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| Volume 46, Number 2, Fall 1998 |
By popular demand (okay, three or four people), San Diego Science Writers Association (SANDSWA) has re-emerged with a new sense of vigor and purpose following a period of introspection and hibernation. Much refreshed from its nap, the group was hosted in October by The Salk Institute. Guest speaker was molecular biologist Mike McKeown whose group last year identified a gene called “dissatisfaction,” that affects sexual behavior in both male and female fruit flies. McKeown and his team are working to pinpoint what the dissatisfaction gene does to influence sexual behavior, which may shed light on general questions about genetics and behavior. Following McKeown’s talk, the group visited his lab for some behind-the-scenes activities rarely seen outside the Capitol beltway. Under the leadership of Warren Froelich of The Salk Institute and Cheryl Clark of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the group plans to meet on a quarterly basis.
The DC Science Writers Association (DCSWA) has had a busy summer and fall including a meeting with new NSF Director Rita Colwell; an Origins of Life panel discussion at the Carnegie Institution of Washington Geophysical Laboratory where scientists are using diamond and steel presses to recreate the environmental conditions found near deep-sea hydrothermal vents; and a discussion on how cyberspace is accelerating the news cycle in science and medicine. Panelists included Brian Dunbar of NASA’s Web site, Denise Graveline of ACS, Warren Leary of the New York Times, and Jim Schulte of USA Today On-line. The DCSWA web site (www.nasw.org/dcswa) has undergone a facelift. Additions to the site include an experimental web page on which DCSWA freelancers can list their contact information and specialties and a page archiving the “One Question Interviews” of DCSWA member conducted by David Jarmul. The latter may be of interest to other NASW members.