On June 17, the  Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) held its annual congressional  poster exhibition and reception.  CNSF,  a group of 70 scientific,  engineering, and professional societies, universities, and corporations that  work together to promote the NSF research portfolio, hosts  this yearly reception in order to highlight the importance of NSF-funded  research to this nation's future.  Scientists,  mathematicians, and engineers from around the country gathered to present and  explain their NSF-funded research to the 270 exhibit attendees, the majority of  whom represented congressional offices.  As a member of CNSF, the  Federation was able to sponsor two psychologists to represent the behavioral  sciences at the exhibition.

Dr. Barbara Landau (Johns  Hopkins) and Dr. Jim Hoffman (University of Delaware) presented their work on  "Specialization in Spatial Cognition".  Dr. Landau and Dr. Hoffman  collaborate on an NSF-funded study of  Williams Syndrome, a rare, genetically-based disorder resulting in mild mental  retardation and an unusual pattern of strengths and weaknesses in cognitive  abilities.  The two are using eye tracking measures obtained during the  performance of various spatial construction tasks to gain a detailed  understanding of the nature of their spatial deficit and how it affects spatial  language.  Their poster depicted a variety of spatial deficits and  pinpointed areas of the brain that are responsible for performing these spatial  tasks.

Also representing the behavioral sciences was the American Psychological  Association, whose exhibitor, Dr. Linda Jackson (Michigan State University)  presented information on how internet use benefits low-income families.   Dr. Jackson has found that providing low-income families with computers and  internet access increases children's test scores.

Of the 270  attendees, there were eight Members of Congress: Dale Kildee (D-MI), Jim Kolbe  (R-AZ), David Price (D-NC), Frank Ballance (D-NC), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI),  Howard  Coble (R-NC), Lois Capps (D-CA), and Mike McIntyre (D-NC).  Also in attendance  were Rita Colwell (Director, NSF) Joe Bordogna (Deputy Director,  NSF), Norman Bradburn (Assistant Director of Social, Behavioral, and  Economic Sciences, NSF), Rick Lempert (Division Director, Division of  Social and Economic Sciences, NSF), and Kathie Olsen (Associate Director  for Science, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy).