Jan. 12, 2017

Nearly 100 Conclusions on the Health Effects of Marijuana and Cannabis-Derived Products Presented in New Report

A new report from the National Academies offers one of the most comprehensive studies of recent research on the health impacts of cannabis and cannabis-derived products – such as marijuana and active chemical compounds known as cannabinoids – ranging from their therapeutic effects to their risks for causing certain cancers, diseases, mental health disorders, and injuries. The committee also proposed ways to expand and improve the quality of cannabis research efforts, enhance data collection efforts to support the advancement of research, and address the current barriers to cannabis research. Read more

Jan. 12, 2017

New Report Examines Challenges Faced by the Federal Statistical System

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examines the challenges faced by the federal statistical system, discusses the opportunities and risks of using government and private sector data sources, and outlines steps needed to lay the foundation for a new paradigm that would combine diverse data sources in a secure manner to enhance the collection and use of federal statistics.

Jan. 11, 2017

Report Recommends New Framework for Estimating the Social Cost of Carbon Dioxide

To estimate the social cost of carbon dioxide for use in regulatory impact analyses, the federal government should use a new framework that would strengthen the scientific basis, provide greater transparency, and improve characterization of the uncertainties of the estimates, says a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report also identifies a number of near- and longer-term improvements that should be made for calculating the social cost of carbon. Read More 

Jan. 11, 2017

New Report Identifies Root Causes of Health Inequity in the U.S., Outlines Solutions for Communities to Advance Health Equity

The burdens of poor health and the benefits of good health and well-being are inequitably distributed in the U.S. due to factors that range from poverty and inadequate housing to structural racism and discrimination, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Community-driven interventions targeting these factors hold the greatest promise for promoting health equity -- the state in which everyone has the opportunity to attain full health potential and no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social position or any other socially defined circumstance. Read More 

Jan. 10, 2017

Accounting for Social Risk Factors in Medicare Payment

The National Academies released the fifth and final report in a series examining social risk factors that affect the health outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries and how to account for these factors in Medicare value-based payment programs. The report says that accounting for social risk factors in quality measurement and payment in combination with complementary approaches may achieve the policy goals of reducing disparities in access, quality, and outcomes, as well as quality improvement and efficient care delivery for all patients – thereby promoting health equity.

Jan. 10, 2017

New Report Finds Significant Improvements in Methods to Collect Data on Recreational Fishing

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says the Marine Recreational Information Program – a national survey program – has made significant improvements in gathering information on recreational fishing through redesigned surveys, strengthening the quality of data. Although many of the major recommendations from a previous Academies report have been addressed, some challenges remain, such as incorporating technological advances for data collection and enhancing communication with anglers and some other stakeholders. Read More

Jan. 6, 2017

World's Largest Gathering of Transportation Professionals

More than 13,000 people from about 70 countries -- including policymakers, administrators, practitioners, and researchers from government, industry, and academia -- will gather Jan. 8-12 for the Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx will be among the featured speakers.

Jan. 6, 2017

New Report Reviews Eight NASA Evidence Reports on Human Health Risks

NASA asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to review more than 30 publicly available evidence reports on human health risks for long-duration and exploration space flight. A new letter report -- the fourth in the series of five -- examines eight NASA evidence reports on topics including astronauts' risk of developing cardiovascular disease from radiation exposure; cancer from radiation exposure; radiation syndromes from intense exposure to high doses of radiation over short time periods; central nervous system effects from radiation exposure; adverse cognitive or behavioral conditions and psychiatric disorders; and performance decrements and adverse health outcomes from sleep loss, circadian desynchronization, and work overload. The NASA evidence reports are available to download here.

Jan. 5, 2017

New Report Calls for Revisions to WIC Program

A new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine proposes updated revisions to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to better align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, promote and support breast-feeding, and improve flexibility for cultural preferences. The committee that carried out the study and wrote the report recommended cost-neutral changes that include adding fish; increasing the amount of whole grains; and increasing vegetables and fruits as a trade-off for decreasing juice, milk, legumes, peanut butter, infant vegetables and fruits, and infant meats. It also recommended allowing women to receive the quantity of formula needed to support any level of breast-feeding. The proposed changes will save approximately $220 million programwide from 2018 to 2022. Read More

Jan. 5, 2017

New Report Calls for Use of Emerging Scientific Data to Better Assess Public Health Risks

Recent scientific and technological advances have the potential to improve assessment of public health risks posed by chemicals, yet questions remain how best to integrate the findings from the new tools and methods into risk assessment. A new National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report recommends approaches for using 21st century science to evaluate the many factors that lead to health risks and disease, laying the groundwork for a new direction in risk assessment that acknowledges the complexity of disease causation. Read More | Webinar on Friday, Jan. 6, beginning at 2 p.m. EST

Jan. 5, 2017

2017 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education Awarded to Dean of Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering

The National Academy of Engineering announced today that the 2017 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education will be awarded to Julio M. Ottino, dean of the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University, "for an educational paradigm that merges analytical, rational left-brain skills with creative, expansive right-brain skills to develop engineering leaders." The $500,000 annual award recognizes new methods and concepts in education aimed at developing engineering leaders. The Gordon Prize ceremony will be held at Northwestern University this spring.

