Energy Experts Gather at Two-Day Summit
The National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering held a summit on March 13 and 14 to examine the increasing importance of energy policy to the nation's security, economic vitality, and environment. U.S. government officials and other leading experts delivered a series of presentations that will inform the upcoming study America's Energy Future: Technology Opportunities, Risks, and Tradeoffs.
MEETING: The Importance of Deep-Time Geologic Records for Understanding Climate Change Impacts
The geologic record contains physical, chemical, and biological indicators of a range of past climate states. As recent changes in atmospheric composition cause earth's climate to change, and amid suggestions that future change may cause the earth to transition to a climatic state that is dramatically different to that of the recent past, there is an increasing focus on the geologic record as a repository of critical information for understanding the likely parameters and impacts of future change. The resulting report will assess the present state of knowledge of earth's deep-time paleoclimate record, with particular emphasis on the transition periods of major paleoclimate change.
Ten Questions Shaping Earth Science Identified
Questions about the origin and nature of Earth and the life on it have long preoccupied human thought and the scientific endeavor. Deciphering the planet's history and processes could improve the ability to predict catastrophes like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, to manage Earth's resources, and to anticipate changes in climate and geologic processes. At the request of the U.S. Department of Energy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, and U.S. Geological Survey, the National Research Council assembled a committee to propose and explore grand questions in geological and planetary science. This report captures, in a series of questions, the essential scientific challenges that constitute the frontier of Earth science at the start of the 21st century.
Desalination Could Boost U.S. Water Supplies
Recent technological advances have made removing salt from seawater and groundwater a realistic option for increasing water supplies in some parts of the U.S., and desalination will likely have a niche in meeting the nation's future water needs, says a new report from the National Research Council. A federally coordinated research effort is needed to understand and lessen desalination's environmental impacts and further lower its costs.
Report Release: Recovering from Disaster
A Summary of the October 17, 2007 Workshop of the Disasters Roundtable: disaster recovery is a complex and challenging process that involves all sectors of a community as well as outside interests. In many cases, it is not even clear if and when recovery has been achieved because of varying stakeholder goals for the community. This workshop considered what has been learned about disaster recovery, which has been understudied in comparison to the emergency and other phases of disasters, from both scientific research and the experience of policy makers and practitioners.
Forest Management Important for Water Supplies
Modifications to forests’ structure and composition -- whether caused by manmade or naturally occurring phenomena, such as wildfires, insects, climate change effects, road networks, or chemicals like fertilizers and fire retardants -- can alter water quantity and quality, says a new report from the National Research Council. More research should be pursued to address critical water issues, and watershed councils and citizen groups should work with agencies to better protect and sustain water resources.
Back to topGlobal Challenges and Directions for Agricultural Biotechnology: Workshop Report
Many developing countries are exploring whether biotechnology has a role in addressing national issues such as food security and environmental remediation. Some policy leaders worry that their governments are not prepared to take control of this evolving technology and that introducing it into society would be a risky act. Others have suggested that taking no action carries more risk, given the dire need to produce more food. Global Challenges and Directions for Agricultural Biotechnology: Mapping the Course, organized by the National Research Council, focused on the potential applications of biotechnology and what developing countries might consider as they contemplate adopting biotechnology.
Back to topEmerging Technologies Identified to Improve Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
A new report from the National Research Council presents 60 innovations that could significantly boost crop and animal production in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, including nine that could be immediately developed into agricultural applications. The technologies range from those that are years from being implemented to others that are available but not widely applied in these regions.
Back to topMarine Debris Will Likely Increase Without Improved Management
Measures to reduce litter and abandoned fishing gear in the oceans are inadequate, and the problem will likely worsen in the 21st century, says a new report from the National Research Council. The U.S. should adopt a goal of "zero discharge" of garbage by ships at sea and provide strong leadership and coordination at the international and national levels.
Back to topFuture of Plant Sciences Focus of New Booklet
The National Academies have released "New Horizons in Plant Sciences for Human Health and the Environment," a free booklet that explores the potential of the National Plant Genome Initiative -- a federal multiagency project that coordinates research in plant sciences to understand and ultimately harness plants’ properties to help meet agriculture, nutrition, energy, and human health needs.
Back to topReport Offers Plan to Improve Weather and Climate Monitoring
A more integrated and effective nationwide meteorological and chemical weather network is needed that measures atmosphere conditions at various heights and scales, says a new report from the National Research Council. In addition to weather observations, such a system could track dispersion of biological and nuclear contaminants from industrial accidents; monitor smoke from wildfires; provide high-resolution weather information for aviation and waterways, water management, and food production; and support regional climate monitoring.
Back to topFor additional information visit The National Academies Subject page.
