastly, JOVE support has permitted a lasting collaboration with my NASA colleague, K. P. Lulla. We are engaged in finishing a book titled 'Global Fire: At the End of the Millenium'.
ASK Magazine
Academy of Program and Project Leadership (APPL) and ASK Magazine helps NASA managers and project teams accomplish today's missions and meet tomorrow's challenges by providing performance enhancement services and tools, supporting career development programs, sponsoring knowledge sharing events and publications, and creating opportunities for project management collaboration with universities, professional associations, industry partners, and other government agencies. ASK Magazine grew out of APPL's Knowledge Sharing Initiative. The stories that appear in ASK are written by the best of the best project managers, primarily from NASA, but also from other government agencies and industry. These stories contain genuine nuggets of knowledge and wisdom that are transferable across projects. Who better than a project manager to help another project manager address a critical issue on a project? Big projects, small projects - they're all here in ASK. Please direct all inquiries about ASK Magazine editorial policy to Todd Post, EduTech Ltd., 8455 Colesville Rd., Suite 930, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (301) 585-1030; or email to tpost@edutechltd.com.
Journal of Gravitational Physiology, Volume 13, No. 1
At the outset, the Journal published one issue in 1994. The first number comprised the Proceedings of the 15th Annual International Gravitational Physiology Meeting, held in Barcelona, Spain in October 1993. The Proceedings of the previous 14 Annual Meetings appeared as supplements to The Physiologist from 1979 to 1993. Each year, one issue of the Journal is devoted to the Annual Meeting Proceedings, and up to four more issues are comprised of full-length research papers. Additionally, Supplement Issues are considered by the Editorial Board as they are submitted. The Journal is published for the International Society for Gravitational Physiology by the Galileo Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation. This issue, the first number of 2006, comprises the Proceedings of the joint meeting of the International Society for Gravitational Physiology s 27th Annual International Gravitational Physiology Meeting, held in Osaka, Japan 23- 28 April, 2006. The Journal of Gravitational Physiology invites the submission of original experimental or observational papers on subjects in the field of gravitational physiology. Review articles, theoretical papers and historical or biographical articles will also be solicited by the Editor for publication. The wide scientific span of the Journal rests on physiology as its keystone. Gravitational physiology is considered to include the effects of changes in the magnitude and directions of the gravitational force environment on cells and physiological systems and behavior of humans, animals and plants. The effects of weightlessness during space flight, high sustained G forces and chronic acceleration, vibration, impact and the various forms of simulated weightlessness are also included, as well as is consideration of the evolutionary consequences of gravity and the role of gravity in the manifestation of scale effects in animals and plants.
Eastern European Science Needs Sweeping Changes
Sir - Two years ago your Editorial "Eastern Promise" (vol. 426, p.369, 2003) and the News Feature "Dreaming on Danube" (vol. 427, p.94-95,2004) as well as several subsequent correspondence letters (vol. 427, pp. 196 and 677, vol. 428, p.17) touched on the situation and potential growth in scientific research in the former Soviet block countries. I would like to revisit this topic. Right now the facts are sobering: while the average GNP per capita in those countries is a few times lower than the average for the rest of Europe, their average university ranking is another order of magnitude poorer (in the latest ARWU, of the first 123 European universities only 4, and that in the second half of the list only, are from the former Soviet block). That situation calls for drastic measures. Pumping extra money into the system would change little. The only real hope is in a new generation of young dynamic scientists setting the pace for academic life. That requires selection and promotion of the best of the best. Unfortunately much of the old guard, who is not up to scientific challenges of today and who attained their positions and influence under the old regime (often due to other than professional qualifications) resist any real changes. I believe that a major change for better could be achieved by implementation into law two key requirements: transparency and competitiveness. That means a transparency of every scientist achievements (particularly in terms of publications), and wide open and fair competition for academic positions. Those two conditions should be complemented by implementation of the position of academic ombudsman (to encourage/facilitate open discussions), special grant opportunities for young scientists, and transparency of the process of awarding research grants. I, as well as a number of my colleagues concerned with the future of science and higher education in Poland, discussing many important academic issues at the Independent Academic Forum (an Association with a non-commercial website, http://www.naukaedukacia. tubaza.pl/, with tens of thousands of visits last year), strongly believe that the above postulated changes in the academic environment would lead to a major improvement in the quality and standing of scientific research and higher education in Poland and other post-communist countries (which suffer similar problems). It is symptomatic that the voice of at least hundreds of the most active and usually younger scientists heard at our NFA forum is totally ignored by the old establishment and their decision making representatives who "know better". Major political and legislative decisions are called for. We are doing our best to press for such changes.