%0 Book %A National Research Council %T Bridges to Independence: Fostering the Independence of New Investigators in Biomedical Research %@ 978-0-309-09626-3 %D 2005 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11249/bridges-to-independence-fostering-the-independence-of-new-investigators-in %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11249/bridges-to-independence-fostering-the-independence-of-new-investigators-in %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %P 172 %X A rising median age at which PhD’s receive their first research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is among the factors forcing academic biomedical researchers to spend longer periods of time before they can set their own research directions and establish there independence. The fear that promising prospective scientists will choose other career paths has raised concerns about the future of biomedical research in the United States. At the request of NIH, the National Academies conducted a study on ways to address these issues. The report recommends that NIH make fostering independence of biomedical researchers an agencywide goal, and that it take steps to provide postdocs and early-career investigators with more financial support for their own research, improve postdoc mentoring and establish programs for new investigators and staff scientists among other mechanisms. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Treating Infectious Diseases in a Microbial World: Report of Two Workshops on Novel Antimicrobial Therapeutics %@ 978-0-309-10056-4 %D 2006 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11471/treating-infectious-diseases-in-a-microbial-world-report-of-two %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11471/treating-infectious-diseases-in-a-microbial-world-report-of-two %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %P 102 %X Humans coexist with millions of harmless microorganisms, but emerging diseases, resistance to antibiotics, and the threat of bioterrorism are forcing scientists to look for new ways to confront the microbes that do pose a danger. This report identifies innovative approaches to the development of antimicrobial drugs and vaccines based on a greater understanding of how the human immune system interacts with both good and bad microbes. The report concludes that the development of a single superdrug to fight all infectious agents is unrealistic. %0 Book %A National Research Council %E Olson, Steve %E Labov, Jay B. %T Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation %@ 978-0-309-25689-6 %D 2012 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13403/thinking-evolutionarily-evolution-education-across-the-life-sciences-summary-of %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13403/thinking-evolutionarily-evolution-education-across-the-life-sciences-summary-of %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Education %K Biology and Life Sciences %P 110 %X Evolution is the central unifying theme of biology. Yet today, more than a century and a half after Charles Darwin proposed the idea of evolution through natural selection, the topic is often relegated to a handful of chapters in textbooks and a few class sessions in introductory biology courses, if covered at all. In recent years, a movement has been gaining momentum that is aimed at radically changing this situation. On October 25-26, 2011, the Board on Life Sciences of the National Research Council and the National Academy of Sciences held a national convocation in Washington, DC, to explore the many issues associated with teaching evolution across the curriculum. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation summarizes the goals, presentations, and discussions of the convocation. The goals were to articulate issues, showcase resources that are currently available or under development, and begin to develop a strategic plan for engaging all of the sectors represented at the convocation in future work to make evolution a central focus of all courses in the life sciences, and especially into introductory biology courses at the college and high school levels, though participants also discussed learning in earlier grades and life-long learning. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation covers the broader issues associated with learning about the nature, processes, and limits of science, since understanding evolutionary science requires a more general appreciation of how science works. This report explains the major themes that recurred throughout the convocation, including the structure and content of curricula, the processes of teaching and learning about evolution, the tensions that can arise in the classroom, and the target audiences for evolution education. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T BIO2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists %@ 978-0-309-08535-9 %D 2003 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10497/bio2010-transforming-undergraduate-education-for-future-research-biologists %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10497/bio2010-transforming-undergraduate-education-for-future-research-biologists %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Education %P 208 %X Biological sciences have been revolutionized, not only in the way research is conducted—with the introduction of techniques such as recombinant DNA and digital technology—but also in how research findings are communicated among professionals and to the public. Yet, the undergraduate programs that train biology researchers remain much the same as they were before these fundamental changes came on the scene. This new volume provides a blueprint for bringing undergraduate biology education up to the speed of today's research fast track. It includes recommendations for teaching the next generation of life science investigators, through: Building a strong interdisciplinary curriculum that includes physical science, information technology, and mathematics. Eliminating the administrative and financial barriers to cross-departmental collaboration. Evaluating the impact of medical college admissions testing on undergraduate biology education. Creating early opportunities for independent research. Designing meaningful laboratory experiences into the curriculum. The committee presents a dozen brief case studies of exemplary programs at leading institutions and lists many resources for biology educators. This volume will be important