What: Hoping to develop strategies for funding a new era of discovery in scientific research and education, the National Science Board will convene for an unusual West Coast meeting. The board, which is the governing body for the federal granting agency the National Science Foundation, includes top researchers, university administrators and industry leaders from across the country. "We're wrestling with how we can make the case for public investment in research in the post-Cold War era," said Charles Hess, director of international programs at UC Davis and former undersecretary for science and education at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "We hope that California, which so typifies the post-Cold War economy and receives more NSF research dollars than any other state, will provide a setting that will stimulate new strategies for funding scientific research." When: Public meetings, Thursday and Friday, March 28-29, Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, UC Davis (Call for a complete schedule.) Media availability, March 29, 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Alumni and Visitors Center Biotechnology center lab tour, March 29, 1 p.m., UC Davis Center for Engineering Plants for Resistance Against Pathogens, 1930 5th St., Davis. Where: Take Interstate 80 to the UC Davis exit and turn north onto Old Davis Road. Go past the information booth and at the first stop sign turn right, remaining on Old Davis Road. Go to the first stop light at Mrak Hall Drive. Turn right into the large parking lot. Reporters should place business cards on the dashboards of their vehicles to park free. The building at the corner of Old Davis Road and Mrak Hall Drive is the alumni and visitors center. Visuals: The media availability will be a casual discussion, with few supporting visual possibilities. Visuals of laboratory work can be obtained during the biotechnology center tour.