The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has recently passed a resolution opposing “continuing governmental efforts to restrict the communication or publication of unclassified research.” This statement reaffirms an AAAS resolution passed in 1982, which was against “governmental restrictions on the dissemination, exchange, or availability of unclassified knowledge.” According to the AAAS Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility, the second resolution was prompted by what the society considers excessive Administration efforts to prevent export of U.S. technology to Soviet bloc countries. These measures include requesting prepublication review of unclassified technical papers, inhibiting communication of unclassified scientific research in university classrooms and research laboratories, limiting foreign student access to university research projects and results, censoring technical papers at professional society meetings, and restricting otherwise unclassified meetings to U.S. citizens.
Rosalie Steier
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We are entering a new era in very high performance computing that will be dominated by parallel architectured systems. It is critical for the United States to maintain its leadership as this new era, with its broadened applications, evolves over the next decade. Toward this end the National Science Foundation sponsored a workshop in November 1983 to focus the collective strength of universities, industry, and government on projects for development of knowledge-intensive industries.
From Washington: NSF takes the initiative
The National Science Foundation's Advisory Committee for Advanced Scientific Computing Resources was formed to provide leadership for large-scale scientific computing throughout the United States. Consisting of 15 members representing universities, industry, and national laboratories, the Committee held its first meeting in January 1984. A summary of the meeting issued by Chairman Neal F. Lane of Rice University makes the following points.
Congress tackless computer abuse
Congress has been taking an active interest in protecting information stored in computers. Congressional investigations and media reports have highlighted the vulnerability of computer systems to abuse and mis-use. Recent accounts of “system hackers” describe young students and others who gain illegal access to systems, thereby obtaining information and services, as well as disrupting systems.
From Washington: Secrecy versus scientific communication
There are many issues that affect the health of science but none more pervasive than the problem of “secrecy vs. scientific communication.” Unfortunately much of the debate on this issue, which is concern to all scientists, is being held behind closed doors among a few “key people.” The status of this debate was discussed in the August issue of Communications. More recent developments are reviewed here.
Cooperation is key: an interview with B. R. Inman
The most innovative and audacious among the U.S. responses to Japan's Fifth Generation Project is that of the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corp. MCC is a consortium of thirteen companies formed to conduct long range research and development in advanced computers. The member companies are investing in MCC projects in return for a three-year lead in implementing the resulting technology.
The President of MCC, retired Admiral B. R. Inman, must chart this new course for U.S. industrial research: a course of cooperation among competitors whose goal is to achieve U.S. supercomputer dominance in the 1990s marketplace.
Shape the Future of Computing
ACM encourages its members to take a direct hand in shaping the future of the association. There are more ways than ever to get involved.
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