to biology faculty, administrators, practitioners, professional societies, research and education funders, and the biotechnology industry. %0 Book %A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine %E Melvin, April %T Understanding Northern Latitude Vegetation Greening and Browning: Proceedings of a Workshop %@ 978-0-309-49180-8 %D 2019 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25423/understanding-northern-latitude-vegetation-greening-and-browning-proceedings-of-a %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25423/understanding-northern-latitude-vegetation-greening-and-browning-proceedings-of-a %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Earth Sciences %P 62 %X Vegetation change has been observed across Arctic and boreal regions. Studies have often documented large-scale greening trends, but they have also identified areas of browning or shifts between greening and browning over varying spatial extents and time periods. At the same time, though, there are large portions of these ecosystems that have not exhibited measurable trends in greening or browning. These findings have fueled many questions about the drivers of vegetation dynamics, how trends are measured, and potential implications of vegetation change at local to global scales. In December 2018, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, convened a workshop to discuss opportunities to improve understanding of greening and browning trends and drivers and the implications of these vegetation changes. The discussions included a close look at many of the methodological approaches used to evaluate greening and browning, as well as exploration of newer technologies that may help advance the science. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop. %0 Book %A National Research Council %E Avila, Bridget K. B. %T Integrating Research and Education: Biocomplexity Investigators Explore the Possibilities: Summary of a Workshop %@ 978-0-309-08871-8 %D 2003 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10627/integrating-research-and-education-biocomplexity-investigators-explore-the-possibilities-summary %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10627/integrating-research-and-education-biocomplexity-investigators-explore-the-possibilities-summary %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Education %P 90 %X The workshop summary provides guidance for researchers applying to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for funding. New NSF guidelines require applications to address the "broader impact" of the proposed research. Presentations at the workshop provided ideas on how to do this by engaging in undergraduate education, K-12 education or public outreach via museums or journalists. The workshop summary discusses issues to consider in choosing an appropriate collaborator for the education or outreach component of the project and how to build in methods for assessing the success of the project. It also provides lists of resources helpful in writing education proposals and discusses the similarities between research in education and scientific research. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Enhancing the Value and Sustainability of Field Stations and Marine Laboratories in the 21st Century %@ 978-0-309-30534-1 %D 2014 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18806/enhancing-the-value-and-sustainability-of-field-stations-and-marine-laboratories-in-the-21st-century %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18806/enhancing-the-value-and-sustainability-of-field-stations-and-marine-laboratories-in-the-21st-century %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %K Education %K Environment and Environmental Studies %P 98 %X For over a century, field stations have been important entryways for scientists to study and make important discoveries about the natural world. They are centers of research, conservation, education, and public outreach, often embedded in natural environments that range from remote to densely populated urban locations. Because they lack traditional university departmental boundaries, researchers at field stations have the opportunity to converge their science disciplines in ways that can change careers and entire fields of inquiry. Field stations provide physical space for immersive research, hands-on learning, and new collaborations that are otherwise hard to achieve in the everyday bustle of research and teaching lives on campus. But the separation from university campuses that allows creativity to flourish also creates challenges. Sometimes, field stations are viewed as remote outposts and are overlooked because they tend to be away from population centers and their home institutions. This view is exacerbated by the lack of empirical evidence that can be used to demonstrate their value to science and society. Enhancing the Value and Sustainability of Field Stations and Marine Laboratories in the 21st Century summarizes field stations' value to science, education, and outreach and evaluates their contributions to research, innovation, and education. This report suggests strategies to meet future research, education, outreach, infrastructure, funding, and logistical needs of field stations. Today's technologies - such as streaming data, remote sensing, robot-driven monitoring, automated DNA sequencing, and nanoparticle environmental sensors - provide means for field stations to retain their special connection to nature and still interact with the rest of the world in ways that can fuel breakthroughs in the environmental, physical, natural, and social sciences. The intellectual and natural capital of today's field stations present a solid platform, but many need enhancements of infrastructure and dynamic leadership if they are to meet the challenges of the complex problems facing the world. This report focuses on the capability of field stations to address societal needs today and in the future. