Association for Chemoreception Sciences

AChemS Newsletter

Fall 1993

Inside:

Annual Meeting InformationCaii for Abstracts

Meeting Minutes

News from NiH and NSF

Survey on Western meeting sites

Caii for Award Nominations

WHERE TO SEND THE FORMS TO PRE-REGISTER FOR ACHEMS XVI

You may mail everything except the hotel registration envelope in one packetto:

AChemS

c/o Panacea Associates

229 Westridge DriveTallahassee, FL 32304-3639

Phone/FAX number: (904) 576-5530

The packet should include:

1. Abstract original and 12 copies2. Author notification card with your address and postage on it3. Dues payment for 19944. Membership database update form (please indicate ONLY changes from the 1993

membership directory)5. Conference registration card and payment - please note: a separate check for

each registration and dues payment is requested!6. Application form (in duplicate) for student assistance (if applicable)7. Nominations of officers of AChemS for 1994

8. Nominations for Awards (this may be mailed directly to the Awards Chairman, Dr.Stephen Roper, if you prefer).

Your hotel registration should be mailed directly to Sarasota. If there is noregistration envelope in your copy of the newsletter, call or fax the Hyatt, Sarasota atPhone: (813) 366-9000; FAX: (813) 952-1987, and identify your self as an AChemSmeeting participant.

Cover Illustration: Image of reconstructed taste bud cell represents type III cellfrom a rabbit foliate taste bud. The nuclei are shown in dark gray, and sites of synapticcontact with nerve fibers are represented by the black spots. These reconstructionscome from a set of data included in a paper entitled: "HVEM Serial-Section Analysisof Rabbit Foliate Taste Buds: I. Type III Cells and Their Synapses," Suzanne M. Royerand John C. Kinnamon, Journal of Comparative Neurology, 306:49-72.

Volume 11, Number 1 Fall, 1993

AChemS Association for Chemoreception Sciences

fostering chemica! senses research and understanding smelt and taste In health and disease

AChemS Officers

Executive Chair

Inglis Miller, Ph.D.Bowman-Gray School of Medicine

Past Executive Chair

John CapriOj Ph.D.Louisiana State University

Executive Chair Elect

John Kauer, Ph.D.Tufts-New England Medical Center

SecretaryCharles Derby, Ph.D.Georgia State University

Treasurer

Barry Green, Ph.D.Monell Chemical Senses Center

Other Mmibers of the Executive

Committee

Membership ChairRob Contreras, Ph.D.

Florida State University

Pirogram ChairJudy Van Hout^, Ph.D.University of Vermont

Councillors

Gail Burd, Ph.D.University of Ari2X)na

John Hildebrand, Ph.D.University of Arizona

AChonS

229 Westridge DriveTallahassee, FL 32304-3d34Phone/FAX: (904) 576-5530

Calendar of Deadlines

January 10, 1994Receipt of AbstractsReceipt of 1994 dues If sponsoring an abstractReceipt of nominations of officers

Receipt of student travel/housing assistance application formsReceipt of Information for the Spring Newsletter by Secretary, Including

tentative program for the annual meeting, minutes of the FallExecutive Committee meeting, and ballot Including nominees'qualifications

February 8Mailing of Spring Newsletter

February 15Program Chair sends program to Panacea Associates

Notification to students of travel/housing awards

February 25Author notification cards mailed

February 28

Receipt of pre-reglstratlon feesReceipt of nominations for scientific awards

March 10

Receipt of ballot for election of officers

April 13-17AChemS XVI In Sarasota

April 16

Receipt of dues from members not sponsoring abstracts

The AChonS Newsletter is published twice a year. Those interested in publishingin the Spring Newsletter should submit materials by January 1 to:

Dr. Charles D. DerbySecretary of AChemSDepartment of BiologyGeorgia State UniversityP.O. Box 4010

Atlanta, Georgia 30302-4010

Telephone: (404) 651-3058 or651-1646

FAX: (404) 651-2509E-Mail: BIOCDD @ GSUVM1.BITNET

Minutes of the Spring

Executive Committee

MEETING, April 14, 1993

Present: Caprio, Miller, Ache,

Green, Contreras, DeSimone, Burd,Silver, and Scott. Also in attendancewere incoming Executive Chair ElectJohn Kauer and Pat Meredith and

Susan T ampman from PanaceaAssociates.

Announcements from the

Executive Chair (Caprio):

The Executive Chair thanked each of

the members of the Executive Com

mittee for their efforts on behalf of the

Association throughout the year.

At the last meeting we agreed to senda letter to the National Science Foim-

dation expressing our support for thebasic research mission of NSF. That

letter was sent and a copy published inthe Fall Newsletter of the Association.

The Industrial Liaison Committee,

chaired by Frank Gullotta of PhillipMorris International, has provided alist of potential corporate memberswho are being contacted.

We have followed through with ourcommitment to aiding the teaching ofscience with workshops on teachinglast year and this year at the annualmeetings.

The Public Affairs and Information

Committee has been reorganized withWayne Silver as provisional chair.

Contacts with the Association for

Research in Otolaryngology are increasing with presentation at the lastmeeting of ARO by Sue Kinnamonand Doron Lancet. A symposium on"Clinical Disorders of Olfaction and

Taste" will be presented by AChemSmembers at the May ARO meeting.Linda Bartoshuk and David Smith

were acknowledged for helping toorganize the synqwsium. Speakersinclude David Smith, MarilynGetchell, Bruce Jafek, Don Leopold,

Richard Doty, Linda Bartoshuk andDavid Yousem.

We will resume contributions to the

ECRO traveling scholar program.This will allow us to send four peopleto the ECRO meeting, which is heldon alternate years.

We were contacted by ChemoreceptionAbstracts who wish to establish a

formal arrangement with the Association. It was suggested that theycontact JAST to consider the possibility of an arrangement with allthree chemosensory societies (ECRO,AChemS, and JAST).

Discussion items;

The minutes of the Executive Commit

tee meeting in October were correctedto note that the budget submitted byPanacea Associates consisted of

$9,000 for the Annual Meeting and$6,000 for Association management,for a total of $15,000. The correctedminutes were approved on a motion bySilver and seconded by Van Houten.

A new calendar of deadlines for the

Association was proposed, correctedand approved on a motion by Green-Silver. That calendar is printed elsewhere in the Newsletter.

The question of which attendees wereentitled to complementary registrationwas considered. At present these include the Givaudan Lecturer, invited

podium speakers who are not members, and press. The Program Chair,Treasurer and Awards Committee

Chair were requested to consider thisissue and report to the ExecutiveCommittee.

The contract for the Hyatt has beensigned through 1996. We are to bethe host society for the 1997 ISOTand, therefore, we may meet jointly

with ISOT at a different time and

place. The Sarasota Hyatt has agreedto wait until the Fall Executive Com

mittee for a decision on 1997.

/ The Committee on Public Af^irs andInformation has established a presspolicy requiring all press to registerwith Panacea and to have an identifying badge. The Committee hasestablished a press room and willinteract with and aid the press. Wehave requested that no press photographs be taken in the meeting, but apress room has been designated wherephotography and interviews can occur.Further issues of a press policy will beconsidered for the future. It was

noted that we have added a disclaimer

in the abstract book about AChemS

sponsorship of information presentedat the meeting.

