News Track
JOBS TO THE RESCUE
The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics released its latest
projections of jobs that will experience strong growth and
be in great demand through 2016 ( www.bls.gov/). The top
five jobs in the IT field are:
Network systems and data communications analysts
Growth by 2016: 53%
Median Annual Salary: $64,600
Computer applications software engineers
Growth by 2016: 45%
Median Annual Salary: $79,780
Database administrators
Growth by 2016: 29%
Median Annual Salary: $64,670
Computer systems software engineers
Growth by 2016: 28%
Median Annual Salary: $85,370
Network and computer systems administrators
Growth by 2016: 27%
Median Annual Salary: $62,130
drawing electrically conductive paths on special
material. The lines were as thin as three nanometers, making them considerably narrower than the
lines drawn using electron-beam lithography—one
of the most precise techniques for etching devices
out of silicon. The study, recently published in
Nature Materials, found that the wires and dots
stayed in their state for at least 24 hours. The
research team believes the etchings will last much
longer and is currently testing this theory.
DOCTOR VERBOTEN
Amy Marash
At least seven U.S. researchers working in Germany
have faced criminal probes this year for using the
title “Dr.” on their business cards, Web sites, and
résumés, the Washington Post reports. While all
hold doctoral degrees from elite U.S. universities,
under a little-known Nazi-era law only people who
earn Ph.D.s or medical degrees in Germany are
allowed to use “Dr.” as a courtesy title. The law
was modified in 2001 to extend the privilege to
degree-holders from any country in the European
Union, but Ph.D.s from the U.S. or elsewhere outside of E.U. are still forbidden to use it. Violators
can face a year behind bars. While the German
doctor rule has been in effect since the 1930s, it
has been only sporadically enforced over the
decades. What sparked a tipster to file a complaint
with German prosecutors against seven U.S.
researchers working at the Max Planck Society,
which operates 80 scientific research institutes
across Germany, is unknown. The criminal investigations have alarmed higher-education officials in
Germany, where U.S. researchers are in demand.
“This is a completely overdone, mad, and an
absolutely ridiculous situation,” declared the head
of Germany’s central office for foreign education.
At last report, prosecutors were recommending that
charges be dropped and civil fines be imposed.
CLARKE’S THREE LAWS
• When a distinguished but
elderly scientist states that
something is
possible, he is
almost certainly right.
When he
states that
something is
impossible, he
is very probably wrong.
• The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the
impossible.
• Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
First written in 1962 by legendary science fiction
writer Arthur C. Clarke who passed away in March
at the age of 90.