Science And Technology

SAN FRANCISCO -- In the clearest indication yet of the Clinton administration's willingness to offer broader public access to government information, the National Science Foundation is financing a project that will make corporate filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission available free via a computer network.The decision to support the project, which will provide access to the SEC's on-line data base of financial data from America's public corporations, is a shift away from the federal information policies under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush.

Catonsville High School moved toward the 21st century yesterday, breaking ground for a science and technology wing to the 44-year-old building.The 70,000-square-foot addition -- scheduled to be completed in July 1999 -- will include laboratories and classrooms as well as a fitness center. The school's outdated media center and library also will be replaced.The $8 million construction project will add space for the equivalent of 600 extra students at the school. The school's enrollment is about 1,350 students this year, about 200 students above its listed capacity.

With high-technology workers in demand these days, college graduates like Carroll S. Little Jr. find themselves in a job-seeker's paradise.A month after picking up his bachelor's degree in computer science from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the 22-year-old from Olney is headed to Arizona to work for Motorola Corp. as an analyst. Starting salary: $41,000."I was surprised," Little said, at how many companies wooed him -- six -- and how eager they were to pay so much for someone fresh out of school.

The state's first attempt at a HOPE scholarship program has fallen short of its predicted enrollment.About 700 high school seniors -- well below the expected 2,000 -- have qualified for grants aimed at encouraging students to major in science and technology."

HCC honors Sutton as its Outstanding Faculty Member Catherine W. Sutton, assistant professor in the business and computer sciences division at Howard Community College, has been named the college's Outstanding Faculty Member for 2003-2004. Sutton, who is responsible for online courses in the college's open-entry Office Technology Lab, teaches software applications to hundreds of students. She also developed curricula and designed Web sites for 19 online courses. As winner of the award, Sutton will lead the faculty procession at commencement, address student honorees at Dean's List receptions, and attend a major conference or other professional development event.

Concerned about girls' lagging achievement in science, math and technology, Maryland educators are increasingly turning to summer programs to combat the gender gap. Single-sex programs are popping up in schools and on college campuses across the state, focusing on hands-on instruction in subjects that traditionally have had a tough time attracting girls. "Summer is a great opportunity for us to work with the girls and focus on science," says Lynn C. Cole, an associate professor at Towson University and director of its Institute for Gifted Children.

WASHINGTON -- Five weeks after being picked to be deputy director of the National Science Foundation, Rita R. Colwell, the 63-year-old president of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, will instead be nominated to head the foundation, President Clinton said yesterday.White House officials had formally asked Colwell in January to become the number two official at the foundation, a $3.4 billion-a-year agency that doles out grants for research in physics, biological sciences and engineering.

TONANCINTLA, Mexico -- Hrant Tovmassian, a 64-year-old astronomer, grimaces and shakes his head when he recalls how just a few years back, there was not a more dynamic place on the planet for scientific research than the Soviet Union.Those days have ended for now, the Armenian scientist laments.But, to Mr. Tovmassian's surprise, he has found First World ambition in the Third World."All my colleagues would like to come to Mexico," says Mr. Tovmassian, who came to this tiny Mexican town around the beginning of the year to teach and conduct research.

JURASSIC Park" has arrived, and when Hollywood and science mix, watch out. Those who make movies like their scientists mad, bad and more than a tad morally corrupt. From Dr. Frankenstein and his goofing around with corpses and electricity to the folks in white coats whose nuclear shenanigans brought you Godzilla and Mothra, the silver screen has had few kind words for nerds with advanced degrees in science and technology."Jurassic Park" falls smack in the cinematic tradition that holds that science ain't no friend of yours or mine.