The stationery, program, and Newsletter of the Association will be

corrected to reflect the officers and

members of the Executive Committee

as designated in the by-laws. TheofUcers are the Executive Chair, Past

Executive Chair, Executive Chair

Elect, Secretary and Treasurer. TheExecutive Committee includes these

officers plus the membership chair, theprogram chair and the two councilors.The program chair elect is a non-voting guest at Executive Committeemeetings.

Program Chair (DeSimone):There were 332 abstracts in the

program this year and about 360preregistrants. The program committee thanks Jim Smith and his students

for constructing new poster boards.There is a new policy of requestingaccompanying guests to pay a fee of$20 to cover the costs of food. Food

is the largest part of the meetingbudget. There was a suggestion thatthe hotel might set up a stand forcoffee and danish for breakfast late

comers.

There was discussion of ways toensure that work of questionable

quality is not presented at the meetingand that the name of the Association is

not used to add credibility to thatwork. It was agreed that the programcommittee must use its own judgmentin accepting abstracts. The degree ofparticipation on Sunday morning wasdiscussed. There was sentiment that

this time should be sufficiently utilizedto encourage a good audience forthose presentations that remain onSunday. The program should endbefore 11:00 AM to ease travel

schedules. A final point was thedesirability of a topical summary ofthe program on the first page or insidecover of the program booklet.

Manbership Chair (Contreras):As of March 28, there were 610

regular members, 199 student members and 3 emeritus members. There

have been 56 new regular membersand 51 new student members since

August 1, 1992. The new directory tobe published June 1 will include ashort history of the organization. It isencouraged that future directories listthe professional degrees of members(i.e. Ph.D., M.D. rather than thegeneric "Dr."). Future directoriesshould resume the practice of listingfuture meeting dates and previousofficers of the Association.

Treasurer (Green):The final 1992 budget is presentedelsewhere in the Newsletter. There is

an increase in cash reserves due to an

increase in registration fees and collections. The new procedures by whichOxford University Press pays editorialexpenses for Chemical Senses throughthe AChemS Treasurer are workingwell and have solved some problemsof the past. We are now able togenerate monthly budget reports.

Secretary (Scott):During die past year we have generated two Newsletters with minutes of

the business meeting and two Executive Committee meetings, as well asthree surveys of the membership. Wehave combined the mailings of the call

for abstracts, requests for nominations,and the ballot with the Newsletter to

save mailing costs.

It was suggested that the front page ofthe Newsletter have a better highlighting of the contrats to be sure thatballots and surveys are properly calledto the att^tion of the membership. Ithas also been suggested diat we list thecriteria for the ECRO-AChemS

traveling scholarship (no more than 5years post-doctoral experience), forwhich candidates are to submit their

own requests and arrange for letters ofsupport. The Newsletter will includesummaries of the research of award-

ees.

Awards Committee

(Gesteland):The following awardees wereselected-

Kei\ji Nakanishi Award for Researchin Olfaction to Stuart Firestein

Frito-Lay Award for DistinguishedResearch in Taste to Ralph Norgren

Moskowitz-Jacobs Inc. Award forResearch Excellence in Psychophysicsof Taste and Smell to J. EnriqueCometto-Muniz

The Don Tucker Manorial Award

for the best student presoitation willbe chosen during the meeting and announced in the Fall Newsletter.

The committee recommends that the

Program Committee in future yearsattempt to avoid scheduling studentsnominated for the Don Tucker Memo

rial Award on Sunday morning so thatthe committee can complete its deliberations by that time.

There was discussion of methods to

increase student nominations for the

award. It was decided to place information about the Tucker Award on the

abstract form along with a box askingwhether the student wishes to be

considered to the award. These stu-

doits will also be ariced to submit 5

extra copies of the abstract for use bythe committee. The committee also

lecommoided that the AChemS

Membership Directory list previouswinners of all awards.

F&nacea Associates (Liampman):Most people are now preregisteringfor the meeting because of the addedcost of on-site registration. This is asignificant help. We have books ondisplay.The samples have been donated and will be sold for the boiefit

for studoit travel. The slide from the

cover of the Fall Newsletter is avail

able for donations to support studoittravel.

The costs of the Givaudan lecturer

were discussed. It was decided that we

would continue to give an honorariumof $2000 and cover all reasonable

travel and lodging costs.Givaudan-Roure contributes $2000 for

the honorarium plus $500 towardtravel.

Audio-yisual equipment- We generally fiimish projectors and overheadprojectors. We have had some requestsfor VCR and video projectors. It wasdecided to allow the program chair todetermine whether presoiters would beasked to pay for the extra costs ofsuch equipment.

Fhst Executive Chair (Ache):Our application for support of symposia from die NIH has been favorablyreviewed, but it has not yet gone tocouncil at the time of the meeting.

Panacea Contract- The negotiationswith Panacea Associates conducted bya committee conqmsed of Ache,Caprio, Miller, Brand, and DeSimoneare almost complete. The ExecutiveCommittee agreed to defer the finalsigning of the contr^t until June 1 ofthis year.

IFF is willing to continue the FreemanAward but would like to change thename of the award. This award is

gLvea once every three years and theconunitment will be for 9 years (threeawards). The scope of the award maybe broadened and the award will probably be pres^ted at a symposiumrather than at a banquet. There will bean allocation of $5,000 for the awardand $5,000 for die synqx>sium. Itwould not be necessary for the awardto coincide with the synqwsium topic.Barry Ache will prepare a letteraccepting this proposal.

Report on Elections:Executive Chair Elect-

John Kauer

Program Chair Elect-

Barbara Talamo

Secretary- Charles Derby

Council- John Hildebrand

Council (Burd):Survey on the First Award - Fifteenmembers responded to the survey andthe results do not seem useful. It was

decided to have an expanded coverageof the First Award in the next newslet

ter. The Secretary will contact personnel at NIH to get someone to writean expanded description of this andother underutilized funding mechanisms.

Survey on AChanS West - Seventytwo surveys were returned. A reporton the results is included elsewhere in

this Newsletter. The general consensus was that it would be desirable

to meet in the west every 3 to 5 yearsbeginning in 1997 or 1998. Our existing contracts with the Sarasota Hyattrun through 1996. Conversations withthe Sarasota Hyatt have made it clearthat occasional meetings elsewherewould not jeopardize our relationshipwith the hotel. The survey in the FallNewsletter will solicit membership input about frequency of meeting atwestern sites and about criteria that the

membership consider important in siteselection. The Executive Committee

also approved the expenditure of $40for statistical analysis of the surveyresults.

Student travel- There were 63 stud^t

applicants for travel awards. Fifty-twoawards were ultimately made. Stud^ttravel cost $6,400. We sp^t a total of$8,754 on stud^t awards, not counting 4.75 complen^ntaiy rooms, basedon regular paid rooms. The for mulafor paying travel was to impose a$179 deductible so that every supported student had to pay the same out-of-pocket amount. There was dis cussionof ways to keep stud^t travel andhousing awards equitable. It wasstressed that these awards are not an

entitlement and judgments of dieseawards should be based on clear

guidelines, to be developed by thecouncilors.

