Amersham Pharmacia Biotech & Science Prize. Transposition and evolution of antigen-specific immunity

Alka Agrawal grew up in Farmington Hills, near Detroit, Michigan, and earned her bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan. Dr. Agrawal entered the pharmacology graduate school program at Yale University and began working in the laboratory of David Schatz, investigating the role of DNA repair proteins in V(D)J recombination. The development of an in vitro V(D)J cleavage system in the laboratory changed her focus and she began studying the cleavage mechanism as part of her doctoral research. Exposure to science policy at the National Academy of Sciences, and to science journalism through the AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellows Program, prompted Dr. Agrawal to pursue a career in science writing.     

Public information: from nosy neighbors to cultural evolution

Psychologists, economists, and advertising moguls have long known that human decision-making is strongly influenced by the behavior of others. A rapidly accumulating body of evidence suggests that the same is true in animals. Individuals can use information arising from cues inadvertently produced by the behavior of other individuals with similar requirements. Many of these cues provide public information about the quality of alternatives. The use of public information is taxonomically widespread and can enhance fitness. Public information can lead to cultural evolution, which we suggest may then affect biological evolution.     

公益性农业科技项目的管理和评价

公益性农业科技项目对现代农业的发展起着引领与支撑作用。文章对公益性农业科技项目的内涵、特点、功能定位、国内外的管理模式、评价原则和评价类型进行了综述和分析,提出了促进科研团队与创新体系建设、促进国际合作与交流、创新公益性农业科技项目评价机制等措施,以期进一步做好公益性农业科技项目管理和评价工作。     

植物园科普功能建设的青少年调查

为了提高植物园科普教育的效果,采用问卷调查的方法,对参观植物园的3～6年级的450位青少年,从参观方式、参观时间、科普活动和参观效果4个方面展开调查.结果表明:青少年参观植物园的主要方式是与家长一起;参观植物园的时间主要以2h为主;游戏和观看影片是青少年最希望在植物园参与的科普活动;绝大部分学生认为参观植物园对增长科普知识有帮助.