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Presents articles pertaining to science. Amount of money the Japanese government is willing to allocate for science and technology; Move of the American Rivers and other conservation groups in urging United States (US) President Bill Clinton to organize a summit to address the issue of endangered Pacific salmon; Plans of US Energy Secretary Bill Richardson to recruit and retain scientists at the national laboratories of the Department of Energy.

Researchers hope to create a invitation-only event on global science policy. This week an international group led by officials from Japan and the United States announced plans for the first Science and Technology for Society Forum next year in Kyoto, Japan. Planners expect to invite about 100 scientists, plus dozens of executives, politicians, and reporters. Japan is picking up most of the tab for the first meeting, scheduled for November 14-16, 2004.

Marine researchers are in a deep funk over the loss of one of the world's deepest diving submersibles. Japan's marine science agency last week called off the search for the instrumented rover attached to Kaiko. The rover broke free from its mother craft while diving off Japan in late May. The government must now decide if it will replace the craft, which could cost $10 million or more.

Focuses on the efforts of scientists in searching for a strategy to prevent a recurrence of the November 12, 2001 accident shutting down the Super-Kamiokande neutrino observatory in Tokyo, Japan. Use of protective casing for each of the photomultiplier tubes; Need for government funding for the repairs; Account of the Super-Kamiokande accident.

Reports the fusing of two accelerator projects in Japan in order to improve their chances of being built. Combination of the Neutron Science Project and the Japan Hadron Facility (JHF); Cost of projects; Compromises being made in the combination; Work of the Science and Technology Agency.

This article reports that after a heated debate in October 2004, the Russian cabinet approved the Kyoto Protocol and sent it to the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament. Observers expect the Duma to ratify it, and if it does, the treaty clears a critical threshold on its way to being accepted as international law. But this will likely do little to quell the fierce debate among Russian researchers and some officials over the merits of the treaty and its ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Kyoto supporters have been lobbying Russia for years to support the treaty because the country is responsible for 17% of 1990 greenhouse gas emissions, the levels on which the protocol is based.

Reports the dominance of the United States in critical technologies. Competition with Japan in previous eras; Impact of the Asian economic crisis and the strong US economy; Work of the Science and Technology Policy Institute.

Reports on the new life sciences study group in Japan's parliament, the Diet. What the group consists of; Concern that Japan is falling behind in genomics and biotechnology; Forecasting.