News

Statement by Academy President Bruce Alberts on the National Academies' Continuing Response to the September 11 Terrorist Attack

September 9, 2002

All of us at the National Academies join our nation and the world in mourning the victims of the September 11th attack, unimaginable both in its outcomes and in its cruel design. Even a year later, we remain devastated by the loss of thousands of lives -- completely innocent citizens of more than 80 nations -- in New York City, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon.

We may have lost our collective innocence on that day, but we now truly know the face of terrorism: It is inhuman and calculating, dedicated to striking at us whenever and wherever we are most vulnerable.

In a direct response to those horrific events, the National Academies have enlisted our talented staff and many of the nation's finest scientific minds in a search for new ways to protect and defend civilized societies. We are proud to have contributed initiatives such as our major, timely report to the American people Making the Nation Safer: The Role of Science and Technology in Countering Terrorism. We have also produced Responding First to Bioterrorism, a new National Academies Web site with a novel design that gives police, firefighters and public safety officials access to the latest science and methods for responding to a biological terror attack.

As always, our goal is to harness the best of science and technology to improve the lives of people everywhere. Since September 11th that work has become more urgent. We now know for certain that, if our grandchildren are to live in an open, free society and not inside a walled fortress, we must devote even more energy to using science and scientific values to ensure the safety, stability and productive development of peaceful democratic nations throughout the world.

Related Links:
Making the Nation Safer: The Role of Science and Technology
in Countering Terrorism
Full Report
Press Release
Listen to the News Conference (requires free RealPlayer)

Responding First to Bioterrorism
Web Site