ea A Message from the Presidents of the NAS, NAE, and NAM - A Look Ahead in 2020 By Published On :: Thu, 23 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT As we welcome a new year and a new decade, we can make one prediction with certainty -- profound change lies ahead. Full Article
ea Geodetic Infrastructure Needs Enhancements, Continued Maintenance to Answer High-Priority Scientific Questions About Climate Change, Earthquakes, Ecosystems Over Next Decade By Published On :: Mon, 27 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says that enhancements to the geodetic infrastructure are needed to answer important questions about sea level rise, water resources, geological hazards, and more over the next decade. Full Article
ea Leading Voices Discuss the Future of U.S. Science Policy at Feb. 26 Symposium - Event Marks 75th Anniversary of Vannevar Bushs 1945 Report Science - The Endless Frontier By Published On :: Wed, 05 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT The National Academy of Sciences, in partnership with The Kavli Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, will host a symposium to consider the future of science in the U.S. and how it can best serve society in the 21st century. Full Article
ea New Report Finds K-12 Teachers Face New Expectations and More Demands - Training and Workforce Changes Could Help By Published On :: Wed, 12 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine finds K-12 teachers face new expectations and more demands from policymakers, parents, students, and schools, including addressing changes in curriculum standards, the emergence of more explicit teaching goals, and shifts in what it means to support all students in their development. Full Article
ea PEPFAR’s Investments in Rwanda Helped Boost Health Workforce, But Future Programs Should More Comprehensively Support Long-Term Capacity By Published On :: Thu, 13 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT Rwanda’s Human Resources for Health (HRH) Program – funded in part by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) from 2012 to 2017 – more than tripled the country’s physician specialist workforce and produced major increases in the numbers and qualifications of nurses and midwives, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Full Article
ea K-12 Teachers of Engineering in U.S. Lack Needed Preparation and Support from Education System By Published On :: Thu, 13 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT Engineering is emerging as an important topic in K-12 education in the U.S., and is being incorporated into education standards, instructional materials, and assessments. Full Article
ea NASA, Teamed with FAA, Industry, and Academia, Should Research Effects of Increased Drone Traffic on Privacy, the Environment, and Cybersecurity By Published On :: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT NASA should collaborate with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), industry, academia to research the full effects that increased unpiloted air vehicle traffic would have on society, including ramifications to sound, privacy, environmental matters, and cybersecurity, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Full Article
ea At Hanford, Experts and Community Members Weigh In on Nuclear Waste Disposal By Published On :: Fri, 21 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT In 1943, the town of Hanford in Washington State was selected by the Manhattan Project to be home to the first full-scale plutonium production reactor in the world. Full Article
ea Determining Whether There Is a Link Between Antimalarial Drugs and Persistent Health Effects Requires More Rigorous Studies By Published On :: Tue, 25 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT Although the immediate side effects of antimalarial drugs are widely recognized, few studies were designed specifically to examine health problems that might occur or persist months or years after people stopped taking them. Full Article
ea Health Care System Underused in Addressing Social Isolation, Loneliness Among Seniors, Says New Report By Published On :: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT Seniors who are experiencing social isolation or loneliness may face a higher risk of mortality, heart disease, and depression, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Despite the profound health consequences — and the associated costs — the health care system remains an underused partner in preventing, identifying, and intervening for social isolation and loneliness among adults over age 50. Full Article
ea Increasing Women’s Representation in STEMM Fields Will Require Culture Change Driven by Systemic Actions by Higher Education Institutions, Funding Agencies, Congress By Published On :: Fri, 28 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine urges systemic action to change the culture in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine) to address the underrepresentation of women in these fields. Full Article
ea Charting the Next 75 Years of Science By Published On :: Fri, 28 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT On Feb. 26 the National Academies convened leaders from Congress, federal agencies, universities, and industry to explore how to structure science for the next 75 years to respond to the nation’s emerging needs and future challenges. Full Article
ea White House Requests National Academies Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats in Response to Spread of Coronavirus By Published On :: Fri, 28 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT WASHINGTON — In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to establish a Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats. Full Article
ea Reducing Plastic Pollution in the Oceans and Beyond By Published On :: Fri, 13 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT Revelle Lecture Explores the Problem and Proposes Solutions Full Article
ea Food and Nutrition Board Marks 80 Years of Advising the Nation By Published On :: Thu, 19 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT Symposium participants examine what climate change, obesity, and personalized medicine mean for nutrition in the future Full Article
ea Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases Provides Rapid Response to Government on Key Coronavirus Questions By Published On :: Fri, 20 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT Formed earlier this month, the National Academies’ Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats was assembled at the request of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Full Article
ea Letter from the NAS, NAE, and NAM Presidents Regarding COVID-19 Crisis to House and Senate Leadership By Published On :: Sat, 21 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT The National Academies stand ready to convene America’s best minds in research, government, medicine, and private industry to marshal evidence-based insights and advice for confronting today’s pandemic and future crises. Full Article
ea Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases Provides Rapid Response to Government on Crisis Standards of Care for Coronavirus Pandemic By Published On :: Mon, 30 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT The recently formed National Academies Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats, assembled at the request of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, has been providing rapid expert consultations on several topics, such as social distancing and severe illness in young adults. Full Article
