Scientists need to look beyond their laboratories to the chemistry on Capitol Hill, a panel of professors and policy experts agreed at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s meeting in Chicago.

Across the country, institutions of higher learning have implemented science policy courses for undergraduate and graduate students. However, the panel said, more programs of study are needed.

Panel members included Gene Fisher, senior policy fellow at the American Meteorological Society and adjunct professor at North Carolina State University, Tobin Smith, vice president at the Association of American Universities, Homer Neal of the University of Michigan, Francis Slakey of Georgetown University and Alicia Jackson, a former MIT graduate student.

Yesterday, about 30 graduate students, faculty and post docs gathered in Rockefeller Hall to hear Rutgers’ Prof. Julia Livingston speak about her experiences with oncology in Botswana’s hospitals. Livingston spoke as part of Cornell’s Department of Science and Technology Studies’ (STS) colloquium series.

“The colloquium series is an opportunity for graduate students, post docs and faculty to forge ties with related disciplines across campus [through various speakers],” said Prof. Sara Pritchard, science and technology studies, and colloquium series coordinator.

“Hello, my name is Carolyn and I am a BlackBerry addict.”

If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from BlackBerry addiction, also known as “CrackBerry-itis,” I empathize with you. So, incidentally, does the President-Elect of the United States. According to a story in this weekend’s New York Times, Barack Obama is literally tethered (via belt-holster) to his device.

Only one year ago, I visited Cornell as a pre-frosh and was overwhelmed by the mini-computer-like devices glued to seemingly every student’s hand. After witnessing conversation after conversation about BBMs, I finally got up the courage to ask my host, “What exactly is a BBM?” With a priceless are-you-serious look on her face, she responded, “Oh ... a BlackBerry Message [obviously].”