National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Engineering
Institute of Medicine
National Research Council

Report Selects 16 Highest Priorities to Guide NASA's Technology Development Efforts

February 1 -- During the next five years, NASA technology development efforts should focus on 16 high-priority technologies and their associated top technical challenges, says a new report from the National Research Council. The technologies were selected with input from the external technical community as part of NASA’s draft technology roadmaps and include items such as radiation mitigation; guidance, navigation, and control; nuclear systems for both power generation and transportation; and solar power generation (see news release for full table). These priorities were chosen to align with three main facets of NASA's overall mission: extending and sustaining human activities beyond low Earth orbit; exploring the evolution of the solar system and the potential for life elsewhere; and expanding our understanding of Earth and the universe.

Public Health Action Needed to Reduce Burdens of Chronic Illness

January 31 -- A new report from the Institute of Medicine says public health actions are urgently needed to tackle the vast and growing toll of chronic illness on individuals and society. The report’s recommendations focus on optimizing efforts to better understand the burden and needs of people with chronic diseases, improving the dissemination of effective community-based interventions and preventive clinical guidelines, promoting the testing of an aligned health system to help people live well with chronic illness, and promoting the creation and implementation of public health policies in emerging legislation.

Bruce B. Darling Named Executive Officer of National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council

January 27 -- Bruce B. Darling, currently vice president for laboratory management at the University of California, will soon join the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council as executive officer. His transition from the university to NAS will occur over the next several months. He will succeed E. William Colglazier, who now serves as science and technology adviser at the U.S. Department of State.

Strategic Research Plan Needed to Help Avoid Potential Risks of Nanomaterials

January 25 -- Despite extensive investment in nanotechnology and increasing commercialization over the last decade, insufficient understanding remains about the environmental, health, and safety aspects of nanomaterials. Without a coordinated research plan to help guide efforts to manage and avoid potential risks, the future of safe and sustainable nanotechnology is uncertain, says a new report from the National Research Council. An effective implementation of such a plan would require sufficient management and budgetary authority to direct research across federal agencies.

TRB'S 2012 Annual Meeting Highlights Putting Innovation and People to Work in Transportation

January 20 -- The 91st annual meeting of the National Research Council's Transportation Research Board will have more than 4,000 transportation-related presentations in nearly 650 sessions and workshops. Some 11,000 people from around the world -- including policymakers, administrators, practitioners, researchers, journalists, and representatives of government, industry, and academia -- will attend the meeting. This year's spotlight theme is "Transportation: Putting Innovation and People to Work." The event will take place Jan. 22-26 in Washington, D.C.