Executive Chair-Elect (Miller):We hope to establish an electronicbulletin board to facilitate information

about the meeting to members. It isdesirable to establish a system thatwould provide information about members of AChemS, ECRO, and JAST

(their addresses, research areas,abstracts at meetings, etc). We couldalso use electronic media to dissemi

nate information about the program forthe meeting and about granting opportunities. A final goal is the involvement of more members in the responsibilities and effort of the Association.

Wayne Silver has been the provisionalchair of the Public Affairs and Infor

mation Committee (other members:Chuck Wysocki, Tom Finger, AnnNoble, Rich Costanzo and Dennis

Passe). Its job will be to help interactwith the press and the public, disseminate information about support offunding agencies. The committeehopes to establish a press policy forthe Association. The committee has

produced a press book with abstractsand lay summaries for several highlyvisible abstracts presented at this meeting. This press book was circulated tosix area newspapers in Florida and ledto coverage by one newspaper and onetelevision station. Wayne Silver wasnominated and elected chair of the

committee for a term of two years.

New Business:

Since the Newsletter has become a

major v^cle of communication withthe call for abstracts and ballot beingincluded, it was agreed that therewould be a smooth cover with better

hi^ilighting of the information in thenewsletter. It will contain information

generated by the Program Giair andother officers, but the secretary willcollate the total outyut.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:30PM.

Poster Session and WorkshopON Smell and Taste Phantoms

AND Distortions

The National institute on Deafness

and Other Communication Dis

orders (NIDCD) will sponsor aslide session and workshop onsmell and taste phantoms and distortions at the sixteenth annual

meeting of AChemS. A number of

investigators, including those atthe clinical chemosensory researchcenters, have expressed a wish tohave a forum to describe their

clinical research experience withthese chemosensory disorders.Abstracts should be submitted ac

cording to the customary guidelines that AChemS published foreach annual meeting. Participantswishing to obtain advance information on this slide session and

workshop should contact Dr. JackPearl, (301) 402-3464.

AChems 1992 Bucket Figures

Revenues

Dues

RegistrationCoiporate MembersCorporate SponsorsOxford Press (pass through)Interest

NIH WorkshopTucker Award Fimd

Other

Total

Expenses

1992 1992 1991Budgeted Actual

$14,150 $16,000 $12,70027,600 31,540 19,1558,000 8,000 7,7002,000 2,000 4,8772,000 4,5701,250 1,108.96 4,863— 250 -

— 2,269 —

333.70 2,051

$55,000 $66,071.66 $51,346

Executive Chair $400 $501.21 $242Past Executive Chair 600 150 0Secretary 1,100 0 837Treasurer 700 0 490Membership 3,000 3,786.97 2,881Program 25,200 27,513.85 26,905Council 8,000 8,249.42 7,270Panacea Management 14,200 14,157.12 17,430Friends of NIDCD 500 500

ISOT Reserve 1,000 1,000 1,000Chem. Senses Editors 2,000 4,625 1,654Bank/Inc Fees 350 687.55 311Equipment and Maintenance 1,100 0 0

IRS Levy— — 2,286

Totals $58,150 $61,171.12Cash Reserves -3,150 +4,900.54 -9,960

Cash-On-Hand

Money Market Savings $24,402.17MasterChecking $2,457.68CD $10,000.00AChemS Reimbursable $5,268.15

Total $42,128.00

AChemS Budget for Fiscal Year 1993-1994(July 1, 1993'June 30, 1994)Estimated IncomeDues

RegistrationCorporate MembershipsCoiporate SponsorshipsInterest

Lidustiial Lunch IncomeOxford University Press (pass through)NIH Symposium/Workshop GrantTotal

$24,00030,400

10,000

2,050

1,000

1,500

4,500

20,500

$96,040

Estimated ExpensesExecutive Chair

Past Chair

SecretaryTreasurer

MembershipProgramCouncil

Panacea ManagementFriends of NIDCD

Oxford University Press (pass through)Bank and Incorporation FeesECRO/AChemS Exchange ReservePublic Affairs and Information Conunittee

NIH Symposium/Workshop

$61,306Total

$1,000

200

5,200

600

3,700

30,000

10,200

16,250

800

4,500

500

2,000

500

20,590

$96,940

Message from theExecutive Chair

Dear Fri^ds and Fellow Members:

AChemS now has 800 members,which means that more ATPs arerequired to keep track of the membership, send out information andnotification, organize and run theflnniinl meeting, collect and pay ourfinancial obligations, lobby and support our research sponsors, educateour students and the public aboutchemical senses, proselytize ourusefulness as an organization, andmost importantly, enhance our knowledge of chemosensory science.

Managing this effort is a bigger chorethan ever before. The ExecutiveCommittee requires considerable effortto plan, decide, finance, communicateand organize the activities of AChemSfor a year. All of this effort is volun-taiy and necessary, in addition to theservices which we buy from PanaceaAssociates.

Point 1. We could use your help andyour suggestions. Send yoiu: offer oftime and taints to me by E-nmil(inglis@uncecs.edu) or to PanaceaAssociates, who will forward them.

Point 2. Share some recognition withAChemS .

The Public Affairs and Information

Committee has been resurrected under

the leadership of Wayne Silver with atwo-fold purpose: First, to foster appreciation of the chemical senses andsecond, to supervise the accessibilityof the information media to our annual

meeting. When you publicize individual scientific and technologicalaccomplishments, you might acknowledge the existence of AChemSand its puipose. Remember, wesupport the effort, but WE DO NOTENDORSE the contributions of our

individual members.

Point 3. AChemS has a new electronicbulletin board.

Through the generous efforts of Dr.David Senseman (senseman@-lonestar.utsa.edu) and Mr. StevenBernstein at the University of Texas atSan Antonio, we can obtain, exchangeand update CURRENT INFORMATION about AChemS from all over

the world. It is now possible to accessBackground, Membership, AnnualMeeting Information, and News aboutAChemS from your computer. Thisservice will be important to followprogress of the 1994 meeting program.Check it out!

To obtain a copy by E-Mail of theinstructions for connecting to thisbulletin board contact me

(inglis@uncecs.edu) or John Scott(medjws@emuvml .cc.emory.edu).AChemS owes a sincere debt of

gratitude to Dr. Senseman and Mr.Bernstein for their efforts.

Point 4. AChemS will host ISOT-XU

in 1997.

The International Commission on

Olfaction and Taste (ICOT) voted inSapporo, Japan during the recentISOT-XI (July 12 -16,1993) to awardthe next International Symposium onOlfaction and Taste to AChemS as the

host organization. On behalf ofAChemS, I reported that we wouldaccept the invitation and report to theICOT members, and to ECRO andJASTS by July, 1994, whereISOT-Xn will be held. If you have acandidate location, see the acconq)any-ing newsletter item on proposals forISOT-Xn.

Point 5.1 have communicated with the

leadership of JASTS and ECRO aboutcombining their membership directories with AChemS to produce aworldwide directory. We hope tohave the electronic file available bySpring of 1994.

Point 6. AChemS owes a debt of

gratitude to our Corporate Membersand to the Corporate Sponsors of ourawards. Look for the list of ourcorporate members, award sponsorsand award wirmers in front of the

1993 Membership Directory. Welcome to our newest Corporate member, Firmenich SA, of Graieva, Switzerland. Encourage corporate organizations to join AChemS.

Point 7. Kudos to Panacea and theExecutive Committee.

I am beginning to appreciate howmuch effort has been put forward byrecent, Past-Executive Chairs, TomGetchell, Barry Ache and JohnCaprio. AChemS is a stronger organization because of them. It is nocoincidence that our Treasurer, BarryGreen studies irritation. He must payfor the sins of others. The ProgramChair, Judy Van Houten, and JohnDeSimone in 1993, and their ProgramCommittees, give up an enormousamount of time and agony over theannual meeting. The outgoing secretary, John Scott, keeps the officialrecords of AChemS and produces thenewsletter. Chuck Derby is sharpening his quill to fill the breach createdby John's retirement. The Membership Chair, Rob Contreras, keepstrack of who we are, where we are,and then he produces the membershipdirectory. Gail Burd and JohnHildebrand, the councilors, andWayne Silver, who retired this year,serve on the Executive Committee,and administer (he student travel and

housing programs. We owe a debt ofgratitude to the standing committeesand their Chairs. Finally, AChemScould not function without Panacea

Associates, Susan T .ampman and PatMeredith, who provide programservices at our annual meeting andrepresent us during the entire year.

See you in the surf.

Inglis J. Miller, Jr. Executive Chair

Minutes cf the

Ousiness Meetins

Saturday, >4prii 17

The meeting opened with an updatefrom NIDCD presented by Dr. RalphNaunton and with the reading of aletter from Dr. Chris Platt of the NSF.

These are presented elsewhere in theNewsletter.

Dr. Thomas Getchell offered the com

ment that the budget of the NIH is theresult of political negotiations.AChemS participates to a limited degree in this political process by itsmembership in the Friends of theNIDCD, which lobbies in favor of increased funding for the Institute. Heurged all members to become moreactively involved in the process bywriting congressional leaders, especially Congressman Walter Natcher andSenator Tom Harkin, in support offunding for the histitute and for thearea of chemical seises.

Dr. Getchell announced that Dr. Frank

Margolis is the recipient of the 1993R. H. Wright award. Dr. Margoliswill give a series of lectures and receive a $25,000 prize.

Committee reports are summarized inthe minutes of the Executive Commit

tee meeting.

AimouncemenU:

The next meeting of ECRO will beJuly 26-31, 1994 in Blois, France.

The Gordon Conference on Taste and

Smell will be July 17-22, 1994, inPlymouth, NH.

The next AChemS meeting will beApril 13-17, 1994, in Sarasota, FL.

There will be a symposium put together by AChemS members presented atthe next meeting of the Association forResearch in Otolaryngology.

Panacea Associates announced that

sales of hats, tee shirts, and slideshave g^erated over $400 for the student travel hind.

The AChemS gavel was presented tothe incoming Executive Chair, Dr.Inglis Miller, who called for an expression of thanks to outgoing Executive Giair John Caprio. Dr. Millerdescribed his hopes to involve more ofthe members in the running of theAssociation and the flnmml meeting.He also expressed the desire to increase utilization of electronic commu

nication for business of the Associa

tion.

New Business:

Dr. Gesteland, as outgoing chair ofthe Awards Committee, expressed thedesire of the committee to have more

nominations for the Tucker Award and

asked that students be made aware of

this Award.

Several questions and suggestions weremade about the conduct of the program. (1) Is it possible to mailabstracts of the meeting to members ingood standing who cannot attend themeeting? One mechanism would be tohave a check-off on the registrationform to allow members to elect to payfor this mailing. This question wasreferred to the Program Chair VanHouten. (2) Why not publish thephone number of Panacea Associates?This number is the number listed for

the AChemS business office in the

Directory and in the Newsletter. (3)Is it time to consider extending the

meeting by an additional day? Executive Chair Miller will appoint a committee to consider this suggestion. (4)The suggestion was made to considersubmission of abstracts by electronicmedia. (5) It was requested that theprogram committee avoid groupingpresentations by organism but insteademphasize organization by method andby biological mechanism.

The meeting was adjoumed at 1:30PM.

Sensory Science Scholarshipfor the 1994-1995 Academic

Year

Objective: To promote the goal ofRose Marie Pangbom educatingsensory scientists at the PhD levelwhose career goal is University levelteaching and research in s^isorysci^ce.

The S^isory Sci^ce Scholarship willbe awarded on die basis of the applicant' s academic record, commitm^tto a career in teaching in the field ofs^isory sci^ce, and support in lettersof recommendation. The selection of

recipients and policy governing theawards is determined by the Board ofDirectors of the Sensory ScienceScholarship Fund, Inc.

One award of $11,000 (in four payments) will be made for the 1994-1995academic year. The recipient will beeligible for two r^ewals of the award.However, re^plication is mandatoryand the application will be reviewedalong wi& all others received.

Applications should include the completed application form, official transcripts of all graduate or undergraduate work, GRE results and an essay.Three letters of recommendation must

be furnished. These may be mailedseparately, but must be receivedPRIOR to the deadline for filing theapplication.

>

Applications, including all requiredinformation, must be postmarked nolater than March 1,1994.

For additional information and applications forms, please contact Dr. A.C.Noble, Secretary Sensory ScienceScholarship Fund, Dept. ViticultureandEnology, University of California,Davis, OA 95616.

FAX: 916-752-0382

TeIq)hone: 916-752-0387EMAIL: ACNOBLE@UCDAVIS.EDU

or ACNOBLE®UCDAVIS.BITNET

Gordon Conference on

the Chemical 6enses:

Taste and <Smell

July 17 - 22, 1994Plymouth State CollegePlymouth, New Hampshire USAChair: John CaprioVice-Chair: Gail D. Burd

Monday, July 18,1994SESSi(»«tl: Biochemical AND Molec

ular Affroaches TO SensoryTrans-

DUCTION

Discussion Leader: Linda Buck

Randall Reed: "Molecular mechan

isms of sensitivity and specificity inodorant detection"

Gabrlele Ronnett: "The regulation ofsecond messenger signals in olfaction"Robert Margolskee: "Molecular approaches to taste transduction"

Session!: Biophysical Approaches

TO Chemosensory Transduction

Discussion Leader: Barry AcheSue KInnamon: "Modality-specifictransduction pathways in taste receptorcells"

Hans Matt: "Diversity of odor-activated ion channels in olfactory receptor neurons" (tentative)

Tuesday, July 19,1994S^on3: C^Bhxjogical Affroach

es TO (^FACTORY BULB DEVELOPMENT

Discussion Leader: Albert I.

Farbman

Michael Shipley: "Pioneering olfactory axons may influence cell cyclekinetics in the developing olfactorybulb"

Leslie Tolbert: "Interactions amongolfactory axons, glia, and neurons information of glomeruli"Michael Leon: "Organizational roleof experience in olfactory bulb fimc-tional developm^t"

Session4: Elbcirofhysiological Ap

proaches TO Study Chemosensory

Coding in the Central Nervous

System

Discussion Leader: Thomas

Chrlstensen

Kenzaku Mori: "Coding of odormolecules and olfactory processing inthe rabbit olfi^toiy bulb"Thomas Scott: "Gustatory neuralcoding in the mammalian centralnervous system"

Wednesday, July 20, 1994SEsam 5: Ceil Bkxjogical Affroach

es TO Lingual Epithelium Develop

ment

Discussion Leader: Charlotte M.

