Two new reports from the from the National Academies’ Board on Radioactive Waste Management assess the risks of when and how to clean or remove radioactive waste from DOE sites. "Risks and Decisions About Disposition of Transuranic and High-Level Radioactive Waste" calls for formal, risk-informed approaches to decide how to address leftover radioactive waste at some DOE sites. The second report, "Improving the Characterization and Treatment of Radioactive Wastes for the DOE’s Accelerated Site Cleanup Program," says that DOE should consider extending the life of facilities used to treat and process waste at sites that are currently planned to be shut down. Two new oversight groups are needed to ensure that the practices of the Vaccine Safety Datalink and its data-sharing program are implemented as fairly and openly as possible, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which oversees VSD and the data-sharing program, should create a new, independent committee to review researchers' proposals to use VSD data, monitor adherence to protocols, and advise the agency and its partners on when and how to release preliminary findings based on the data, the report says. In addition, CDC should use a new or existing NVAC subcommittee to enable stakeholders to review and provide input on the VSD research plan every year. The avian influenza virus can spread from human to human, according to a new study of the 2003 bird flu outbreak in the Netherlands. Previously it was not known whether the virus could only be transmitted through direct contact with birds. The indirect transmission of the virus means that large-scale human-to-human transmission is possible and could spark a pandemic if the virus mutates. Several Institute of Medicine resources examine issues related to influenza infection:
+ The report "Public Health Risks of Disasters: Communication, Infrastructure, and Preparedness" (2005) discusses ways to respond to public health disasters through interagency and interdisciplinary preparation.
+ The IOM Forum on Microbial Threats examines issues related to the prevention, detection, and management of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and dangerous pathogens. A June 2004 Forum workshop examined strategies for prevention and response.
+ Another IOM workshop, Pandemic Influenza: Assessing Capabilities for Prevention and Response, examines ways of preparing the public and policymakers for an influenza pandemic. The governing board of the InterAcademy Council has elected Bruce Alberts, president of the US National Academy of Sciences, and Lu Yongxiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as its co-chairs for the next four years. The world's science academies created the IAC in 2000 to mobilize the best scientists and engineers across the globe to advise international bodies — such as the United Nations and the World Bank — and other institutions.
To prepare for possible future bioterrorism attacks, public health officials and policymakers should balance national security concerns with the need for accurate, credible scientific information, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The Committee on Smallpox Vaccination Implementation also urged health agencies to set goals with state and local partners so that the nation's readiness can be measured and improved. Federal policies must encourage the professional visits of foreign scientists and engineers and the training of highly qualified foreign students if we are to maintain the vitality and quality of America's research enterprise.
The UN General Assembly approved this week a nonbinding declaration calling upon member states “to prohibit any attempts to create human life through cloning processes and any research to achieve that aim.” The US National Academy of Sciences and other members of the InterAcademy Panel, a worldwide organization of science academies, have stated that a worldwide ban on human reproductive cloning — a technique that attempts to produce a child — is justified. However, the declaration is ambiguous and should not extend to nuclear transfer, also known as "therapeutic cloning," which is very different and enhances the likelihood of attaining medical breakthroughs, says NAS President Bruce Alberts. The Disasters Roundtable: "Lessons Learned Between Hurricanes: From Hugo to Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne" was held March 8th in the National Academies' Keck Center in Washington. Discussions considered responses to past and recent hurricanes in the context of future such challenges, and addressed aspects such as evacuation, climate change, building safety, and emergency management. An agenda is posted at the accompanying link. If you would like more information, please contact Byron Mason, by email at <bmason@nas.edu> or by telephone at (202) 334-3511.
The Committee on Science Learning, Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, will meet in open session on March 14th at the Academies' Keck Center in Washington DC. A draft agenda is posted at the accompanying link. If you would like to attend the sessions of this meeting that are open to the public or need more information please contact Claudia Sauls, by email at <csauls@nas.edu> or by telephone at 202-334-2010. The Committee on Residence Rules in the Decennial Census will meet in open session on the afternoon of March 18th, at the Academies' Keck Center in Washington DC. A draft agenda will be posted at the accompanying link. If you would like to attend the sessions of this meeting that are open to the public or need more information please contact Agnes Gaskin, by email at <agaskin@nas.edu> or by telephone at (202) 334-2240.
Environmental Issues
Health and Medicine
International Issues
National Security
Policy and Research Issues
Events and Open Meetings
Environmental Issues
Reports Address Waste Disposal, Cleanup
Health and Medicine
Independent Oversight of Vaccine Safety Data Program Needed
International Issues
Alberts and Lu Elected Co-chairs of InterAcademy Council
National Security
Ongoing, Systematic Assessments of Bioterror Preparedness Necessary
Policy and Research Issues
US Extension of Certain Visas Welcomed
Events and Open Meetings
MEETING: Disasters Roundtable: Lessons Learned Between Hurricanes
