9314448 Burns The U.S. scientific community has convened numerous meetings to examine the crisis facing the scientific community in the former Soviet Union FSU during this crucial period of transition to a market economy. One recommendation has been to designate the American Association for the Advancement of Science AAAS as an appropriate organization to house an international clearinghouse for information and support programs to help strengthen the infrastructure for science and technology in the FSU. This grant will enable the AAAS plans to establish such a Clearinghouse to link professional societies, research activities, private foundations, government agencies, and foreign assistance agencies supporting FSU scientists and engineers. The project will make a significant contribution to the development of a sound infrastructure for science and technology in the FSU. Specifically, AAAS proposes, over the course of three years, to coordinate information flow with electronic communications to facilitate widespread, open, and rapid communication, based on these premises: (a) it will include activities of FSU universities and government offices in addition to the FSU's various Academies of Sciences; (b) it will be multidisciplinary, encompassing the biological, chemical, physical, and social sciences, and engineering; (c) it will aim to integrate the FSU scientific community into the world community; (d) its function will gradually be transferred to FSU colleagues. The Clearinghouse will have six program elements: (1) developing and disseminating resource base information; (2) allowing FSU scientists and researchers to participate in international meetings and workshops; (3) conducting an assessment of FSU libraries; (4) providing fellowships for FSU scientists at U.S. scientific societies; (5) building a database on FSU science; and (6) continuing to assess the needs of the FSU scientific and technical community. ##
