%0 Book %A National Research Council %T Review of the Scientific Approaches Used During the FBI's Investigation of the 2001 Anthrax Letters %@ 978-0-309-18719-0 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13098/review-of-the-scientific-approaches-used-during-the-fbis-investigation-of-the-2001-anthrax-letters %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13098/review-of-the-scientific-approaches-used-during-the-fbis-investigation-of-the-2001-anthrax-letters %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Conflict and Security Issues %K Biology and Life Sciences %K Math, Chemistry, and Physics %P 232 %X Less than a month after the September 11, 2001 attacks, letters containing spores of anthrax bacteria (Bacillus anthracis, or B. anthracis) were sent through the U.S. mail. Between October 4 and November 20, 2001, 22 individuals developed anthrax; 5 of the cases were fatal. During its investigation of the anthrax mailings, the FBI worked with other federal agencies to coordinate and conduct scientific analyses of the anthrax letter spore powders, environmental samples, clinical samples, and samples collected from laboratories that might have been the source of the letter-associated spores. The agency relied on external experts, including some who had developed tests to differentiate among strains of B. anthracis. In 2008, seven years into the investigation, the FBI asked the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct an independent review of the scientific approaches used during the investigation of the 2001 B. anthracis mailings. Review of the Scientific Approaches Used During the FBI's Investigation of the Anthrax Letters evaluates the scientific foundation for the techniques used by the FBI to determine whether these techniques met appropriate standards for scientific reliability and for use in forensic validation, and whether the FBI reached appropriate scientific conclusions from its use of these techniques. This report reviews and assesses scientific evidence considered in connection with the 2001 Bacillus anthracis mailings. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence: Third Edition %@ 978-0-309-21421-6 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13163/reference-manual-on-scientific-evidence-third-edition %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13163/reference-manual-on-scientific-evidence-third-edition %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Policy for Science and Technology %K Biology and Life Sciences %K Behavioral and Social Sciences %P 1034 %X The Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, Third Edition, assists judges in managing cases involving complex scientific and technical evidence by describing the basic tenets of key scientific fields from which legal evidence is typically derived and by providing examples of cases in which that evidence has been used. First published in 1994 by the Federal Judicial Center, the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence has been relied upon in the legal and academic communities and is often cited by various courts and others. Judges faced with disputes over the admissibility of scientific and technical evidence refer to the manual to help them better understand and evaluate the relevance, reliability and usefulness of the evidence being proffered. The manual is not intended to tell judges what is good science and what is not. Instead, it serves to help judges identify issues on which experts are likely to differ and to guide the inquiry of the court in seeking an informed resolution of the conflict. The core of the manual consists of a series of chapters (reference guides) on various scientific topics, each authored by an expert in that field. The topics have been chosen by an oversight committee because of their complexity and frequency in litigation. Each chapter is intended to provide a general overview of the topic in lay terms, identifying issues that will be useful to judges and others in the legal profession. They are written for a non-technical audience and are not intended as exhaustive presentations of the topic. Rather, the chapters seek to provide judges with the basic information in an area of science, to allow them to have an informed conversation with the experts and attorneys. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Research Training in the Biomedical, Behavioral, and Clinical Research Sciences %@ 978-0-309-15965-4 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12983/research-training-in-the-biomedical-behavioral-and-clinical-research-sciences %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12983/research-training-in-the-biomedical-behavioral-and-clinical-research-sciences %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %K Education %P 206 %X Comprehensive research and a highly-trained workforce are essential for the improvement of health and health care both nationally and internationally. During the past 40 years the National Research Services Award (NRSA) Program has played a large role in training the workforce responsible for dramatic advances in the understanding of various diseases and new insights that have led to more effective and targeted therapies. In spite of this program, the difficulty obtaining jobs after the postdoc period has discouraged many domestic students from pursuing graduate postdoc training. In the United States, more than 50 percent of the postdoc workforce is made up of individuals who obtained their Ph.D.s from other countries. Indeed, one can make a strong argument that the influx of highly trained and creative foreigners has contributed greatly to U.S. science over the past 70 years. Research Training in the Biomedical, Behavioral, and Clinical Research Sciences discusses a number of important issues, including: the job prospects for postdocs completing their training; questions about the continued supply of international postdocs in an increasingly competitive world; the need for equal, excellent training for all graduate students who receive NIH funding; and the need to increase the diversity of trainees. The book recommends improvements in minority recruiting, more rigorous and extensive training in the responsible conduct of research and ethics, increased emphasis on career development, more attention to