ea One Year After Release, National Academies Report Guides Lawmakers and Communities Looking to Cut Child Poverty By Published On :: Wed, 01 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT More than 9.6 million children — or 13 percent of all children in the U.S. — live in families with annual incomes below the poverty line, according to data from 2015. As closures and restrictions related to COVID-19 begin to impact the U.S. economy, it’s clear many more families will be receiving fewer paychecks and less income in the coming months, putting more children at risk of falling below the poverty line. Full Article
ea Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases Provides Rapid Response to Government on Whether COVID-19 Could Also Be Spread by Conversation By Published On :: Thu, 02 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT The recently formed National Academies Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats, assembled at the request of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, has been providing rapid expert consultations on several topics, such as social distancing and severe illness in young adults. Full Article
ea Exploring the Science of Social Distancing and What it Means for Everyday Life By Published On :: Fri, 03 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT As the coronavirus outbreak has spread throughout the United States, social distancing measures have taken many forms — such as business and school closures, cancelled events, and everyone being urged to keep six feet apart. Full Article
ea Potential Effects of Seasonal and Temperature Changes on Spread of COVID-19 Examined in New Rapid Response to Government from Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases By Published On :: Wed, 08 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT A new rapid expert consultation from a standing committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine responds to questions from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) regarding survival of the COVID-19 virus in relation to temperature and humidity and potential for seasonal reduction and resurgence of cases. Full Article
ea Spread of COVID 19 Virus from Infected Patients Antibody Response, and Interpretation of Laboratory Testing Examined in New Rapid Responses to Government from Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases By Published On :: Thu, 09 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT A new rapid expert consultation from a standing committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Full Article
ea Effectiveness of Homemade Fabric Masks to Protect Others from Spread of COVID-19 Examined in New Rapid Response to Government from Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases By Published On :: Thu, 09 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT A new rapid expert consultation from a standing committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine responds to questions from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) regarding the effectiveness of homemade fabric masks to protect others from the viral spread of COVID-19 from potentially contagious asymptomatic or presymptomatic individuals. Full Article
ea DOD Biological Threat Reduction Program Should Be Part of a New Interagency Mechanism to Coordinate Efforts to Prevent Biological Threats, Including Natural Disease Outbreaks - Report Offers Five-Year Strategy for BTRP By Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT Over the next five years, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP) should encourage and be among co-leaders in the federal government’s development of an enduring interagency mechanism to address an array of biological threats – including natural disease outbreaks, accidental releases, and intentional attacks -- to deployed U.S. forces and to the nation itself, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Full Article
ea U.S. Funding for World Health Organization Should Not Be Interrupted During COVID-19 Pandemic, Say Presidents of the NAS, NAE, and NAM By Published On :: Wed, 15 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT It is critical for the U.S. to continue its funding for the World Health Organization in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic given the WHO’s lead role in coordinating an international response, especially in developing countries. Full Article
ea Mobilizing the Academic Research Community in the Fight Against COVID-19 By Published On :: Wed, 15 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT At colleges and universities around the nation, scientists and graduate students are seeking out ways to bring their knowledge, skills, and resources to bear in the struggle against COVID-19. Full Article
ea Experts Explore Challenges of Testing Treatments for COVID-19 By Published On :: Wed, 15 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT Researchers are scrambling to find effective treatments for COVID-19, which has infected more than 1 million people around the word. Full Article
ea Doing the Greatest Good for the Greatest Number of People By Published On :: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT Latest COVID-19 Conversations webinar discusses implementing crisis standards of care. Full Article
ea Exploring the Importance of Pharmacies to Public Health By Published On :: Wed, 22 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT Research by NAM Pharmacy Fellow Dima M. Qato has shed light on “pharmacy deserts” and closures that reduce people’s access to medications. Full Article
ea National Academies, National Science Foundation Create Network to Connect Decision-Makers with Social Scientists on Pressing COVID-19 Questions By Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the National Science Foundation announced today the formation of a Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN) to connect social and behavioral science researchers with decision-makers who are leading the response to COVID-19. SEAN will respond to the most pressing social, behavioral, and economic questions that are being asked by federal, state, and local officials by working with appropriate experts to quickly provide actionable answers. Full Article
ea COVID-19 Testing - What It Measures, Who Gets it, and How Much Is Needed By Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT When it comes to COVID-19 testing, questions remain about which of the tests available are reliable, how much testing is needed, and how to ensure access to testing. The latest COVID-19 Conversations webinar explored the challenges ahead. Full Article
ea NAM President Victor Dzau Joins World Leaders at May 4 Event on Coronavirus Response Funding By Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT National Academy of Medicine President Victor J. Dzau will provide remarks on behalf of the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board during a virtual event on May 4 to launch an online pledging effort, the Coronavirus Global Response. Full Article
