Policy and Global Affairs at the National Academies

UPCOMING EVENTS

Improving the Use of Science in the Administrative Process Workshop
On September 10, 2012, at the request of the Administrative Conference of the United States, CSTL will host a one-day public workshop to consider a draft report entitled Science in the Administrative Process: A Study of Agency Decisionmaking Approaches and discuss the report's recommendations. The workshop is made possible with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Research Arms Race: The Current Health and Future Well-being of the American Research University
On September 12, 2012, the National Academies' Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR) will host a special webinar reviewing the impetus and findings of a report examining the challenges facing US research universities that claims the institutions are currently caught in an unsustainable and counterproductive "research arms race."

Launch of Report on Sustainability Considerations for Procurement Tools and Capabilities: Summary of A Workshop
Green Procurement WorkshopOn September 27 a new report will be released by the National Research Council (NRC). It summarizes a workshop held in December 2011 at the request of the General Services Administration (GSA) on how better to foster sustainability considerations in procurement tools and capabilities across the public and private sectors. The report assesses the current landscape of green purchasing tools and identifies opportunities and emerging requirements for enhanced and/or new tools. Daniel Tangherlini, Acting Administrator of GSA, will deliver remarks on sustainability at GSA.

NEWS

Freeman Hrabowski Receives Heinz Award
Freeman Hrabowski is the recipient of the 18th Heinz Award. Established by Teresa Heinz in 1993 to honor the memory of her late husband, U.S. Senator John Heinz, the awards celebrate the accomplishments and spirit of the Senator by recognizing the extraordinary achievements of individuals in the areas of greatest importance to him. President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Dr. Hrabowski served as chair of the study Underrepresented Minority Participation: America’s Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads. He has developed groundbreaking methods for inspiring students to excel in STEM areas and make valuable contributions to society.

Peer Proposal Deadline is December 4, 2012

The National Research Council has announced the call for proposals to the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program, a partnership between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to promote collaborative research between scientists in the U.S. and in developing countries that furthers USAID's development goals. Grants are being given to the institutions of developing country scientists who will build on related research already being conducted by NSF-funded U.S. scientists. Proposals in food security, climate change, and other development topics such as disaster mitigation will fall into the shared mutual interest of NSF and USAID. Proposals in these topical areas of interest as well as any other interest area may be submitted by applicants based in any of the 87 PEER Science-eligible countries. Additionally, PEER Science invites proposals from applicants in the following specific countries or working on the following topical areas, for which USAID missions and offices have allocated resources to foster science and development goals: Indonesia, Biodiversity Conservation and Clean Energy in the Philippines, Water for the Middle East and North Africa, Climate Change for Lower Mekong Initiative, and Maldives Climate Change Adaptation.

23 new Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellows have arrived at the National Academies

The Fall fellows arrived on August 27th and will be working all around the Academies. Check out their impressive biosketches in the link above.

Univ of Nebraska-Lincoln releases video praising the UIDP program
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has a history of successful partnership with industry. UNL benefits from membership in the University Industry Demonstration partnership.

Report on Research Universities Released

The National Research Council publicly released the report Research Universities and the Future of America: Ten Breakthrough Actions Vital to Our Nation's Prosperity and Security on June 14, 2012, at 11:00 am. Watch the video of committee members sharing their insights (to the right) or visit the report's website for the latest news, videos, and information on this report.

The Real CSI April 17th
Thanks to the hit series CSI, forensic science has entered the consciousness of the mainstream public. On television, fingerprint, ballistic, and bite mark analyses are routinely used to help solve even the most difficult crimes — and ultimately put the guilty behind bars. But how reliable is the science in forensic science? CSTL’s 2009 report, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward, revealed that the science behind many forensic techniques is much less sound than Hollywood would have us believe. We hope you tuned in to PBS’ FRONTLINE on April 17th to uncover “The Real CSI.” The April 17th episode, which is part of a larger investigative series entitled Post Mortem, featured an interview with the co-chair of the committee that authored the CSTL report and demonstrates why a field that uses techniques which have not been validated scientifically undermines the pursuit of justice.

G-Science at NAS

The G-Science meeting hosted by NAS President Ralph Cicerone, and NAS Foreign Secretary and PGA Committee member Michael Clegg was held at The Keck Center on February 26-28. Fifteen world academies were represented by their officers and council members to draft academy statements on global issues that would provide input to their government leaders. The academies represented were Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia. Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Guests at the meeting included John Holdren, Assistant to President Obama for Science and Technology; and Robert Hormats, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment at the US Department of State.

Watch Fearing Bioterrorism, Government Panel Asks: What Research Should Be Secret? on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

Fearing Bioterrorism, Government Panel
Asks: What Research Should Be Secret?
In an unprecedented step, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity asked prominent journals Science and Nature not to publish some of the details of biological experiments on the avian flu virus. Created in response to a recommendation in Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism (2004) the board said that the general conclusions were ok for print but the methodology could possibly be used to replicate the experiments by those who intend harm. This is the first time the NIH board has advised restricting information since its inception.