outcomes, and the requirement for incorporating more quantitative thinking in the biomedical curriculum. %0 Book %E Olson, Steve %E Merrill, Stephen %T Measuring the Impacts of Federal Investments in Research: A Workshop Summary %@ 978-0-309-21748-4 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13208/measuring-the-impacts-of-federal-investments-in-research-a-workshop %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13208/measuring-the-impacts-of-federal-investments-in-research-a-workshop %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Policy for Science and Technology %K Industry and Labor %P 206 %X The enactment of the America COMPETES Act in 2006 (and its reauthorization in 2010), the increase in research expenditures under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and President Obama's general emphasis on the contribution of science and technology to economic growth have all heightened interest in the role of scientific and engineering research in creating jobs, generating innovative technologies, spawning new industries, improving health, and producing other economic and societal benefits. Along with this interest has come a renewed emphasis on a question that has been asked for decades: Can the impacts and practical benefits of research to society be measured either quantitatively or qualitatively? On April 18-19, 2011, the Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy (STEP) and the Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy (COSEPUP) of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine, held a workshop to examine this question. The workshop sought to assemble the range of work that has been done in measuring research outcomes and to provide a forum to discuss its method. The workshop was motivated by a 2009 letter from Congressman Rush Holt (D-New Jersey). He asked the National Academies to look into a variety of complex and interconnected issues, such as the short-term and long-term economic and non-economic impact of federal research funding, factors that determine whether federally funded research discoveries result in economic benefits, and quantification of the impacts of research on national security, the environment, health, education, public welfare, and decision making. Measuring the Impacts of Federal Investments in Research provides the key observations and suggestions made by the speakers at the workshop and during the discussions that followed the formal presentations. %0 Book %A National Research Council %E Wessner, Charles W. %T Growing Innovation Clusters for American Prosperity: Summary of a Symposium %@ 978-0-309-15622-6 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12926/growing-innovation-clusters-for-american-prosperity-summary-of-a-symposium %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12926/growing-innovation-clusters-for-american-prosperity-summary-of-a-symposium %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Industry and Labor %P 186 %X Responding to the challenges of fostering regional growth and employment in an increasingly competitive global economy, many U.S. states and regions have developed programs to attract and grow companies as well as attract the talent and resources necessary to develop innovation clusters. These state and regionally based initiatives have a broad range of goals and increasingly include significant resources, often with a sectoral focus and often in partnership with foundations and universities. These are being joined by recent initiatives to coordinate and concentrate investments from a variety of federal agencies that provide significant resources to develop regional centers of innovation, business incubators, and other strategies to encourage entrepreneurship and high-tech development. This has led to renewed interest in understanding the nature of innovation clusters and public policies associated with successful cluster development. The Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy (STEP), conducted a symposium which brought together state and federal government officials, leading analysts, congressional staff, and other stakeholders to explore the role of clusters in promoting economic growth, the government's role in stimulating clusters, and the role of universities and foundations in their development. Growing Innovation Clusters for American Prosperity captures the presentations and discussions of the 2009 STEP symposium on innovation clusters. It includes an overview highlighting key issues raised at the meeting and a summary of the meeting's presentations. This report has been prepared by the workshop rapporteur as a factual summary of what occurred at the workshop. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Sustainability and the U.S. EPA %@ 978-0-309-21252-6 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13152/sustainability-and-the-us-epa %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13152/sustainability-and-the-us-epa %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Environment and Environmental Studies %K Policy for Science and Technology %P 162 %X Sustainability is based on a simple and long-recognized factual premise: Everything that humans require for their survival and well-being depends, directly or indirectly, on the natural environment. The environment provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Recognizing the importance of sustainability to its work, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working to create programs and applications in a variety of areas to better incorporate sustainability into decision-making at the agency. To further strengthen the scientific basis for sustainability as it applies to human health and environmental protection, the EPA asked the National Research Council (NRC) to provide a framework for incorporating sustainability into the EPA's principles and decision-making. This framework, Sustainability and the U.S. EPA, provides recommendations for a sustainability approach that both incorporates and goes beyond an approach based on assessing and managing the risks posed by pollutants that has largely shaped environmental policy since the 1980s. Although risk-based methods have led to many successes and remain important tools, the report concludes that they are not adequate to address many of the complex