MIstretta

Bruce Oakley: "Cytokeratin markersof tongue epithelium and taste organs"Karen A. Holbrook: "Hair follicle

differentiation: parallels for taste froman epidermal appendage"Thomas Finger: "Cell lineage andinterrelationships in taste and lingualepithelia"

Session 6: Modeling as an Approach

TO Understanding Chemosensory

Mechanisms

Discussion Leader: John S. Kauer

Daniel M. Ennis: "Mathematical

models for multicomponent interactions in taste and smell"

Lewis B. Haberly: "Physiological andmodeling analysis of associativeprocesses in olfactory cortex"

Thursday, July 21,1994Sesscn 7: Behavi(»ial Approaches to

Chemosensory Rjnctions in feeding

Discussion Leader: Ralph NorgrenAlan C. Specter: "Behavioral approaches to understanding gustatoryprocesses in the nervous system"Gerard P. Smith: "Thedopaminergicbasis for the hedonic quality of oralfluid stimuli"

Kunio Torll: "Lateral hypothalamicneural plasticity in response to dietary

L-lysine deficiency"

Session 8: Plasticity of Sensory

Receptors

Discussion Leader: To Be Determined

Jeffrey T. Corwin: "Form, function,development, and regeneration inmechanoreceptive hair cell epithelia"

Friday, July 22, 1994Session 9: Evoluhonary Aspects of

Reproductive Behavior

Discussion Leader: Charles

WysocklPeter Sorensen: "The function and

evolution of hormonal sex pheromonesin fish"

Martha McCllntock: "The phero-monal control of fertility: from rats tohumans"

Poster Sessions: Late aftemoon postersessions with room for approximately40 posters will also be scheduled fortopics that are related to the oralsessions.

Your attendance is encouraged. Roomis available for approximately ICQindividuals in addition to those listed

in the program. Registration is $430which includes your room (doubleoccupancy) and food for the five days.Applicants to the Gordon Conferencecan also apply for one of the availableposter slots. Further information willappear in the November 6th issue ofScience.

Please contact John Caprio(Telephone: 504-388-1741FAX: 504-388-1763

E-MAIL: ZOCAPR®LSUVM) orGail Burd

(Telephone: 602-621-1544FAX: 602-621-3709

E-MAIL: GBURDOARIZVMS.BITNET)for more information.

(Cc/eo XI

26lL3Ut of 1994Hioidj France

The next Congress of the EuropeanChemoreception Research Organization (ECRO XI) will be held in BloisFrance, from Wednesday, July 27, toSunday, July 31, 1994. Registrationand informal get-together will takeplace on the afternoon of Tuesday the26th.

Blois is an historic small town with a

chateau on the Loire river. Presenta

tions will be given in an ancient commarket: "La Halle aux Grains" rede

signed as a modem theater and exhibition hall. There will be the famous

"light of the Loire valley", sun,gastronomy, and the generous spirit ofa kind French hospitality. Congressparticipants will be housed in the besttown hotels, meals will be taken in thebuildings of a university restaurant.The excursion is expected to include avisit to a famous chateau.

A national Organizing committee includes Rdmi Gervais, Andrd Holley,Fran9ois Jourdan, Gilles Sicard,Evelyne Vemet (Lyon), Jean Gascuel,Claudine Masson (Bures sur Yvette),Fr6d6ric L6vy (Nouzilly), MohamedMathlouti (Reims), Benoist Schaal(Paris), Annick Faurion, and PatrickMac Leod (Massy).

tentative programs The followingtopics have been selected. For symposia: Olfaction and cognition, neu-ronal dynamics and olfactory memory,neurogenesis and neurogenetics, tastecenters, reception and transduction.For workshops: trigeminal, taste receptor modeling, specific systems, olfaction and emotion.

Posters will be beautifully displayed inthe exhibition hall throughout the congress. Poster sessions will highlightabout 15 posters at a time.

Large pauses, three hours of free timeevery day and meals taken together areorganized to facilitate personal contacts.

3' ^006! We are able to keep prices verylow (half the cost) thanks to sponsoring.

Commercial exhibition (scientificmaterial, books) will be possible onrequest. Spontaneous sponsorship:checks should be made payable to theorder of the Association Claude

Bemard and mailed to Annick

FAURION. Musicians should bringtheir music and instrument (aBSsendorfer piano is available) and tolet us know what (professional) accompaniment we have to provide.

AChemS members interested in

attending the meeting should ask bymail, fax, or email to be added to the

mailing list of the congress immediately. They will receive application formsin November.

Welcome to Blois,

Annick FAURION

Laboratoire de NeurobiologieSensorielle

Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes1 avenue des 01ynq)iadesF-91305 MassyPhone: 33 1 69 20 63 39

FAX: 33 1 69 20 02 30

E-Mail:

UMLD001@FRORS31.BITNET

R6mi GERVAIS

Laboratoire de Physiologie SensorielleUniversity Cl. BemardLYONl

69622 Villeurbanne

Phone: 33 72 44 85 82

FAX: 33 78 94 95 85

E-Mail:

GERVAIS@NEUROSENS.UNIV-LYONl .FR

The Following Conedions(Should Be Made To Your Mem

bership Diredoiy:

Dr. Rochell SMALL:

corrected telephone number(301) 402-3464

Dr. James PRAH:

corrected telephone number(919) 966-6244

Dr. Michael S. KING:

change of addressDepartm^t of BiologyBox 8244

Stetson UniversityDeland, Florida 32720-3756(904) 822-8172

Mr. Christopher PALATUCCI:corrected E-mail

cpalatucci@sci.wfeb.edu

Don Tucker Award

The winner of this year's Don TuckerMemorial Award was Mr. WeimingLi of the Department of Fisheries andWildlife at the University of Minnesota at St. Paul, where he is a studentwith Peter W. Sorensen. He made a

slide presentation entitled "The olfactory system of sea lanq)rey is highlysensitive and specific to bile acidsnaturally produced by fish." Thiswork involved HPLC and cross

adaptation of electro-olfactograms. Itsuggested the pres^ce of three separate recq>tor mechanisms in thelamprey olfactory system. He receives a $500 check and his name willbe entered on a plaque listing theaward winners in the Don Tucker

Memorial Conference Room at Florida

State University.

A Lftter From NSF

I am sorry tliat constraints on theadministrative side of the NSF budget

have meant that travel dollars areunusually tight this year, and I cannotbe at AChemS diis year.

In the newly organized BiologicalSciences Directorate at NSF, Neuro-science is part of the new Division ofIntegrative Biology & Neuroscience.Sensory Systems is one of the programelements in Neuroscience (which has 5other Program Directors).

The budget for Sensory Systems isroughly $4.5M for FY93, and about2/3 of that is "committed" for ongoingawards, hi FY92, chemosensoiyawards represented about $1M of thetotal, or a bit under 20%, about$700K was for olfaction, and about

$200K for gustation, with about$100K for general chemosensoiywork. We receive about 50-70 proposals (covering all senses) per cyclefor Sensory Systems, and make roughly 10 awards of regular 3-year terms;and some additional smaller awards;that "success rate" is around 15-20%.

Most of our final award sizes come

out now in the range of $70-lOOK/year, including indirect costs.

