USPTO Seeking Public Assistance In Training Patent Examiners.
Per this Federal Register Notice published September 15, 2010:
The USPTO is seeking public assistance in providing technical training to patent examiners within all technology centers. The Patent Examiner Technical Training Program (PETTP) is intended to provide scientists and experts as lecturers to patent examiners in order to update them on technical developments, the state of the art, emerging trends, maturing technologies, and recent innovations in their fields. Such guest lecturers must have relevant technical knowledge, as well as familiarity with prior art and industry practices/standards in areas of technologies where such lectures would be beneficial.
The PETTP is not intended as an opportunity for applicants to discuss pending applications or to circumvent normal communication between applicants or applicants’ representatives and examiners or Supervisory Patent Examiners. In addition, PETTP participants are not to provide advice or recommendations to the USPTO. The PETTP is envisioned as an opportunity to provide patent examiners with necessary training from scientists and experts working directly in the various technologies throughout the USPTO.
For more information, and to access the form to request participation in the Patent Examiner Technical Training Program (PETTP), click here.
Anticipate This!™ | Patent and Trademark Law Blog 
This program seems like a no-brainer, and I’m almost surprised that this has not been done before. Nevertheless, it’s impressive to see that, once again, David Kappos has the initiative and wherewithal to implement a measure that seems obvious but had not been undertaken before in regard to patent law. Kudos.