New National Science Foundation director emphasizes behavioral research

Psychologists? research fits well into Rita Colwell?s vision of the future of science and her new plans for the National Science Foundation (NSF).

'The social and behavioral sciences are coming into their own,' said NSF?s new director at an informal meeting with a group of Washington, D.C., science writers. These sciences are becoming more quantitative, she said, and have the potential to 'lead us to an enormously expanded understanding of human behavior. There are few more exciting areas of research,' she said.

In particular, Colwell sees the social and behavioral sciences as a major player in her plans to promote interdisciplinary research in an area she calls 'biocomplexity'?the study of the chemical, biological and social interactions that make up the Earth?s systems.

'From these subtle but very sophisticated interrelationships we can tease out the fundamental principles of sustainability,' she said, referring to the need to better understand the monumental changes to the global environment caused by technology and increasing population.

Colwell also mentioned two other top priorities: science and math education and information technology. She hopes to

improve science and math education in kindergarten through 12th grade with programs that link schools and local universities. In particular, she wants NSF to provide fellowships for graduate students to teach classes for elementary school, middle school and high school students, as well as for undergraduates as the agency does now. She also emphasized the need for more basic research on learning and how teachers can facilitate and enhance students? capacity to learn.

As for information technology, the recent explosion in this area will allow researchers to communicate better with the public about the importance of their work, said Colwell. The new information systems and computing capacity will allow new types of scientific explorations, she said, and will create new disciplines and fields of knowledge. Her goal is to have NSF encourage and support this growth.

Colwell, a marine biologist by training, succeeded physicist Neal Lane at NSF in August. She came to NSF from her post as president of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and professor of microbiology at the University of Maryland.

?B. Azar