NAS, NAE, and NAM Presidents Honor American 2017 Nobel Laureates

Thu, 19 APR 2018 11:00 EST

NAS President Marcia McNutt, NAE President C. D. Mote, Jr., and NAM President Victor J. Dzau honored U.S. 2017 Nobel Prize recipients Barry Barish, Joachim Frank, Michael Rosbash, Kip Thorne, and Michael Young at a reception on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, April 18. U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Christopher Coons (D-Del.) co-hosted the event. The ceremony recognized the scientists for their significant contributions to their fields as well as to the advancement of human knowledge.

Gulf Research Program Awards Over $340,000 to Assist Scientific Research Impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

Wed, 18 APR 2018 11:00 EST

The Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine today announced 11 grant awards totaling $341,283 to assist in the recovery of Gulf Coast scientific research efforts impacted by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. These awards are the result of the first of two fast-track grant cycles for Scientific Research Disaster Recovery Grants announced last November to help with repair, replacement, or recovery of equipment, data, or other research materials damaged or lost as a result of the hurricanes and their aftermaths. Read More

Reforms Needed to Help Launch Careers of Young Biomedical and Behavioral Scientists

Thu, 12 APR 2018 13:30 EST

A new report from the National Academies calls for a series of substantial reforms to strengthen the U.S. biomedical research system for the next generation of scientists. The congressionally requested report includes recommendations to open career paths inside and outside of academia for early career scientists, broaden responsibility among public and private stakeholders for the future of the research ecosystem, and increase policy experimentation and investment in that research ecosystem, so that scientists are empowered to imagine new and innovative treatments for diseases and improvements to health and well-being. Read More

EPA's IRIS Program Has Made Substantial Progress, Says New Report

Wed, 11 APR 2018 14:00 EST

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Integrated Risk Information System program has made "substantial progress" in implementing recommendations outlined in past reports by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, improving the program's overall scientific and technical performance, says a new Academies report. The program, which is used to assess the hazards posed by environmental contaminants, remains a work in progress and should continue to evolve as it adapts and applies new scientific practices and knowledge, the report says. Read More

Single Breakthrough Discovery for Citrus Greening Disease in Florida Unlikely, Says New Report; Calls for a Master Plan to Coordinate Research Efforts and Management

Tue, 10 APR 2018 11:00 EST

A single breakthrough discovery for managing citrus greening in Florida in the future is unlikely, says a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The committee that wrote the report called for a systems approach to prioritize research on the disease and strategically distribute resources for research to effectively manage the disease, which is the most serious threat for citrus growers worldwide. Read More

New Report Recommends a Nationwide Effort to Better Estimate Methane Emissions

Tue, 27 Mar 2018 11:00 EST

The U.S. should take bold steps to improve measurement, monitoring, and inventories of methane emissions caused by human activities, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Better data on methane — a greenhouse gas that contributes to air pollution and threatens public and worker safety — would help inform decisions related to climate, economics, and human health. Read More

New Report Considers Remedies for Important Knowledge Gaps in Current Crime Statistics

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 11:00 EST

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reviews the U.S. crime statistics system, and considers the appropriate governance structure to set a policy for the system as a whole, establish the process for updating and maintain the underlying classifications of crime, provide a voice for the range of crime data stakeholders, and facilitate ongoing methodological research and development. Read More

Statement by NAS, NAE, and NAM Presidents on Effort to Counter Online Misinformation

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 11:00 EST

We are pleased to announce that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are exploring ways to mobilize our expertise to counter misinformation on the web related to science, engineering, and health. Part of the mission of the National Academies has always been to help ensure that public discourse is informed by the best available evidence. To that end, we are convening Academy members to discuss ways by which we could help verify the integrity and accuracy of content in these fields in a manner that is consistent with our standards for objective, trustworthy, evidence-based information; this exploratory phase will be supported by a grant from Google. We are excited to pursue an effort that aligns with our fundamental principles and that we believe is critically important at a time when misinformation is a threat to sound decision-making and an informed citizenry.Marcia McNuttPresident, National Academy of SciencesC. D. (Dan) Mote, Jr. President, National Academy of EngineeringVictor J. DzauPresident, National Academy of Medicine

The Quality of Abortion Care Depends on Where a Woman Lives, Says One of Most Comprehensive Reviews of Research on Safety and Quality of Abortion Care in the U.S.

Fri, 16 Mar 2018 11:00 EST

While legal abortions in the U.S. are safe, the likelihood that women will receive the type of abortion services that best meet their needs varies considerably depending on where they live, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. In addition, the report notes, the vast majority of abortions can be provided safely in office-based settings. The committee that wrote the report examined the scientific evidence on the safety and quality of the four abortion methods used in the U.S. -- medication, aspiration, dilation and evacuation (D&E), and induction. It assessed quality of care based on whether it is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable according to well-established standards. Most abortions in the U.S. are performed early in pregnancy; in 2014, 90 percent occurred by 12 weeks of gestation. Medication and aspiration abortions are the most common methods and, together, account for about 90 percent of all abortions. Serious complications from abortion are rare regardless of the method, and safety and quality are enhanced when the abortion is performed as early in pregnancy as possible. Read More

National Academies Review of the Draft Fourth National Climate Assessment and Second State of the Carbon Cycle Report

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 15:00 EST

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to review the draft Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4) – a congressionally mandated report that evaluates the state of climate science and the broad range of impacts of climate change in the United States every four years – and the draft Second State of the Carbon Cycle Report (SOCCR2) – a report that feeds into the overall assessment process developed by the USGCRP. The final NCA4 and SOCCR2 reports are anticipated to be released by USGCRP later this year. The National Academies released today evaluations of these two draft reports. Read More