ENGINEERING

WASHINGTON, DC -- The President's Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC) will be meeting in Arlington, VA on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 to examine specific aspects of the current Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program, to revisit the recommendations in their 1999 report entitled Information Technology Research: Investing in Our Future, and to discuss advances in IT that may have a profound impact on the nation. The Committee will hold its public session on September 25 at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Room II-555 from 8:00am - 2:45pm, continuing its efforts to identify those key areas where the Federal government should play an active role in information technology (IT) research and development. The Committee will hear reports from its four Technology Discovery Subcommittees in the areas of scalable information infrastructure, software, high-end computing, and social, economic and workforce issues. These subcommittees have been working closely with Federal agencies to evaluate the government's investment in IT R&D. PITAC's National Security and Individual Security panels will also be reporting on their recent activities and preliminary findings and recommendations. These panels are part of PITAC's continuing work to explore the information technology research needs emerging in specific sectors and to address specific challenges created by a digital economy. The Committee will be hearing from Mark Forman, Director, IT and E-government, OMB, about the administration's plans for e-government. In addition, Dr. Rita Colwell, Director, NSF, will be joining the Committee for a discussion on current science and technology issues, and NSF's future plans and priorities for IT R&D. For further details, including a full agenda for the September meeting, please contact the National Coordination Office for Information Technology Research and Development at (703) 292-ITRD (4873) or check our website at www.itrd.gov/ac. The President's Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC) was established on February 11, 1997 to provide the President, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Federal agencies involved in IT R&D with guidance and advice on all areas of high performance computing, communications, and information technologies. Representing the research, education, and library communities and including network providers and representatives from critical industries, the Committee guides the Administration's efforts to accelerate development and adoption of information technologies vital for American prosperity in the 21st century.