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In the September 18, 1998 Issue:

ADMINISTRATION SEEKS GREATER DIVERSITY IN TECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE

Last week President Clinton called on the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to develop recommendations for achieving greater diversity in the United States’ scientific and technical work force.  By 2010, approximately half of America's school-age population will be from minority groups. As stated by the White House, minority participation in science and engineering careers should keep pace with this growing diversity. Currently, only one-eighth of all high school graduates have the math and science preparation that would permit advanced study in a technical field; for under-represented minorities, that fraction is only half as much. The U.S. Department of Labor projects that the demand for computer scientists, systems analysts and other information technology positions will double over the next 10 years, requiring 1.3 million new workers in this area alone. Expansion of the participation of women, minorities, and people with disabilities in these critical fields is crucial in meeting the growing demand for workers in technology fields.

The Administration is looking for ways that the federal government, working in partnership with the private sector and state governments, can promote fuller participation of women, minorities, and people with disabilities in scientific and technical careers. The NSTC is charged with producing recommendations in six months that detail ways for the federal government to bolster mentoring in science and technology fields and to work with the private sector and academia to strengthen mentoring in higher education. The White House’s statements were issued in conjunction with the announcement of the recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. The awards are implemented by NSTC’s Committee on Education and Training and the Committee on Fundamental Science’s   Subcommittee on Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education. The awards recognize outstanding mentoring efforts and programs that have enhanced the participation of minorities, women and people with disabilities.

VIRGINIA SELECTS THREE NEW CENTERS

Innovative manufacturing, plasma and photon processing, and Internet technology will be the focus of three new Centers of Excellence in Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia and Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) recently announced the selection of these three new Centers as the second-generation of CIT’s Technology Development Centers program. The new centers will host research and development efforts focused on existing and emerging technologies of importance to the growth of Virginia’s technology industry. The centers will develop technology, apply and commercialize the technology with industry partners and provide a rapid response capability to assist technology-based companies with short-term needs. Thirteen Technology Development Centers (TDCs) have been funded at Virginia state-supported universities since 1986. The TDCs have focused on such areas as fiber optics, composite materials, advanced computer technology, biotechnology and wireless communications. In

FY 1996, six of the centers generated 17 spin-off companies, more than 700 jobs and close to $50 million in new revenues and capital for their partner companies, according to CIT. Each new center is expected to receive between $1 million to $2 million over the course of five years. The 21st Century Manufacturing Innovation Center, located in Harrisonburg, is to enhance the capabilities of Virginia’s small and medium sized manufacturing firms. The center will concentrate on the development, application and transfer of computer based automation, integration and management in manufacturing.

The Center for Plasma and Photon Processing, located in Newport News, will advance the use of intelligent processes to control energy to create materials, structures and devices. Finally, the Internet Technology Innovation Center, located in Charlottesville, was formed to nurture Virginia’s entrepreneurial environment for information technology and Internet-based businesses.

For more information regarding the Technology Development Center Program, visit CIT’s website at http://www.cit.org.

PEOPLE

Sue Rhoades, formerly of Delaware, has taken a new position with Pennsylvania's Ben Franklin Partnership as State Coordinator. She will be working with the four regional Ben Franklin Technology Centers on a variety of statewide collaborative and strategic initiatives. The Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) is seeking a Manager of Technology Programs to fill Sue’s position. The DEDO is the state agency responsible for economic development in Delaware. The duties of this position include managing the state's Advanced Technology Centers program and acting as liaison to state-supported manufacturing extension, entrepreneurial development, and related technology-based economic development efforts. The position is based in Wilmington, DE. Interested applicants should send a resume to Harold Stafford, Administrative Director, DEDO,   99 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901-7305.

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