ea Basic Research, Interdisciplinary Teams Are Driving Innovation to Solve the Plastics Dilemma By Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT From N-95 masks that are protecting health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic to food packaging found in every aisle of the grocery store, plastics play an essential role in our lives. Full Article
ea COVID-19 and Health Equity — Serving the Underserved, Poorly Served, and Never Served By Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT The novel coronavirus has been called “the great equalizer,” when in reality, it has only exacerbated health inequities that racial and ethnic minorities have experienced for decades. Full Article
ea There Is a Lack of Evidence, Transparency About Ingredients to Support Use of Compounded Topical Pain Creams, Says New Report By Published On :: Wed, 13 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT While compounded topical pain creams have become an increasingly popular alternative to oral pain medications and opioids, there is a lack of scientific evidence to support their safety or effectiveness, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Full Article
ea National Science Foundation Should Invest in New Collaborations, Workforce, Infrastructure for Next Decade of Earth Science By Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT To continue earth sciences’ rapid pace of discovery, the National Science Foundation’s Division of Earth Science (EAR) should invest in new initiatives, partnerships, and infrastructure to answer priority research questions in the next decade, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Full Article
ea With Summer Heat Waves, Hurricanes, and Flooding on the Horizon, Disaster Responders Grapple with Planning for Extreme Weather in the Time of COVID-19 By Published On :: Fri, 22 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT This week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-normal 2020 hurricane season, with the possibility of three to six major hurricanes this summer looming over millions of Americans. Full Article
ea To Maintain Leadership in Plasma Science, U.S. Should Increase Interagency Coordination and Collaboration By Published On :: Thu, 28 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT Federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), should better coordinate their activities in plasma science research if the United States is to remain a leader in plasma science and engineering (PSE), says a new decadal report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Full Article
ea Vaccine Access and Hesitancy - The Public Health Importance of Vaccines By Published On :: Fri, 05 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT Images of deserted streets, empty subway cars, and shuttered businesses paint a bleak picture of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. While health experts say a vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection is needed to return to “normal,” several polls have indicated some Americans would be reluctant to receive a vaccine, citing safety concerns. The spread of disinformation on social media has only further complicated matters. Full Article
ea National Academies Release COVID-19 Data Guide for Decision-Makers By Published On :: Thu, 11 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT The recently formed National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN), which connects social and behavioral science researchers with decision-makers leading the response to COVID-19, today released a rapid expert consultation to guide leaders using COVID-19 measurements like hospitalizations and reported confirmed cases to understand the spread of the disease in their communities. Full Article
ea As Commercial Districts Come Back to Life, Water Stagnation Will Pose Health Risks By Published On :: Thu, 11 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT After several months sitting empty and quiet, commercial districts are coming back to life as businesses and offices are being given permission to reopen. When the lights come on and doors are unlocked, will the water that comes out of the tap be safe? Full Article
ea New Executive Director of Division on Earth and Life Studies Appointed at National Academies By Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced today that, following a national search, Elizabeth Eide has been named executive director of its Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS). Full Article
ea The Search for a COVID-19 Vaccine — ‘There’s No One Winner’ By Published On :: Wed, 17 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT It normally takes 15 to 20 years to develop a vaccine, but due to the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers are accelerating the vaccine development process. Full Article
ea Winners Selected for the 2019-2020 TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program University Design Competition for Addressing Airport Needs By Published On :: Wed, 24 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT The Transportation Research Board’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) has selected winners for its annual University Design Competition for Addressing Airport Needs. Full Article
ea Dogs Necessary for Only a Few Areas of Research at Veterans Affairs - Agency Should Adopt Expanded Criteria for Using Dogs By Published On :: Wed, 01 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says using laboratory dogs in research at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is scientifically necessary for only a few areas of current biomedical research. Full Article
ea New Report Recommends National Framework to Strengthen Evidence on Effective Responses to Public Health Emergencies, Says Current Evidence Base Is Deficient By Published On :: Tue, 14 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT Research and funding priorities tend to shift from one disaster to the next, which has resulted in a sparse evidence base and hampers the nation’s ability to respond to public health emergencies in the most effective way, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Full Article
ea 2021 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting Is Going Virtual By Published On :: Mon, 20 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT The Transportation Research Board (TRB) today announced the TRB 100th Annual Meeting (TRBAM), originally scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., will be conducted as a virtual event over a series of dates throughout January 2021. Full Article
ea Categorizing Workers’ Needs by Generation Such as Baby Boomers or Millennials Is Not Supported by Research or Useful for Workforce Management By Published On :: Tue, 21 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT Categorizing workers with generational labels like “baby boomer” or “millennial” to define their needs and behaviors is not supported by research, and cannot adequately inform workforce management decisions, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Full Article
ea Promising Strategies for Encouraging COVID-19 Protective Behaviors, Including Mask Wearing and Physical Distancing, Identified in New Guidance By Published On :: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT A new rapid expert consultation from the Societal Experts Action Network identifies promising strategies to make the adoption of protective behaviors against COVID-19, such as wearing a mask or regularly washing your hands, more likely. Full Article