The United States prides itself on being a nation of immigrants, and the country has a long history of successfully absorbing people from across the globe. The integration of immigrants and their children contributes to our economic vitality and our vibrant and ever changing culture.

Today, the 41 million immigrants in the United States represent 13.1 percent of the U.S. population. The U.S.-born children of immigrants, the second generation, represent 12 percent of the population. Thus, together the first and second generations account for one out of four members of the U.S. population.

Our report provides the facts about how immigrants and their descendants are integrating into American society in a range of areas such as education, occupations, health, and language.

February application deadlines are approaching for the Gulf Research Program’s 2017 fellowships and research & development grants! Submit your materials by the times and dates indicated below:

Research & Development Grants: Apply for a research & development grant to fund work to reduce or better understand systemic risk in the offshore oil and gas environment at . Up to $10 million in total is available for this opportunity, which is designed to support fundamental scientific and technological research. Submit a required letter of intent by 5pm ET on Wednesday, February 1. Full proposals are due April 12.

Fellowships: Apply for an early-career research fellowship (http://buff.ly/2iKIXnH) or a science policy fellowship (http://buff.ly/2iKJdmQ) by 5pm ET on Wednesday, February 22. Learn more about the benefits of these fellowships by watching the short, informational videos posted at the links above.

Earlier this month, the Antarctic research group Project MIDAS reported that a colossal crack in the Larsen C ice shelf abruptly grew by 18 kilometers during the second half of December 2016 and is now only about 20 kilometers away from reaching Larsen C’s edge and snapping off a hunk of ice the size of Delaware. According to our publication Abrupt Impacts of Climate Change: Anticipating Surprises (http://buff.ly/2iKNYen) thinning or loss of ice shelves reduces friction, allows faster flow of the non-floating ice feeding the shelves, and thus contributes to sea-level rise. What is the state of the science on warming temperatures and sea-level rise? What are the possible impacts, and how can we respond?

Our collection of publications on climate change now includes the new release Valuing Climate Damages: Updating Estimation of the Social Cost of Carbon Dioxide. These valuable resources that seek to communicate climate science are all free to download. http://buff.ly/2iKEJed

Image: Mario Tama/Getty Images

TODAY! At 11:00 AM Eastern time, join us for the public discussion of our new report, Communicating Science Effectively, webcast live.

Know a college undergrad interested in space? Our Space Studies Board is hiring an intern:

The #Pakistan-U.S. Science & Technology Cooperation Program has put out a call for proposals and the deadline of January 13th is fast approaching. Apply now!

In 2016, we released 376 new publications from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on NAP.edu. And in keeping with our annual tradition, we broke our record of PDF downloads from last year with over 1.7 million downloads from 233 countries. Explore the list of our most dowloaded titles in 2016. http://buff.ly/2hNW2w2

Diluted bitumen has been transported by pipeline in the United States for more than 40 years, with the amount increasing recently as a result of improved extraction technologies and resulting increases in production and exportation of Canadian diluted bitumen. The increased importation of Canadian diluted bitumen to the United States has strained the existing pipeline capacity and contributed to the expansion of pipeline mileage over the past 5 years.

Our report, Spills of Diluted Bitumen from Pipelines, identifies the relevant properties and characteristics of the transport, fate, and effects of diluted bitumen and commonly transported crude oils when spilled in the environment.

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Every day in the United States, children and adolescents are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Despite the serious and long-term consequences for victims as well as their families, communities, and society, efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to these crimes are largely under supported, inefficient, uncoordinated, and unevaluated.

A nation that is unaware of these problems or disengaged from solutions unwittingly contributes to the ongoing abuse of minors. Our report, Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States, examines commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States under age 18. If acted upon in a coordinated and comprehensive manner, the recommendations of Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States can help advance and strengthen the nation's emerging efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States.

Watch this video on the report: http://buff.ly/2jyNJ7g

Learn more and read the report for free here: http://buff.ly/2jyHnVm

According to the World Health Organization, vaccines prevent more than 2.5 million deaths each year. In the United States, immunization programs have resulted in the eradication of smallpox, the elimination of polio, and the control and near elimination of once-common, often debilitating and potentially life-threatening diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Ironically, the successes of vaccine coverage in the United States have made it more difficult for the public to weigh the benefits and complications of vaccines because the now-controlled diseases and their often-serious risks are no longer familiar. Our 2001 publication Immunization Safety Review: Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine and Autism states, “ . . the committee concludes that the evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship at the population level between MMR vaccine and autistic spectrum disorders (ASD)” http://buff.ly/2j6jfcs

Vaccines are among the most effective and safe public health interventions available to prevent serious disease and death. Our resources examine vaccine safety and communicate the science of vaccination and public health. All are free to download: http://buff.ly/2j6gWWF.

The Justice Department is issuing new guidance to federal agents on how to secure eyewitness identifications. The memo "adopts the recommendations of the 2014 National Academy of Sciences report (Identifying The Culprit). And it sends an important message that accuracy matters in criminal cases." http://buff.ly/2jcqBb0

Related: we put together an interactive infographic for Identifying The Culprit: http://buff.ly/2jczyBr

A brand new infographic shows a timeline of the major changes to the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) food packages. See more: http://buff.ly/2hVgHOO

"The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, administers supplemental foods that provide specific nutrients, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health and social service referrals to approximately 8 million people in the United States."