National science group picks KU's Barnhill to lead public policy committee

LAWRENCE -- Robert E. Barnhill, former vice provost for research and president of the KU Center for Research at the University of Kansas, has been picked to lead the American Academy for the Advancement of Science's Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy. Barnhill will assume his new post in February 2004 for a one-year term.

Founded in 1848 and based in Washington, D.C., the AAAS is the world's largest federation of scientific and engineering societies, with more than 270 affiliate organizations and 135,000 scientists, engineers, science educators and policy makers among its ranks. The committee consists of 13 members chosen by the AAAS board of directors to reflect the mission of the parent organization and to provide expertise aimed at fostering improved policy-making on science and technology issues. Barnhill has served on the committee since 1999.

"I am honored to lead this committee next year," Barnhill said. "The purpose of the committee is to provide information to AAAS and its large constituency of scientists and engineers about public policy. There are scientists and public policy people on the committee. We advise the AAAS board of directors and others about new kinds of policy when there are new issues in science."

Barnhill said he looked forward to working with the committee to develop policies to assist with training and providing mentors to the next generation of science and technology professionals. He also will work to improve the sustainability of the academic research enterprise.

"The board of directors picked Bob as chairman because of his many contributions to the committee's work, his experience and familiarity with the committee's role and his work with AAAS generally," said Stephen Nelson, associate director of science and policy programs for AAAS. "Bob's knowledge of key science and technology policy issues at both the federal and state levels, as well as his long and successful experience in academic research administration, made him a natural choice."

The appointment to the committee chairmanship represents the second recent honor for Barnhill. In September, he began a one-year appointment as the National Science Foundation/Council of Graduate Schools dean-in-residence in Washington, D.C.

"I have enjoyed my time in Washington," Barnhill said. "A lot happens in the nation's capital, and it's important to know what the national trends are in science. It's a great city, and I recommend faculty visit to learn more about the national agencies funding research."

After Barnhill completes his appointment to the NSF/Council of Graduate Schools in September 2003, he will return to KU as a professor of mathematics and of electrical engineering and computer science. He also will serve as a KU Center for Research senior scholar.

A fourth-generation Kansan and Lawrence native, Barnhill earned his bachelor's degree from KU in 1961 and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in 1964. He returned to KU in 1997 as the vice chancellor for research and public service and president of the KU Center for Research.

Barnhill previously was a faculty member at the University of Utah for 22 years and helped create the field of computer-aided geometric design. He later went to Arizona State University, where he served for five years as computer science department chair and six years as vice president for research, during which time external research funding doubled and ASU became a Carnegie Research I university.