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Exploring the Role of Antiviral Drugs in the Eradication of Polio: Workshop Report %@ 978-0-309-10161-5 %D 2006 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11599/exploring-the-role-of-antiviral-drugs-in-the-eradication-of-polio %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11599/exploring-the-role-of-antiviral-drugs-in-the-eradication-of-polio %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %P 82 %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Developing Capacities for Teaching Responsible Science in the MENA Region: Refashioning Scientific Dialogue %@ 978-0-309-28639-8 %D 2013 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18356/developing-capacities-for-teaching-responsible-science-in-the-mena-region %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18356/developing-capacities-for-teaching-responsible-science-in-the-mena-region %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %K Education %K Conflict and Security Issues %P 152 %X Spurred on by new discoveries and rapid technological advances, the capacity for life science research is expanding across the globe—and with it comes concerns about the unintended impacts of research on the physical and biological environment, human well-being, or the deliberate misuse of knowledge, tools, and techniques to cause harm. This report describes efforts to address dual use issues by developing institutes around the world that will help life sciences faculty learn to teach about the responsible conduct of science. Based on the successful National Academies Summer Institute for Undergraduate Biology Education and on previous NRC reports on effective methods for teaching about dual use issues, the report's authoring committee designed a general framework for the faculty institutes and chose the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region to test a prototype faculty institute. In September 2012, the first Institute was held in Aqaba, Jordan, bringing together 28 participants from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, and Yemen to engage with effective, evidence-based teaching methods, develop curricular materials for use in their own classrooms, and become community leaders on dual use and related topics. Developing Capacities for Teaching Responsible Science in the MENA Region: Refashioning Scientific Dialogue offers insights from the institute that will help in the design and implementation of future programs in the MENA region, and in other parts of the world. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T The Role of the Life Sciences in Transforming America's Future: Summary of a Workshop %D 2009 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12592/the-role-of-the-life-sciences-in-transforming-americas-future %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12592/the-role-of-the-life-sciences-in-transforming-americas-future %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K %P 31 %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Review of Risk Assessment Work Plan for the Medical Countermeasures Test and Evaluation Facility at Fort Detrick: A Letter Report %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13265/review-of-risk-assessment-work-plan-for-the-medical-countermeasures-test-and-evaluation-facility-at-fort-detrick %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13265/review-of-risk-assessment-work-plan-for-the-medical-countermeasures-test-and-evaluation-facility-at-fort-detrick %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Environment and Environmental Studies %K Health and Medicine %P 58 %X At the U.S. Army's request the National Research Council (NRC) established the Committee to Review Risk Assessment Approaches for the Medical Countermeasures Test and Evaluation (MCMT&E) facility at Fort Detrick, in Frederick, Maryland. The committee was charged with reviewing a proposed approach to preparing a risk assessment for the new biocontainment laboratory at the base. Review of Risk Assessment Work Plan for the Medical Countermeasures Test and Evaluation Facility is the second letter report on the Army contractor's proposed work plan for conducting the risk assessment. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Technical Input on the National Institutes of Health's Draft Supplementary Risk Assessments and Site Suitability Analyses for the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Boston University: A Letter Report %D 2007 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12073/technical-input-on-the-national-institutes-of-healths-draft-supplementary-risk-assessments-and-site-suitability-analyses-for-the-national-emerging-infectious-diseases-laboratory-boston-university %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12073/technical-input-on-the-national-institutes-of-healths-draft-supplementary-risk-assessments-and-site-suitability-analyses-for-the-national-emerging-infectious-diseases-laboratory-boston-university %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %P 27 %X The state of Massachusetts requested that the National Research Council evaluate a draft supplemental risk assessment prepared by the National Institutes of Health (see http://www.nems.nih.gov/aspects/nat_resources/programs/nepa2.cfm) associated with a proposed biocontainment laboratory at Boston University. This risk assessment is intended to form the scientific basis for an environmental impact report that was requested by the state. The National Research Council report indicates that the draft does not adequately develop worst case scenarios or alternative site comparisons for the release and spread of a pathogen. While the report commended NIH for working with the community to identify pathogens to include in the scenarios, this process appears to have led to the selection of pathogens that are not representative of a worst case scenario. A more acceptable analysis would have included agents that are readily transmissible and would have demonstrated that the modeling approach used recognizes biological complexities, reflects what is known about disease outbreaks, and is appropriately sensitive to population density. %0 Book %A National Research Council %E Tang, Evonne P. Y. %T Path to Effective Recovering of DNA from Formalin-Fixed Biological Samples in Natural History Collections: Workshop Summary %@ 978-0-309-10293-3 %D 2006 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11712/path-to-effective-recovering-of-dna-from-formalin-fixed-biological-samples-in-natural-history-collections %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11712/path-to-effective-recovering-of-dna-from-formalin-fixed-biological-samples-in-natural-history-collections %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %P 64 %X Museums catalogue our knowledge of the Earth's biodiversity, and their collections represent many decades of work by experts. Access to DNA sequence information in archival specimens would greatly extend knowledge of the genetic relationships within our biosphere. However, molecular genetic analysis of museum specimens has been slowed by the usual practice of fixation and storage of samples in formalin. Formalin is an environmental toxin and induces genetic and chromosomal alterations to the samples. Few of the many attempts to obtain and sequence DNA from formalin-fixed specimens stored in aqueous formalin or ethanol have been successful. All of the protocols are slow, difficult, and often expensive, and few produce DNA fragments longer than 500 base pairs. Path to Effective Recovering of DNA from Formalin-Fixed Biological Samples in Natural History Collections examines past attempts on DNA recovery from formalin-preserved biological specimens and discusses the research needed to advance the development of similar but more efficient and cost-effective protocols. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Evaluation of the Health and Safety Risks of the New USAMRIID High-Containment Facilities at Fort Detrick, Maryland %@ 978-0-309-15145-0 %D 2010 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12871/evaluation-of-the-health-and-safety-risks-of-the-new-usamriid-high-containment-facilities-at-fort-detrick-maryland %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12871/evaluation-of-the-health-and-safety-risks-of-the-new-usamriid-high-containment-facilities-at-fort-detrick-maryland %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Conflict and Security Issues %P 86 %X The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Frederick, Maryland, is designed to handle pathogens that cause serious or potentially lethal diseases, which require the research performed on them be contained to specialized laboratories. In 2007 a decision was made to expand those facilities causing concern among area residents that public health and safety risks, and strategies to mitigate those concerns were not adequately considered in the decision to go forward with the expansion. In Evaluation of the Health and Safety Risks of the New USAMRIID High Containment Facilities at Fort Detrick, Maryland a group of experts in areas including biosafety, infectious diseases, industrial hygiene, environmental engineering, risk assessment and epidemiology, explored whether measures were being taken to ensure prevention and mitigation of risk to the health and safety of workers and the public. They also assessed whether the procedures and regulations employed meet accepted standards of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. Evaluation of the Health and Safety Risks of the New USAMRIID High Containment Facilities at Fort Detrick, Maryland evaluates the health and safety aspects of the environmental impact statement developed to support the construction of the new laboratories and explores the institute's operating requirements, medical and emergency management response plans and communication and cooperation with the public. The book recommends that USAMRIID continue to set high standards for advancing security, operational, and biosurety measures, and that additional measures be taken to provide assurance that experienced medical professionals are readily available to consult on unusual infectious diseases. It also suggests that USAMRIID expand its two-way communications with the public. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Ecological Impacts of Climate Change %@ 978-0-309-12710-3 %D 2008 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12491/ecological-impacts-of-climate-change %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12491/ecological-impacts-of-climate-change %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Environment and Environmental Studies %P 70 %X The world's climate is changing, and it will continue to change throughout the 21st century and beyond. Rising temperatures, new precipitation patterns, and other changes are already affecting many aspects of human society and the natural world. In this book, the National Research Council provides a broad overview of the ecological impacts of climate change, and a series of examples of impacts of different kinds. The book was written as a basis for a forthcoming illustrated booklet, designed to provide the public with accurate scientific information on this important subject. %0 Book %A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine %E Berkower, Carol %T Reflections on the National Science Foundation's Understanding the Rules of Life Program: Proceedings of a Workshop Series %@ 978-0-309-70262-1 %D 2023 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27020/reflections-on-the-national-science-foundations-understanding-the-rules-of-life-program %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27020/reflections-on-the-national-science-foundations-understanding-the-rules-of-life-program %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %P 92 %X In 2016, the National Science Foundation (NSF) established a five-year program on Understanding the Rules of Life (URoL) to identify generalizable rules that govern biological systems at micro and macro levels. At the request of NSF, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a series of workshops to explore the achievements of the URoL program. Presenters and participants discussed integration of multi-disciplinary, systems-level approaches, broader implications for studying highly complex systems, future scientific questions and future societal needs, and the production of generalizable rules that apply to different fields and scales. This publication summarizes the presentation and discussion of the workshop. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Convergence: Facilitating Transdisciplinary Integration of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, and Beyond %@ 978-0-309-30151-0 %D 2014 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18722/convergence-facilitating-transdisciplinary-integration-of-life-sciences-physical-sciences-engineering %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18722/convergence-facilitating-transdisciplinary-integration-of-life-sciences-physical-sciences-engineering %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Policy for Science and Technology %P 152 %X Convergence of the life sciences with fields including physical, chemical, mathematical, computational, engineering, and social sciences is a key strategy to tackle complex challenges and achieve new and innovative solutions. However, institutions face a lack of guidance on how to establish effective programs, what challenges they are likely to encounter, and what strategies other organizations have used to address the issues that arise. This advice is needed to harness the excitement generated by the concept of convergence and channel it into the policies, structures, and networks that will enable it to realize its goals. Convergence investigates examples of organizations that have established mechanisms to support convergent research. This report discusses details of current programs, how organizations have chosen to measure success, and what has worked and not worked in varied settings. The report summarizes the lessons learned and provides organizations with strategies to tackle practical needs and implementation challenges in areas such as infrastructure, student education and training, faculty advancement, and inter-institutional partnerships. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Life Sciences and Related Fields: Trends Relevant to the Biological Weapons Convention %@ 978-0-309-21071-3 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13130/life-sciences-and-related-fields-trends-relevant-to-the-biological %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13130/life-sciences-and-related-fields-trends-relevant-to-the-biological %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %K Conflict and Security Issues %P 164 %X During the last decade, national and international scientific organizations have become increasingly engaged in considering how to respond to the biosecurity implications of developments in the life sciences and in assessing trends in science and technology (S&T) relevant to biological and chemical weapons nonproliferation. The latest example is an international workshop, Trends in Science and Technology Relevant to the Biological Weapons Convention, held October 31 - November 3, 2010 at the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. Life Sciences and Related Fields summarizes the workshop, plenary, and breakout discussion sessions held during this convention. Given the immense diversity of current research and development, the report is only able to provide an overview of the areas of science and technology the committee believes are potentially relevant to the future of the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention (BWC), although there is an effort to identify areas that seemed particularly ripe for further exploration and analysis. The report offers findings and conclusions organized around three fundamental and frequently cited trends in S&T that affect the scope and operation of the convention: The rapid pace of change in the life sciences and related fields; The increasing diffusion of life sciences research capacity and its applications, both internationally and beyond traditional research institutions; and The extent to which additional scientific and technical disciplines beyond biology are increasingly involved in life sciences research. The report does not make recommendations about policy options to respond to the implications of the identified trends. The choice of such responses rests with the 164 States Parties to the Convention, who must take into account multiple factors beyond the project's focus on the state of the science. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Reopening Public Facilities After a Biological Attack: A Decision Making Framework %@ 978-0-309-09661-4 %D 2005 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11324/reopening-public-facilities-after-a-biological-attack-a-decision-making %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11324/reopening-public-facilities-after-a-biological-attack-a-decision-making %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Conflict and Security Issues %P 224 %X The anthrax attacks in fall 2001 spurred an extensive and costly decontamination effort where many decisions had to be made about which sites required cleanup, what method to use, how to determine the effectiveness of the cleanup, and how "clean" the building had to be for reoccupation. As part of a project funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and managed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the National Research Council was asked to consider the criteria that must be met for a cleanup to be declared successful, allowing the reoccupation of a facility. The report finds that efficiently sampling and characterizing a pathogen is critical for choosing the best remediation strategy. However, there should be no universal standard for deciding when a building is safe to re-enter because varying pathogen amounts and characteristics could require different strategies. The report offers a flowchart for decision-makers that includes questions about the characteristics of the pathogen; how far it has spread; whether it is transmissible between humans; and how long it will survive to pose a threat. The report also recommends that a risk-assessment approach be adopted as part of a strategy for achieving a "socially acceptable" standard for cleanup. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T The Role of Theory in Advancing 21st-Century Biology: Catalyzing Transformative Research %@ 978-0-309-11249-9 %D 2008 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12026/the-role-of-theory-in-advancing-21st-century-biology-catalyzing %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12026/the-role-of-theory-in-advancing-21st-century-biology-catalyzing %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %P 208 %X Although its importance is not always recognized, theory is an integral part of all biological research. Biologists' theoretical and conceptual frameworks inform every step of their research, affecting what experiments they do, what techniques and technologies they develop and use, and how they interpret their data. By examining how theory can help biologists answer questions like "What are the engineering principles of life?" or "How do cells really work?" the report shows how theory synthesizes biological knowledge from the molecular level to the level of whole ecosystems. The book concludes that theory is already an inextricable thread running throughout the practice of biology; but that explicitly giving theory equal status with other components of biological research could help catalyze transformative research that will lead to creative, dynamic, and innovative advances in our understanding of life.