Mon. U president named to national research groups

WEST LONG BRANCH- Monmouth University President Paul G. Gaffney II has been named to two National Research Council (NRC) committees.

A NRC Higher Education and Workforce Board committee has been focusing on developing a guide for "Enhancing the Master's Degree in Natural Sciences" throughout 2007.

Its Physics and Astronomy and Naval Studies Boards joint committee will provide a "ScientificAssessment of Free-Electron Laser Technology for Naval Applications" during its review in 2008.

The NRC's Board on Higher Education andWorkforce project will develop a guide for enhancing professional education at the master's degree level in the natural sciences in response to the needs of employers.

The committee is charged with analyzing the roles master's level professionals can play in the innovation in America today and the ways in which increasingly professional sciences master's degrees can be included in university offerings has evolved over time.

The project is sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the report will be completed in 2008.

The NRC's Boards on Physics and Astronomy and Naval Studies will review the "Scientific Assessment of Free-Electron Laser Technology for Naval Applications" in a study effort that is starting early in 2008.

It will assess the current state-of-theart and anticipated advances for free-electron lasers (FELs) and analyze their capabilities, constraints and tradeoffs for military use. The project will be completed in approximately 18 months.

The NRC is an independent, non-profit agency, chartered by Congress to conduct studies to improve government decisionmaking and public policy, increase public education and understanding, and promote the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge in matters involving science, engineering, technology and health.