Jan. 4, 2017

Inventors of Optical Coherence Tomography Win 2017 Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize

The National Academy of Engineering and Ohio University announced today that the 2017 Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize will be given to James G. Fujimoto, Adolf F. Fercher, Christoph K. Hitzenberger, David Huang, and Eric A. Swanson for the invention of optical coherence tomography (OCT). The $500,000 biennial prize, which recognizes a bioengineering achievement that significantly improves the human condition, cites OCT for "leveraging creative engineering to invent imaging technology essential for preventing blindness and treating vascular and other diseases." The Russ Prize will be presented at a gala dinner event in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21, 2017. Read More

Dec. 21, 2016

Report Calls for Improved Methods to Assess Earthquake-Caused Soil Liquefaction

Effectively engineering infrastructure to protect life and to mitigate the economic, environmental, and social impacts of liquefaction requires the ability to accurately assess the likelihood of liquefaction and its consequences. A new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine evaluates existing field, laboratory, physical model, and analytical methods for assessing liquefaction and its consequences, and recommends how to account for and reduce the uncertainties associated with the use of these methods. Read More

Dec. 15, 2016

NAM Foreign Secretary Selected as AAAS President-Elect

Margaret Hamburg, foreign secretary of the National Academy of Medicine, has been chosen to serve as the next president of AAAS. She will begin her three-year term as an officer and member of the Executive Committee of the AAAS Board of Directors at the conclusion of the 183rd AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston on Feb. 21, 2017. Read More

Dec. 15, 2016

National Academy of Medicine Launches 'Action Collaborative' to Promote Clinician Well-Being and Combat Burnout, Depression, and Suicide Among Health Care Workers

In response to alarming evidence of high rates of depression and suicide among U.S. health care workers, the National Academy of Medicine is launching a wide-ranging "action collaborative" of multiple organizations to promote clinician well-being and resilience. To date, more than 20 professional and educational organizations have committed to the NAM-led initiative, which will identify priorities and collective efforts to advance evidence-based solutions and promote multidisciplinary approaches that will reverse the trends in clinician stress and ultimately improve patient care and outcomes. Read More

Dec. 15, 2016

New Report Calls for Forward-Looking Analysis and a Review of Restoration Goals for the Everglades

To ensure the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is responsive to changing environmental conditions like climate change and sea-level rise, as well as to changes in water management, a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine calls for a re-examination of the program's original restoration goals and recommends a forward-looking, systemwide analysis of Everglades restoration outcomes across a range of scenarios. Read More

Dec. 15, 2016

Lower Cost of LEDs Reduce Profitability for Manufacturing Landscape

Although residential and commercial industries are widely adopting energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs), the drop in LED prices is driving away manufacturers because of decreased profitability, dramatically dislocating and restructuring the solid-state lighting marketplace, says a new National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report.

Dec. 15, 2016

National Academies' Gulf Research Program Awards $2.1 Million in Synthesis Grants

The Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced today the recipients of three synthesis grants, totaling over $2.1 million. The grants support projects that apply scientific synthesis to connect environmental, social, and/or health data to advance understanding of the short- and long-term impacts of offshore oil and gas operations on human communities in coastal regions adjacent to the U.S. outer continental shelf. The grants also advance study design, tools, models and technologies for assessing human exposure to environmental contaminants, including acute or chronic exposures related to oil spills and other sudden and large-scale environmental disasters, and related impacts on individuals and populations. Read More

Dec. 14, 2016

In Memorium: Stephen Fienberg, 1942-2016

National Academy of Sciences member Stephen E. Fienberg, a world-renowned statistics professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, has died at the age of 74.