problems that put current and future generations at risk, such as depletion of natural resources, climate change, and loss of biodiversity. Moreover, sophisticated tools are increasingly available to address cross-cutting, complex, and challenging issues that go beyond risk management. The report recommends that EPA formally adopt as its sustainability paradigm the widely used "three pillars" approach, which means considering the environmental, social, and economic impacts of an action or decision. Health should be expressly included in the "social" pillar. EPA should also articulate its vision for sustainability and develop a set of sustainability principles that would underlie all agency policies and programs. %0 Book %A National Research Council %E Merrill, Stephen A. %E Mazza, Anne-Marie %T Managing University Intellectual Property in the Public Interest %@ 978-0-309-16111-4 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13001/managing-university-intellectual-property-in-the-public-interest %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13001/managing-university-intellectual-property-in-the-public-interest %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Policy for Science and Technology %K Education %P 118 %X Thirty years ago federal policy underwent a major change through the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which fostered greater uniformity in the way research agencies treat inventions arising from the work they sponsor. Before the Act, if government agencies funded university research, the funding agency retained ownership of the knowledge and technologies that resulted. However, very little federally funded research was actually commercialized. As a result of the Act's passage, patenting and licensing activity from such research has accelerated. Although the system created by the Act has remained stable, it has generated debate about whether it might impede other forms of knowledge transfer. Concerns have also arisen that universities might prioritize commercialization at the expense of their traditional mission to pursue fundamental knowledge--for example, by steering research away from curiosity-driven topics toward applications that could yield financial returns. To address these concerns, the National Research Council convened a committee of experts from universities, industry, foundations, and similar organizations, as well as scholars of the subject, to review experience and evidence of the technology transfer system's effects and to recommend improvements. The present volume summarizes the committee's principal findings and recommendations. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Measuring Food Insecurity and Assessing Sustainability of Global Systems: Report of a Workshop %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13290/measuring-food-insecurity-and-assessing-sustainability-of-global-systems-report %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13290/measuring-food-insecurity-and-assessing-sustainability-of-global-systems-report %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %K %P 264 %X There are few areas of human endeavor in which the challenge of sustainability is clearer than in food and agriculture. Farmers and animal keepers must use natural resources--the physical environment of soil, water, and the sun--in ways that generate a continuous supply of food adequate to satisfy people's biological needs for survival and their economic demands. Degradation of soil, inappropriate management of water, and the use of practices that have negative effects on the climate may increase food security in the short run, but will decrease output over time and threaten the survival of future generations. Sustainable management of natural resources and the environment is fundamental to future food security. Action by governments and other agents within and outside the food system may help or hinder sustainability. There is much evidence showing that the current global food system is not sustainable. Measuring Food Insecurity and Assessing the Sustainability of Global Food Systems summarizes a National Research Council workshop, held in February 2011, which explored the availability and quality of commonly used indicators for food security and malnutrition; poverty; and natural resources and agricultural productivity. The workshop was organized around the three broad dimensions of sustainable food security: availability, access, and utilization. Within these topics, the workshop aimed to review the existing data to encourage action and identify the knowledge gaps. A second workshop, held in May 2011, examined ways to sustainably increase global food supplies, natural resource constraints, and necessary policies. A report of that workshop will be available later this year. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Exploring Sustainable Solutions for Increasing Global Food Supplies: Report of a Workshop %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13319/exploring-sustainable-solutions-for-increasing-global-food-supplies-report-of %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13319/exploring-sustainable-solutions-for-increasing-global-food-supplies-report-of %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Food and Nutrition %P 150 %X Exploring Sustainable Solutions for Increasing Global Food Supplies summarizes the second of two National Research Council workshops, addressing the sustainability challenges associated with food security for all. The workshop was held in May 2011. While sustainable food security depends both on the availability of food supplies and assuring access to food, this workshop focused specifically on assuring the availability of adequate food supplies. How can food production be increased to meet the needs of a population expected to reach over 9 billion by 2050? Workshop objectives included identifying the major challenges and opportunities associated with achieving sustainable food security and identifying needed policy, science, and governance interventions. Workshop participants discussed long term natural resource constraints, specifically water, land and forests, soils, biodiversity and fisheries. They also examined the role of knowledge, technology, modern production practices, and infrastructure in supporting expanded agricultural production and the significant risks to future productivity posed by climate change. %0 Book %A National Research Council %E Wessner, Charles W. %T Building the 21st Century: U.S.