With these kinds of numbers, it isobvious we cannot easily maintainmajor ongoing research efforts of biglabs. Instead, we are trying to advancescience by fostering unique opportunities. Such woik might involve anew idea of approach, or a model system, or an unusual chance to get apost-doc widi particular skills to complement a PI with other skills, for example. NSF is unique in having all thefields of sci^ce "under one rooP and

novel interdisciplinary work is encouraged. I should also stress that NSF hasa Directorate for Education and Hu

man Resources that has received sub

stantial increases in recent budgets, forfimding proposals relating to education(including equipment for teaching laboratories) and to getting members of

under-repres^ted groups "into thepipeline" for science (including fellowships for minority graduate studentsand post-docs).

The "target dates" for submission tothe Neuroscience areas are January 15and July 15. We continue to dependheavily on the expertise of the "outsidereviewers" in the community, becausethe scientific merit of a proposal isstill the major criterion for funding decisions, and these reviewers are discussed at length by the Advisory Panelwhen I meet with them. I would like

to thank the hundreds of you atAChemS who have provided us withreviews over the years; the return ratefor reviews to Sensory Systems continues to be one of the highest in theDivision, at around 60%, and thathelps our Panelists considerably intheir discussions.

I hope these notes are useful for you,and if anyone has questions, pleasefeel free to contact us by phone or byemail.

Sincerely,

Christopher Platt, Ph.D.Program Director for S^isory SystemsDiv. Integrative Biol. & Neuroscience(202) 357-7428, cplatt®nsf.bitnet

Other Program Directors inNeuroscience:

Behavioral Neuroscience

Dr. Christopher Comer202-357-7040

ccomer@nsf.gov

Computational NeuroscienceDr. Karen Sigvardt202-357-7040

ksigvard@nsf.gov

Developmental NeuroscienceDr. William (Gus) Hayes202-357-7042

Neuronal & Glial

Mechanisms

Dr. Felix Stromwasser

202-357-7471

fstrumwa@nsf.gov

NeuroendocrinologyDr. Kathie Olsen

202-357-7040

kols^@nsf.bitnet

Oilgoing Progf^amAnnouncements from the

NDCD

The chemosensoiy research community should be aware that, unlessotherwise indicated, investigators maycontinue to submit applications inresponse to Program Announcementspublished in previous issues of theNIH Guide for Grants and Contracts,for example the announcements listedbelow.

SmaU Grant Program for the NationalInstitute on Deafiiess and Other

Communication Disorders, Vol. 21,No. 43, 11/27/92.

Vulnerability of the Olfactory Systemto the Impact of Environmental Toxicants and Pathogens Vol. 21, No.42,11/20/92.

Chemoreception and Nutrition, Vol.21, No. 35, 10/2/92.

Travel Fellowships forUnder-rq>resmited Minority Studentsin Communications Sciences and

Disorders, Vol. 21, No. 34, 9/25/92.

Hearing Impairment and Other Communication Disorders Associated withCMV infection, HIV infection, andAIDS, Vol. 21, No. 34, 9/25/92.

Genetics and Fimdamental Mechan-

isms of Chemical Senses, Vol. 20,No. 34, 9/13/91.

Studies on Obesity, Vol. 20, No. 35,9/20/91.

Central Taste Pathways and Neuro-chemistry. Vol. 19, No. 5, 2/2/90.

Taste System Plasticity: Development,Maintenance and Regeneration, Vol.18, No. 46, 12/29/89.

Nasal Chemor6cq)tion: Regenerationand Trophic Interactions, Vol. 18, No.34, 9/29/-89.

Investigators submitting research grantapplications in response to any ofthese announcements are encouragedto check the "yes" box in item 2a ofthe face page of the PHS grant application form. For further informationcontact Dr. Jack Pearl or Dr. Rochelle

Small of the NIDCD at (301)402-3464

«*««*»*»««

Comments From

Dr. Ralph Naunton,NIDCD

Dr. Naunton first expressed his appreciation of the opportunity to attendthe AChemS meeting. He then discussed a number of current NIDCD-

related issues or developm^ts.

An NIDCD monograph "Development, Growth and Senescence in theChemical Senses," the proceedingsedited by Dr. Jack Pearl of a conference of the same title held earlier at

the NIH, is now available from theNIDCD Clearinghouse (800) 241-1055(TDD); (800) 241-1044 (Voice). Reference was also made to die shortly-to-be-published revision of the Chemical Senses portion of the NationalStrategic Research Plan.

The NIDCD hopes to be able, in1994, to issue a Program Announce

ment concerning Oral and Nasal Tri-geminal Chemoreception and to holdtwo Workshops or Conferences at theannual AChemS meeting, one onSmell and Taste Phantoms and Distor

tions, the other on Cell LineageAnalyses of Neurogenesis.

The success rate of grant ̂ plicationsin FY92 was 30.2% and the estimated

rate for FY93 was 25.5%. The projected rate for FY94 clearly dep^dson our budget about which, in April,there were major uncertainties; thoseuncertainties persist in large measureand will probably remain at least untilthe time this report is published.

Fimding for grants in the areas ofolfaction and gustation accounts forseven and six percent respectively ofour Institute's activities. These figuresare not the result of any predeterminedplan of action; they are the reflectiononly of the number of applications inthe Chemical Seises area assigned tothe NIDCD, relative to the total num

ber assigned to the hearing, balance/-vestibular, voice/qieech and languageareas.

Small Grants, Clinical Investigator Development Awards and FIRST Awardsare support mechanisms little utilizedby the Chemical Seises; and applications for Senior Fellowships are rarelysubmitted from any of the scientificareas the NIDCD serves.

In response to a question from theaudience it was pointed out that diedisparity between the percentile pay-line and success rates occurs for a

number of reasons: the most significant is that there are mmiy differentStudy Sections reviewing the grantsthat finally come to the NIDCD; eachStudy Section percmitiles the priorityscores of its applications sq>aratelyover a one year period.

Anodier questioner a^ed whether the13% of institute funds going to theChemical Senses has changed over theyears. The figure has frequ^tly re

mained stable.

The suggestion was made that IndirectCost rates should be reduced, and thatthe resulting savings be sp^t in support of additional research grants. Itwas pointed out that even if indirectcosts were reduced, the savings wouldprobity not be available for the Institute to sprad.

A third question concerned S^orFellowship grant applications andwheUier funds are set aside for their

support. No funds are set aside forthis puipose; they conqiete with otherNRSA mechanisms such as Individual

Fellowships and Training Grants.They do not compete with IndividualResearch Grants.

A final question concerned the numberof active Traiodng Grants in theChemical Senses. These are currentlytwo dealing exclusively with theChemical Senses and another two that

include Chemical Senses conq>onents.

^^warJL al 1993

The following descriptions of therecipients of awards were tak^ fromthe nomination letters for the awards.