Deeply involved in the work of the National Academies for more than 40 years, Fienberg served on 35 committees and panels. For the last eight years, he was co-chair of the Academies' Report Review Committee, which oversees the institution's peer review process. Read Fienberg obituary from Carnegie Mellon

Dec. 13, 2016

New Report Recommends Research Agenda for Effective Science Communication

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine highlights the complexity of communicating about science effectively, especially when dealing with contentious issues, and proposes a research agenda to help science communicators and researchers identify effective methods. The most widely held model of what audiences need from science communication — known as the "deficit model," which focuses on simply conveying more information — is wrong, the report says. Read More

Nov. 30, 2016

NAS President Marcia McNutt to Receive 2017 DRI Nevada Medal

National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt has been selected as the 2017 Desert Research Institute Nevada Medalist. Established in 1988 to acknowledge outstanding achievement in the fields of science and engineering, the DRI Nevada Medal is the highest scientific honor in the state. McNutt will receive the award during events planned in Reno and Las Vegas in September 2017. Read More

Nov. 30, 2016

True Prevalence of Food Allergies Unknown Due to Misinterpretation of Symptoms and Lack of Simple Diagnostic Tests; New Report Outlines Steps to Address Public Health Concerns of Food Allergy Safety

Although there is widespread perception among the public and medical professionals that food allergy prevalence is on the rise, no study in the U.S. has been conducted with sufficient sample size and in various populations to determine the true prevalence of food allergies, and most studies likely overestimate the proportion of the population with this condition, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. In addition, the public and health care providers frequently misinterpret a food allergy and its symptoms, cannot differentiate a food allergy from other immune and gastrointestinal diseases -- such as lactose intolerance and gluten sensitivity -- and don't know which management and prevention approaches are effective and best to use.

Current evidence is insufficient to associate any of the following behaviors with prevention of food allergy, the report says: food allergen avoidance diets for pregnant or lactating women; prolonged allergen avoidance in infancy; vaginal delivery; breast-feeding; use of infant formulas containing partially or extensively hydrolyzed protein; and supplementation with specific nutrients -- for example, vitamin D -- in children or adults. Read More

Nov. 17, 2016

Gulf Research Program Awards $3 Million in Exploratory Grants

The Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced today the recipients of nine exploratory grants, totaling almost $3 million. The grants are intended to jumpstart the development of novel approaches, technologies, or methods and/or the application of new expertise in one of two areas: (1) how to improve the use of scenario planning to advance safety culture and minimize risk in offshore oil and gas operations, and (2) how to inform coastal community planning and response to environmental change in regions with offshore oil and gas operations. Read More

Nov. 17, 2016

Examining the Utility of Achievement Levels for the 'Nation's Report Card'

A new Academies report finds that while the National Assessment of Educational Progress' "achievement levels" – basic, proficient, and advanced – can be a useful tool for reporting reading and math performance, users of NAEP data need more guidance on the interpretation and use of achievement levels.

Nov. 5, 2016

National Academy of Sciences President Emeritus Ralph J. Cicerone Dies at 73

NAS President Emeritus Ralph J. Cicerone – a leader of science and world-renowned authority on atmospheric chemistry and climate change – died at his home in New Jersey today. He was 73.

Cicerone served as the 21st president of the National Academy of Sciences from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2016. Throughout his tenure, Cicerone was a steady voice for science in Washington, always maintaining a civilized and respectful dialogue with politicians and policymakers on some of the most challenging and controversial scientific issues of our time. At the same time, he remained a strong advocate for independent scientific advice – the hallmark of the Academy since its founding in 1863 – to inform government decision-making and public discourse. Read More

Oct. 27, 2016

Award Winners Honored at NAS

Congratulations to the winners of the 2016 National Academies Communication Awards, who were honored during an award ceremony held last night at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. These prestigious awards -- each of which includes a $20,000 prize -- recognize excellence in reporting and communicating science, engineering, and medicine to the general public. More Photos

Oct. 24, 2016

NAS President Emeritus Ralph J. Cicerone Named NAE Distinguished Honoree

During its 2016 annual meeting, the National Academy of Engineering honored Ralph J. Cicerone, president emeritus of the National Academy of Sciences, with the title of NAE Distinguished Honoree. Cicerone is only the fifth recipient of this recognition. He is honored for his tenure at the NAS where he rendered great service to the engineering profession in the United States and to the NAE through his deep understanding and appreciation of the interplay of science and engineering and their importance to the nation's welfare. Read More

Oct. 19, 2016

Report Offers Road Map and Recommendations to Help U.S. Cities Become More Sustainable, Learn From Other Cities' Experiences

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine offers a road map and recommendations to help U.S. cities work toward sustainability, measurably improving their residents' economic, social, and environmental well-being. The report draws upon lessons learned from nine cities' efforts to improve sustainability – Los Angeles; New York City; Vancouver, B.C.; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Grand Rapids and Flint, Michigan. The cities were chosen to span a range of sizes, regions, histories, and economies. Read More

