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headed by Alan Stern of Southwest Research Institute's Boulder facility, will also look at noble gases as well as search for previously undetected far-UV emissions from nitrogen and other molecules. The fourth rocket, to be launched April 5, contains a faint object telescope designed by physics and astronomy professor Paul D. Feldman at Johns Hopkins University. The telescope will map the changing abundances of different molecules and atoms as a function of distance from the comet's nucleus. Elizabeth Wilson
European scientists form new association Euroscience, a new association of European scientists and members of the public, was launched earlier this month. The association hopes to help shape the future of science and technology in Europe and improve the relationship between science and society. The association's main objectives are "to provide a framework for scientists and members of the public with a vested interest in science and technology to discuss and respond to the major issues raised by science and technology," explains Françoise Praderie, Euroscience's acting general secretary, who is also senior astronomer at the Paris Observatory. "We want to provide opportunities for scientists to explain themselves and interact more closely with society. Membership will be open to scientists regardless of their discipline, teachers, research students, professionals in industry and the media, and others with an interest in or involved with science and technology," she tells C&EN. The organization, which was constituted in Strasbourg, France, on March 15, is currently in the process of electing its governing board and president. It hopes to promote science and technology not only by influencing public opinion but also by playing a mediating role between the scientific community and those responsible for science policy in national governments and the European Union. "We may urge governments, European authorities and assemblies, and offices of science and technology assessment to provide for more democracy in discussing priorities for science in Europe, more transparency, and perhaps more common sense in their management," notes 14 MARCH 24, 1997 C&EN
Claude Kordon, director of a neuroendocrinology laboratory in Paris and a candidate for the Euroscience governing board. However, the association will only tackle cross-border questions common to all scientific disciplines. "A key issue is the future of young scientists in Europe," according to Kordon. "We all feel despair at the sight of young scientists whose welldeveloped skills are wasted for lack of positions, lack of long-term planning, and lack of foresight—although their profile of know-how and expertise corresponds precisely to the scientific achievements our societies need." The future of young scientists was the topic of one of three working groups set up at the constituent assembly in Strasbourg to analyze key questions and to make practical recommendations. Another group focused on the accountability of scientists in European society, and the third group considered ways of strengthening scientific cooperation with central and Eastern European countries. The 150 or so participants at the assembly included a number of people from Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine, notes Praderie. "At present, Euroscience has around 220 founder members," she says. "But we aim to increase this to 1,000 ordinary active members by the end of the year and to 5,000 at the next general assembly in two years' time." The association is funded by membership fees and donations, according to Praderie. Its working language is English. Information about Euroscience is available at the web site: http://www.iway.fr/ sc/tribune/eurosc.htm. Michael Freemantle
Shell employee released from Chinese jail A Chinese manager employed by Shell's Beijing office has been released after more than a year in a Beijing jail. Yichun (Edith) Xu was apprehended in January last year and charged with "stealing state secrets." She was convicted of the charges, but given a suspended sentence. Chinese authorities formally ratified the verdict and the decision to release her on March 10, but she was actually set free a few days earlier than that. Shell claims that it has never found out the official reason behind Xu's arrest. "It's never been made clear to us exactly what
was the precise nature of the authorities' concern about her in the first place that led to her detention," says Jeremy Frearson, Shell's spokesman in Hong Kong. He says the company learned through semiofficial channels that it had to do with "economic information," but the company remains far from convinced that the information Xu gathered was particularly sensitive. Rather, Shell puts the blame on unpublished and unnecessarily severe Chinese laws. "In China, of course, information is treated with a great deal of sensitivity, and the classification of it is not always entirely clear," Frearson says. Corruption or bribery of officials is not what put Xu in jail, Shell insists. "There has never been any suggestion that it was anything resembling corruption or bribery or anything like that," Frearson says. Xu's job, says Frearson, "had to do with relationships with government figures, professionals, or companies. She arranged meetings, translated—that kind of thing." As manager of government relations, she had a few people reporting to her, Frearson says. But he denies that she had a senior position: "She was certainly a figure in there. She wasn't a major figure." Shell cannot tell whether Xu's arrest was specifically linked to discussions surrounding its proposed investment in a multi-billion-dollar oil refinery and petrochemical complex in the south of China. "There has never been any official connection made between Edith's detention and anything to do with the project, as opposed to any other thing that she was working on," Frearson says. Xu began working for Shell about four years ago. Previously, she was employed by China's Xinhua News Agency in a relatively senior position. Her background was one important reason Shell believed she was qualified to handle government relations. "Clearly, people who are used to working with senior officials, who are used to dealing with international visitors—people like that are obviously the sort of people that we would find valuable," Frearson says. For the past year, Shell's management has given a high priority to Xu's detention, to the point that "I don't think the authorities had any doubt about our concern," Frearson says. Xu remained a fully paid employee of Shell throughout her detention. Shell doesn't know yet whether she will return to the company. Jean-François Tremblay