-China Cooperation on Science, Technology, and Innovation %@ 978-0-309-21666-1 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13196/building-the-21st-century-us-china-cooperation-on-science-technology %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13196/building-the-21st-century-us-china-cooperation-on-science-technology %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Policy for Science and Technology %K Industry and Labor %P 217 %X The global economy is characterized by increasing locational competition to attract the resources necessary to develop leading-edge technologies as drivers of regional and national growth. One means of facilitating such growth and improving national competitiveness is to improve the operation of the national innovation system. This involves national technology development and innovation programs designed to support research on new technologies, enhance the commercial return on national research, and facilitate the production of globally competitive products. Understanding the policies that other nations are pursuing to become more innovative and to what effect is essential to understanding how the nature and terms of economic competition are shifting. Building the 21st Century U.S.-China Cooperation on Science, Technology, and Innovation studies selected foreign innovation programs and comparing them with major U.S. programs. This analysis of Comparative Innovation Policy includes a review of the goals, concept, structure, operation, funding levels, and evaluation of foreign programs designed to advance the innovation capacity of national economies and enhance their international competitiveness. This analysis focuses on key areas of future growth, such as renewable energy, among others, to generate case-specific recommendations where appropriate. %0 Book %A National Research Council %E Uhlir, Paul F. %T Designing the Microbial Research Commons: Proceedings of an International Symposium %@ 978-0-309-21979-2 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13245/designing-the-microbial-research-commons-proceedings-of-an-international-symposium %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13245/designing-the-microbial-research-commons-proceedings-of-an-international-symposium %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %K Health and Medicine %P 228 %X Recent decades have witnessed an ever-increasing range and volume of digital data. All elements of the pillars of science--whether observation, experiment, or theory and modeling--are being transformed by the continuous cycle of generation, dissemination, and use of factual information. This is even more so in terms of the re-using and re-purposing of digital scientific data beyond the original intent of the data collectors, often with dramatic results. We all know about the potential benefits and impacts of digital data, but we are also aware of the barriers, the challenges in maximizing the access, and use of such data. There is thus a need to think about how a data infrastructure can enhance capabilities for finding, using, and integrating information to accelerate discovery and innovation. How can we best implement an accessible, interoperable digital environment so that the data can be repeatedly used by a wide variety of users in different settings and with different applications? With this objective: to use the microbial communities and microbial data, literature, and the research materials themselves as a test case, the Board on Research Data and Information held an International Symposium on Designing the Microbial Research Commons at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC on 8-9 October 2009. The symposium addressed topics such as models to lower the transaction costs and support access to and use of microbiological materials and digital resources from the perspective of publicly funded research, public-private interactions, and developing country concerns. The overall goal of the symposium was to stimulate more research and implementation of improved legal and institutional models for publicly funded research in microbiology. %0 Book %T A Data-Based Assessment of Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States (with CD) %@ 978-0-309-16030-8 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12994/a-data-based-assessment-of-research-doctorate-programs-in-the-united-states-with-cd %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12994/a-data-based-assessment-of-research-doctorate-programs-in-the-united-states-with-cd %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Education %P 322 %X A Data-Based Assessment of Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States provides an unparalleled dataset that can be used to assess the quality and effectiveness of doctoral programs based on measures important to faculty, students, administrators, funders, and other stakeholders. The data, collected for the 2005-2006 academic year from more than 5,000 doctoral programs at 212 universities, covers 62 fields. Included for each program are such characteristics as faculty publications, grants, and awards; student GRE scores, financial support, and employment outcomes; and program size, time to degree, and faculty composition. Measures of faculty and student diversity are also included. The book features analysis of selected findings across six broad fields: agricultural sciences, biological and health sciences, engineering, physical and mathematical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and humanities, as well as a discussion of trends in doctoral education since the last assessment in 1995, and suggested uses of the data . It also includes a detailed explanation of the methodology used to collect data and calculate ranges of illustrative rankings. Included with the book is a comprehensive CD-ROM with a data table in Microsoft Excel. In addition to data on the characteristics of individual programs, the data table contains illustrative ranges of rankings for each program, as well as ranges of rankings for three dimensions of program quality: (1) research activity, (2) student support and outcomes, and (3) diversity of the academic environment. As an aid to users, the data table is offered with demonstrations of some Microsoft Excel features that may enhance the usability of the spreadsheet, such as hiding and unhiding columns, copying and pasting columns to a new worksheet, and filtering and sorting data. Also provided with the data table are a set of scenarios that show how typical users may want to extract data from the spreadsheet. PhDs.org, an independent website not affiliated with the National Research Council, incorporated data from the research-doctorate assessment into its Graduate School Guide. Users of the Guide can choose the weights assigned to the program characteristics measured by the National Research Council and others, and rank graduate programs according to their own priorities. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T A View of Global S&T Based on Activities of the Board on Global Science and Technology: Letter Report %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13309/a-view-of-global-st-based-on-activities-of-the-board-on-global-science-and-technology %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13309/a-view-of-global-st-based-on-activities-of-the-board-on-global-science-and-technology %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Policy for Science and Technology %K Math, Chemistry, and Physics %P 39 %X This letter report describes the 2009-2011 activities of the Board on Global Science and Technology (BGST) and provides an initial characterization of the global science and technology landscape that the Board can use as a roadmap to develop future activities. BGST met five times between November 2009 and May 2011. Board meetings were devoted to (1) identifying national security implications of the globalization of S&T, (2) building a baseline understanding of current indicators for the U.S. posture with regard to the evolving global S&T landscape, and (3) developing a BGST engagement strategy. The letter portion of the report summarizes activities of the board in its first year, and also describes some existing approaches to identifying and/or benchmarking emerging technologies globally. It is followed by 5 appendixes which include three experimental examples of a qualitative approach to benchmarking, and brief descriptions of programs that are part of the National Academies complex, with which BGST has cooperated. %0 Book %E Olson, Steve %T Increasing National Resilience to Hazards and Disasters: The Perspective from the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Mississippi: Summary of a Workshop %@ 978-0-309-21527-5 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13178/increasing-national-resilience-to-hazards-and-disasters-the-perspective-from %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13178/increasing-national-resilience-to-hazards-and-disasters-the-perspective-from %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Earth Sciences %P 138 %X Natural disasters are having an increasing effect on the lives of people in the United States and throughout the world. Every decade, property damage caused by natural disasters and hazards doubles or triples in the United States. More than half of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of a coast, and all Americans are at risk from such hazards as fires, earthquakes, floods, and wind. The year 2010 saw 950 natural catastrophes around the world--the second highest annual total ever--with overall losses estimated at $130 billion. The increasing impact of natural disasters and hazards points to increasing importance of resilience, the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, or more successfully adapt to actual or potential adverse events, at the individual , local, state, national, and global levels. Assessing National Resilience to Hazards and Disasters reviews the effects of Hurricane Katrina and other natural and human-induced disasters on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Mississippi and to learn more about the resilience of those areas to future disasters. Topics explored in the workshop range from insurance, building codes, and critical infrastructure to private-sector issues, public health, nongovernmental organizations and governance. This workshop summary provides a rich foundation of information to help increase the nation's resilience through actionable recommendations and guidance on the best approaches to reduce adverse impacts from hazards and disasters. %0 Book %A National Academy of Sciences %A National Academy of Engineering %A Institute of Medicine %E Sloan, Susan Sauer %E Arrison, Tom %T Examining Core Elements of International Research Collaboration: Summary of a Workshop %@ 978-0-309-21640-1 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13192/examining-core-elements-of-international-research-collaboration-summary-of-a %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13192/examining-core-elements-of-international-research-collaboration-summary-of-a %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Policy for Science and Technology %P 128 %X The globalization of science, engineering, and medical research is proceeding rapidly. The globalization of research has important implications for the U.S. research enterprise, for the U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and companies that support and perform research, and for the world at large. As science and technology capabilities grow around the world, U.S.