Oct. 17, 2016

NAM Elects 70 New Members, Nine International Members

The National Academy of Medicine today announced the names of 70 new members and nine international members during its annual meeting. Election to the NAM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

Annual Meeting Webcast | Agenda

Oct. 17, 2016

Winners of 2016 D.C. Public Health Case Challenge Announced

The winners of the fourth annual D.C. Public Health Case Challenge were announced at this year's National Academy of Medicine annual meeting. The challenge aims to promote interdisciplinary, problem-based learning around a public health issue of importance to the local Washington, D.C. community.

Oct. 17, 2016

NAM Announce Recipients of Awards, Honors

The National Academy of Medicine presented two prestigious awards at its annual meeting today. The Gustav O. Lienhard Award was given to David Cella, Ralph Seal Paffenbarger Professor and chair, department of medical social sciences, and director, Center for Patient Centered Outcomes, Institute for Public Health and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. And the 2016 Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health was awarded to Steven Hyman, director of the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research in Cambridge, Mass., and Robin Murray, a professor at King’s College London, United Kingdom.

The Academy also honored three NAM members for their outstanding service -- Lynn R. Goldman, dean and professor of environmental occupation and health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University; Donna E. Shalala, president of the Clinton Foundation (on leave from University of Miami, where she is trustee professor of political science and health policy); and Mary E. Woolley, president and CEO of Research!America -- as well as announced three health professionals who were selected for the 2016 class of NAM Fellows. 

Lienhard News Release | Sarnat News Release | Outstanding Service News Release | Fellows News Release 

Oct. 11, 2016

Accounting for Social Risk Factors in Medicare Payment

A new Academies report provides guidance on data sources and collection strategies for measurable social risk factors that could be accounted for in Medicare value-based payment programs in the short and long term, such as low socio-economic position, residence in disadvantaged neighborhoods, or race and ethnicity. The committee that conducted the study and wrote the report identified three broad categories of data sources: 1) new and existing data collected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); 2) data from health care providers and health plans; and 3) alternative government data sources, i.e., national surveys that non-CMS federal agencies and state agencies oversee and maintain.

Oct. 10, 2016

NAS Member Shares 2016 Nobel in Economics

The 2016 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded jointly to National Academy of Sciences member Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmström "for their contributions to contract theory."

Oct. 7, 2016

National Academy of Engineering Annual Meeting Begins

NAE members will gather on Oct. 9-10 in Washington, D.C., to congratulate new members and welcome distinguished speakers who will discuss this year's annual meeting theme, Global Mega-Engineering Initiatives. Agenda | Learn More

Oct. 7, 2016

New Research Framework to Understand Cumulative Impacts of Human Activities on Marine Mammals

Rising levels of noise in the ocean have been identified as a growing concern for the well-being of marine mammals, but other threats such as pollution, climate change, and prey depletion by fisheries may also harm marine mammals and influence their response to additional noise. Current knowledge and data are insufficient to determine what combination of factors cause the greatest concern, says a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report includes a newly developed conceptual framework model to help federal agencies and research communities explore the potential cumulative effects of human activities on marine mammals. Read More

Oct. 7, 2016

Gulf Research Program Announces Early-Career Research and Science Policy Fellowships

The Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced today the recipients of its Early-Career Research Fellowships and Science Policy Fellowships for 2016. These competitive awards are among the suite of activities in the program’s 30-year mission to enhance oil system safety and the protection of human health and the environment in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. outer continental shelf regions.

Oct. 5, 2016

Key Science Questions for the Next Debate

In advance of the upcoming presidential debate in St. Louis, a new op-ed from AAAS Chief Executive Officer Rush Holt and NAS President Marcia McNutt reiterates a recent call for the candidates to address a set of 20 major issues in science, engineering, health, and the environment, and a call to journalists, including debate moderators, to ask these questions of candidates so the public has access to the answers.

Oct. 5, 2016

NAS Member Shares 2016 Nobel in Chemistry

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016 was awarded jointly to National Academy of Sciences member J. Fraser Stoddart, Jean-Pierre Sauvage, and Bernard L. Feringa "for the design and synthesis of molecular machines."

Oct. 4, 2016

NAS Member Shares 2016 Nobel in Physics

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2016 was divided, one-half awarded to National Academy of Sciences member David J. Thouless, the other half jointly to F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz "for theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter."

Oct. 3, 2016

Roundtable on U.S.-Mexico Scientific Collaboration

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