The year's Frito-Lay Award forDistinguished Research in Taste waspresented to Dr. Ralph Norgren ofThe Hershey Medical Center at P^mState University. Dr. Norgren hasdone pioneering research on thestructural and functional aspects of thec^tral taste system. His doctoraldissertation in the Olds laboratory atMichigan was the basis for the firstpublished r^rt of taste responsesfrom individual neurons of the hypo-thalamus. With Drs. Christiana

Leonard and Carl Pfaffinann, hedescribed the parabrachial relay of the

taste system on the way to the thal-amus and demonstrated that this pathcarried gustatory information. Hisneuroanatomical research has rede

fined the organization of the tastesystem in both the rodent and theprimate. The behavioral research ofNorgr^ and Grill changed our viewof the brain stem from a passiveconduit to a dynamic circuit capable ofdeciphering the neural taste code fortaste quality and executing its own setof motor responses. It is clear thatRalph Norgren's involvement in thesechallenging projects is driven by theintrinsic value of the research, not bytheir ease of success.

YicJtaniilu .>4weuxLThe 1993 Nakanishi Award for Re

search in Olfaction was presented toDr. Stuart Firestein of Yale Univer

sity. Dr Firestein has establishedhimself as one of the leading physiologists of olfactory transduction. Hewas the first to obtain odor stimulated

membrane currents in isolated olfac

tory cells. He proceeded to demonstrate that these currents are generatedin the cilia. More recently he hasanalyzed the cyclic AMP secondmessenger system in amphibianolfiEictoiy neurons and showed theeffects of intracellular Ca'^'^ in mod

ulating noi^lective cationic sensoryconductances. In addition. Dr.Firestein has been a good citizen ofthe olfactory community, interactingopenly with his colleagues to share hisexpertise and promote the field, aswell as appearing in seminar andsyn^osia that have brought the advances in olfactory transduction to thenotice of the wider scientific com

munity.

^ko l^oikoivUz-^^acoki -.^u/cuxLThe 1993 Moskowitz-Jacobs Award

for Psychophysical Research onHuman Taste and Olfaction was

presented to Dr. J. Enrique Cometto-Muniz of the John B. Pierce Labora

tory. Dr. Cometto-Muniz has workedboth in Arg^tina and the United

States on the percq)tion of pungencyand the relation between pungency andsmell. He has taken advantage ofanosmic subjects as a research base topreset us with a substantial data setthat will point toward the understanding of the mechanism of pung^cy.Dr. Cometto-Muniz is a person ofgreat concentration, whose work anddedication will be an inspiration toyoung scientists who might aspire tothis award.

m SUPPORT MECHMSMS

In view of the low rate of applicationfor the FIRST award, senior fellowship, and NIDCD Small Grant program among chemosensory researchers, we are printing here a briefdescription of these awards.

The First Independent ResearchSupport and Transition (FIRST)Award [R29]

The objective of the FIRST award isto provide a sufficient period ofresearch support for newly independent biomedical investigators to initiatetheir own research and demonstrate

the merit of their own research ideas.

These grants are intended to underwrite the first ind^nd^t efforts ofan individual; to provide a reasonableopportunity to demonstrate creativity,productivity, and further promise; andto help in the transition to traditionaltypes of NIH research project grants.To be eligible, the investigator mustbe independent of a mentor and at thebeginning stages of a research career.The investigator must request fiveyears of support and devote at least 50perc^t time to the project. Applicantsmay request up to $350,000 (directcosts) for the five years.

National Research Service A-

wards for Senior Fellows [F33]

The National Research Service Awards

(NRSA) s^or fellowships provideopportunities for experienced scientiststo make major changes in the directionof their research careers, to broads

their scientific background, to acquirenew research capabilities, or to enlarge their command of an alliedresearch field. To qualify, individualsmust have a Ph.D., M.D., D.O.,

D.D.S. or similar doctoral level

degree from an accredited domestic orforeign institution and at least sevensubsequ^t years of relevant researchor professional experience by thebeginning date of the proposed fellowship. Senior fellowship support maybe requested for a period from sixmonths up to two years. Stipends arenegotiated at the time of the award,depending upon the salary or re-mimeration from the home institution.

Small Grant Program for the National Institute on Deafness and

Other Communication Disorders

The Small Grant Program (R03) isdesigned solely to support basic andclinical scientists with limited research

experience who are at the beginningstages of their research careers. ThisSmall Grant Program provides supportfor pilot research that is likely to leadto a subsequ^t Individual ResearchProject (ROl) grant or to a FIRST(R29) application. Current and previous recipients of NIH researchgrants such as small grant awards,ROl, or R29 grants are ineligible forthe Small Grant Program. Applicantsmay request up to $25,000 (directcosts) per year. The grant may notexceed two years and is not renewable. Investigators are expected toseek continuing support for researchthrough a research project grant (ROl)or FIRST (R29) award.

Detailed instructions for these programs are available from the

NIDCD Health Scientist Ad

ministrators or from the NIH Officeof Grant Inquiries. Note that theSmall Grant (R03) deadlines will be

Three Potenlial West Coast Sites For Future AChemS Meetings To BeHeld No Earlier Than 1997

Newport Beach, California

Hyatt Newporter Resortroom rates: $95

Best to fly into Orange County Airport.

meeting space: no chargeYear-round deluxe resort hotel on 26

acres of landscaped gardens overlooking Newport's Back Bay. Ten minutesfrom Orange County Airport andminutes from restaurants, night clubs,specialty shops. Fashion Island (designer shops), Balboa Island andbeaches. Free van shuttle service to

Balboa Island. (This Hyatt is a resorthotel with several sport activitiesavailable on-site, including one verybeautifiil pool. One mile to BalboaIsland. - GB)

- 410 guest rooms- 3 heated swimming pools/jacuzzi- volleyball/ bike rentals/jogging

trails

- 9 hole, par 3 golf course (complimentary)

- health club

- 16 outdoor lighted tennis courts- golf can be arranged at NewportCountry Club - minutes from resort

- restaurants/ lounge/ entertainment- additional restaurants on Balboa Is

land

- complimentary airport transportation- concierge

San Diego, California

Hyatt Islandiaroom rates: $99

meeting space: no chargeYear-round resort on Mission Baywith seascape view of the marina andPacific Ocean. Minutes from Sea

World, beaches, and Mission Beach

boardwalk. Fifteen minutes from San

Diego Airport, San Diego Zoo,museums in Balboa Park, andCoronado Island ocean beaches.

Tourist buses stop here for full or 1/2day tours of most of the above locations. (This Hyatt has many of thesame features of the Sarasota Hyattwith lots more to do in the aftemoon

-GB).

- 423 rooms and suites

- heated outdoor pool- Jacuz2d spa- Marina/ boat rentals/ sport fishing- jogging/ walking trails- restaurant/ lounge/ ̂ tertainm^t- four other restaurants walking

distance from hotel

- golf and tennis nearby- complete meeting facilities

San Diego, California

Hyatt Reg^cyroom price: $140meeting space: no chargeNew hotel in downtown San Diego onthe bay front, adjacent to the convention c^ter. Minutes from Coronado

Island, Sea World, San Diego Zoo andthe airport. Walking distance toSeaport Village, Horton ShoppingPlaza, and historic Gas lamp quarter.(The Hyatt Reg^cy is an elegant hotelin a fun resort town - GB).

- 875 rooms and suites, all withocean or bay view.