-based organizations are finding that international collaborations and partnerships provide unique opportunities to enhance research and training. At the same time, significant obstacles exist to smooth collaboration across national borders. Enhancing international collaboration requires recognition of differences in culture, legitimate national security needs, and critical needs in education and training. In response to these trends, the Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR) launched a Working Group on International Research Collaborations (I-Group) in 2008, following its meeting on New Partnerships on a Global Platform that June. As part of I-Group's continuing effort, a workshop on Examining Core Elements of International Research Collaboration was held July 26-27, 2010 in Washington, DC. One primary goal of the workshop is to better understand the risks involved in international research collaboration for organizations and individual participants, and the mechanisms that can be used to manage those risks. Issues to be addressed in the workshop include the following: (1) Cultural Differences and Nuances; (2) Legal Issues and Agreements; (3) Differences in Ethical Standards; (4) Research Integrity and the Responsible Conduct of Research; (5) Intellectual Property; (6) Risk Management; (7) Export Controls; and (8) Strategies for Developing Meaningful International Collaborations. The goal for the workshop and the summary, Examining Core Elements of International Research Collaboration, is to serve as an information resource for participants and others interested in international research collaborations. It will also aid I-Group in setting its future goals and priorities. %0 Book %A National Academy of Sciences %A National Academy of Engineering %A Institute of Medicine %T Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America's Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads %@ 978-0-309-15968-5 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12984/expanding-underrepresented-minority-participation-americas-science-and-technology-talent-at %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12984/expanding-underrepresented-minority-participation-americas-science-and-technology-talent-at %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Education %K Policy for Science and Technology %K Engineering and Technology %K Math, Chemistry, and Physics %K Industry and Labor %P 286 %X In order for the United States to maintain the global leadership and competitiveness in science and technology that are critical to achieving national goals, we must invest in research, encourage innovation, and grow a strong and talented science and technology workforce. Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation explores the role of diversity in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce and its value in keeping America innovative and competitive. According to the book, the U.S. labor market is projected to grow faster in science and engineering than in any other sector in the coming years, making minority participation in STEM education at all levels a national priority. Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation analyzes the rate of change and the challenges the nation currently faces in developing a strong and diverse workforce. Although minorities are the fastest growing segment of the population, they are underrepresented in the fields of science and engineering. Historically, there has been a strong connection between increasing educational attainment in the United States and the growth in and global leadership of the economy. Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation suggests that the federal government, industry, and post-secondary institutions work collaboratively with K-12 schools and school systems to increase minority access to and demand for post-secondary STEM education and technical training. The book also identifies best practices and offers a comprehensive road map for increasing involvement of underrepresented minorities and improving the quality of their education. It offers recommendations that focus on academic and social support, institutional roles, teacher preparation, affordability and program development. %0 Book %A Institute of Medicine %A National Research Council %E Fraker, Mary %E Mazza, Anne-Marie %T Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: Summary of a Workshop %@ 978-0-309-16216-6 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13021/direct-to-consumer-genetic-testing-summary-of-a-workshop %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13021/direct-to-consumer-genetic-testing-summary-of-a-workshop %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %P 106 %X Today, scores of companies, primarily in the United States and Europe, are offering whole genome scanning services directly to the public. The proliferation of these companies and the services they offer demonstrate a public appetite for this information and where the future of genetics may be headed; they also demonstrate the need for serious discussion about the regulatory environment, patient privacy, and other policy implications of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing. Rapid advances in genetic research already have begun to transform clinical practice and our understanding of disease progression. Existing research has revealed a genetic basis or component for numerous diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, heart disease, and several forms of cancer. The availability of the human genome sequence and the HapMap, plummeting costs of high-throughput screening, and increasingly sophisticated computational analyses have led to an explosion of discoveries of linkages between patterns of genetic variation and disease susceptibility. While this research is by no means a straight path toward better public health, improved knowledge of the genetic linkages has the potential to change fundamentally the way health professionals and public health practitioners approach the prevention and treatment of disease. Realizing this potential will require greater sophistication in the interpretation of genetic tests, new training for physicians and other diagnosticians, and new approaches to communicating findings to the public. As this rapidly growing field matures, all of these questions require attention from a variety of perspectives. To discuss some of the foregoing issues, several units of the National Academies held a workshop on August 31 and September 1, 2009, to bring together a still-developing community of professionals from a variety of relevant disciplines, to educate the public and policy-makers about this emerging field, and to identify issues for future study. The meeting featured several invited presentations and discussions on the many technical, legal, policy, and ethical questions that such DTC testing raises, including: (1) overview of the current state of knowledge and the future research trajectory; (2) shared genes and emerging issues in privacy; (3) the regulatory framework; and (4) education of the public and the medical community.