NEWS OF THE WEEK
			AKZO EMBRACES PHARMA Akzo commits to a deal with Pfizer while shedding 20% of its chemicals business.
			POLICY TALKS European officials seek better U.S. understanding of proposed EU chemicals policy.
			DISABLING HIV AIDS drug candidate inhibits late-stage viral maturation.
			ACS JOURNAL CHANGES New editor William L. Jorgensen plans to split Journal of Chemical Information & Computer Sciences.
			JOB CUTS AT MERCK Dissatisfied with earnings, pharmaceutical giant will lay off 4,400.
			LAX SECURITY Legislators are concerned by security lapses at Plum Island Animal Disease Center.
			NATIONAL MEDALS President Bush names laureates for US. science and technology awards.
			PHOTOCATALYST Carbon-doped TiO2 efficiently destroys organic pollutants.
			MEMBRANE MODELS New technique sheds light on lipid bilayers.

COVER STORY
			COMBICHEM Evolution of field leads to advances in catalyst optimization, natural-product-like libraries, and multicomponent reactions. Cover: Adapted from a graph designed with Miner3D Excel Professional, courtesy of Cynora GmbH

BUSINESS
			BUSINESS CONCENTRATES
			ELECTRONIC LAB NOTEBOOKS ELNs are catching on because of the increase in information generated and the pressure to boost productivity.
			SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT U.S. council of businesses hopes to reduce waste, safeguard resources, and increase profits.
			PLASTIC BAGS IN TAIWAN Curbing tendency to litter is goal of year-old ban on disposable plastic items.

GOVERNMENT & POLICY
			GOVERNMENT CONCENTRATES
			CHEMIST AT STATE George H. Atkinson, Colin Powell's science adviser, is passionate about scientists' roles in policy-making.
			NAFTA DISPUTES Trade officials will allow environmental organizations and others to submit friend-of-the-court briefs and will make hearings public.

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY
			SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY CONCENTRATES
			FUEL DESULFURIZATION New catalysts and processes could help industry meet EPA regulations.
			DALTON BICENTENNIAL Events in England celebrate 200th anniversary of John Dalton's atomic theory.
			JACS AT 125 K. Barry Sharpless' report on converting allylic alcohols into epoxides was a Nobel Prize-winning paper.
			DIGITAL BRIEFS New software and websites for the chemical enterprise.

EDUCATION
			WOMEN IN ACADEMIA Women are still underrepresented among the full professor ranks, despite some small gains.

EMPLOYMENT
			TOP COMPANIES TO WORK FOR Employees tend to stay at companies that provide stability and a fair, open environment

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES
			CRITTER CHEMISTRY Zinc biomineral makes clam worm jaws tough.
			AGBIOTECH USDA releases tally of field test violations.

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