- tallest waterfront building on thewest coast

- outdoor heated pool and Whirlpooloverlooking the bay

- four tennis courts

- health and fitness facility- full spa with facials and massages- restaurants and lounges- nearby restaurants and cheaper

hotels for students

2)o Yloi ^or^t C^mpiete ^lie Survet^ On Olie ^ext Return^^ecemLer 15, 1993 Do:/ecenii

Dr. Gail Burd

Dept. Molecular & Cellular BiologyLife Sciences South 444

University of ArizonaTucson, AZ 85721

SURVEY ON MEEIIVG SITES IN THE WEST

Results of Spring 1993 Survey on Meetings Sites in theWest:

The Februaiy 1992 Newsletter contained a survey to assessinterest in holding AChemS at a western site on some regularschedule. The results of that survey appear below.

Seventy-two survey responses were received by April 2,1993:13% of USA membership (571 USA members listed in the1992 AGiemS directory); 11% of all membership. Theresponses were returned from: AZ (4), CA (7), CO (4), CT(6), FL (4), IL (2), LA (2). MA (5), MD (1), MI (3), MO(2), MS (1), NO (4), NJ (4), NY (7), OH (4), PA (7), SC (1),TX (2), and VA (2).

If east is considered states east of ND and TX, then 55 of the

responses came from members in eastern states and 17responses came from members in western states. Given thesesame boimdaries, there are 112 members in the west and 459

members in the east; western members represent 20% of theUSA membership.

Nearly all of the responses (96%) came from regular members. Most responding members attend the meeting regularly(mean = 1.18; l=regular to 4=never). Most of the responding members are somewhat interested in a western AChemSmeeting (mean = 2.3; l=very interested to 5=vety uninterested). Scores were: 26 very interested, 25 somewhat interested, 2 don't care, 7 not interested, and 11 very uninterested. If the meeting were held in the west, 49 would attend, 4would not attend, 18 might attend, and 1 needs additionalinformation.

The timing suggested for a western meeting was every 3 years(mean = 3.2; l=every year, 2=every other year, 3=everythird year, 4=every fourth year, 5=every fifth year and6=never). Scores were: 3 for every year, 19 for every otheryear, 30 for every three years, 5 for every four years, 7 forevery 5 years, 7 for never, and 1 no response.

A number of individual comments from the survey alsocontributed to the discussion by the Executive Committee.Some members commented that a western meeting wouldallow them to attend more frequently. One member felt thatSan Diego was not optimal. Concerns were raised about the

future of the contract with the Sarasota Hyatt (see below) orabout the expense of poster boards (these can be rented andthis cost must be considered in future decisions). Somemembers like returning to the same city each year, but feel outof fiurness that occasional meeting in other regions may bedesirable. Another concern was the necessity of inexp^ivemotels nearby for family or students.

Reason for Slecond Questionnaire: While the ExecutiveCommittee agreed in principle that periodic meetings in theWest would be fair, there was concern over die small percentage of the membership re^nding to the survey. TheExecutive Committee decided that it would be appropriate totake some of these questions back to the member^p andexplore preferences about meeting sites. These data will beused in considering potential sites. Because of our commit-m^ts with the Sarasota Hyatt, the earliest that we could go toa western site would be 1997 (with ISOT) or 1998. Roomrates in the information below are 1993 prices.

New Information about Potential Meeting Sites in theWest: There were some concerns raised in the last surveythat we might jeopardize our contract with the Sarasota Hyatt.Susan Lampman of Panacea Associates checked into this. Shedetermined that this would not be a problem and the SarasotaHyatt would even work with us if we selected a Hyatt for thewestem meeting site. In selecting sites to serve as modelwestern hotels, considerable effort went into finding hotelssimilar to the Sarasota Hyatt in quality, price, proximity to anocean, odier restaurants nearby, fun things to do in theaftemoon, and appropriate meeting space. San Diego is oneof the top 5 cities for national meetings. The weather isusually quite nice in April with temperatures in the 60's orlow 70's. There are clearly other wonderful sites, but myassignment was to present information about what a meetingwould be like at another site. I tried to copy the best thingsabout the Sarasota Hyatt and clone them into an even betterwestem hotel on the water. The following text lists information about the Hyatt Newporter Resort in Newport Beach andthe Hyatt Islandia in San Diego, which appeared in lastspring's survey, and adds information about the new HyattRegency in San Diego; I visited all three hotels in August. Onthe basis of site visits and the perceived advantage of stayingwith Hyatt hotels, the Holiday Inn on the Bay and the SanDiego Princess were eliminated.

earlier than in previous years, falling on December 17,1993; April 8, 1994; and August 23, 1994.

Me Selection for ISOT-M

Now begins the organization for ISOT-XH in 1997. So far,all that has been resolved is that ISOT-XII will be organizedunder the auspices of AChemS. Also, it probably makes senseto combine ISOT-XII as a joint meeting with AChemS-XIX.The most convenient time for recent ISOTs has been mid-sum

mer because of conflicting schedules.

Any member of AChemS who wants to propose a site must beprepared to make a 3-year effort at organization. A prospective site should have appropriate facilities for the scientificsessions, for housing international participants and for appropriate international transportation. There must also be anappropriate organizing committee which will interface with theelected AChemS Program Chair and be able to raise somefinancial support.

Any regular member of AChemS who wants to submit arecommendation for the site of ISOT-XII - AChemS-XIX in

1997 should prepare a proposal by addressing the followingitems. Cost estimates should be compiled.

1. Consider a meeting for 800 participants (AChemS 500;JASTS 100; ECRO 200).

2. Scientific program - to accommodate symposia, oral andposter sessions. Consider themes and topics.

3. Housing - appropriate in numbers, variety and cost.

4. Meeting venue - size of facilities, equipment, environment, availability.

5. Transportation - availability of international air serviceand connecting surface links.

6. Environment - weather, security, esthetics

7. Local organizing committee -strength and experience

8. Budget plans - potential for local financing

9. Hospitality - plans for international visitors

10. Proceedings - publication

Those who wish should pr^are a documented proposal andsubmit it to Inglis Miller, Jr., Executive Chair, by February15, 1994. A decision will be made by the Executive Chairswith the advice of the AChemS Executive Committee andICOT members in time to be announced at the AChemSmeeting in April 1994.

CCRO/JOenS UrauJin^ ScLLr.

There are funds available to help support travel for 4 membersto the 1994 ECRO meeting in Blois, France. To be eligible,the applicant should be no more than 5 years postdoctoral.Individuals should send a letter of application to the Chairmanof the Awards Committee:

Dr. Stephen RoperDept. of Anatomy and NeurobiologyColorado State UniversityFort Collins, Colorado 80523.

The applicant should also arrange for letters of support to besent to the awards committee. The deadline for applicationsis February 28, 1994

Sfecxal Workshop at the Annual Mehiing:

"SENegBS<»>t** Q1PAC1KH4 AND GUSTAHON OF WMES

(AKA wsm TASTING)

A brief introduction to analytical sensory analysis of wineflavor will be presented by A. C. Noble, Dept. Viticulture andEnology, UC Davis. Aroma reference standards will beavailable which illustrate important aroma notes in major winevarietals. An informal hedonic evaluation of commercial

California wines will follow.

The location and price of the tasting will be announcedin the Spring Newsletter.

Reminder from the Awards Committee...

The Awards Committee would encourage graduatestudents or their sponsors to submit an abstract assoon as possible for consideration for the 1994 DonTucker Memorial Award. Please see theaimouncement of awards for details. Remember that thedeadline for nomination for the Don Tucker Award isFebruary 28, 1994.