TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council A2 - Marilyn Fenichel A2 - Heidi A. Schweingruber TI - Surrounded by Science: Learning Science in Informal Environments SN - DO - 10.17226/12614 PY - 2010 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12614/surrounded-by-science-learning-science-in-informal-environments PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Education AB - Practitioners in informal science settings—museums, after-school programs, science and technology centers, media enterprises, libraries, aquariums, zoos, and botanical gardens—are interested in finding out what learning looks like, how to measure it, and what they can do to ensure that people of all ages, from different backgrounds and cultures, have a positive learning experience. Surrounded by Science: Learning Science in Informal Environments, is designed to make that task easier. Based on the National Research Council study, Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits, this book is a tool that provides case studies, illustrative examples, and probing questions for practitioners. In short, this book makes valuable research accessible to those working in informal science: educators, museum professionals, university faculty, youth leaders, media specialists, publishers, broadcast journalists, and many others. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council A2 - Philip Bell A2 - Bruce Lewenstein A2 - Andrew W. Shouse A2 - Michael A. Feder TI - Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits SN - DO - 10.17226/12190 PY - 2009 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12190/learning-science-in-informal-environments-people-places-and-pursuits PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Education AB - Informal science is a burgeoning field that operates across a broad range of venues and envisages learning outcomes for individuals, schools, families, and society. The evidence base that describes informal science, its promise, and effects is informed by a range of disciplines and perspectives, including field-based research, visitor studies, and psychological and anthropological studies of learning. Learning Science in Informal Environments draws together disparate literatures, synthesizes the state of knowledge, and articulates a common framework for the next generation of research on learning science in informal environments across a life span. Contributors include recognized experts in a range of disciplines—research and evaluation, exhibit designers, program developers, and educators. They also have experience in a range of settings—museums, after-school programs, science and technology centers, media enterprises, aquariums, zoos, state parks, and botanical gardens. Learning Science in Informal Environments is an invaluable guide for program and exhibit designers, evaluators, staff of science-rich informal learning institutions and community-based organizations, scientists interested in educational outreach, federal science agency education staff, and K-12 science educators. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Conserving Biodiversity: A Research Agenda for Development Agencies SN - DO - 10.17226/1925 PY - 1992 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1925/conserving-biodiversity-a-research-agenda-for-development-agencies PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - The loss of the earth's biological diversity is widely recognized as a critical environmental problem. That loss is most severe in developing countries, where the conditions of human existence are most difficult. Conserving Biodiversity presents an agenda for research that can provide information to formulate policy and design conservation programs in the Third World. The book includes discussions of research needs in the biological sciences as well as economics and anthropology, areas of critical importance to conservation and sustainable development. Although specifically directed toward development agencies, non-governmental organizations, and decisionmakers in developing nations, this volume should be of interest to all who are involved in the conservation of biological diversity. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - A Biological Survey for the Nation SN - DO - 10.17226/2243 PY - 1994 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2243/a-biological-survey-for-the-nation PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Our country has long recognized the importance of its biological resources but we often lack sufficient scientific knowledge to make wise decisions. This realization has led to calls for new ways of providing this information, including the formation of a national biological survey. This volume discusses key issues and problems for which an improved assessment of the nation's biological resources is needed; the kinds of efforts in research and information management needed to create that assessment; and how government, private organizations, and individuals can work together to meet the needs identified. Policymakers, resource managers, public interest groups, and researchers will find this book useful as they participate in the national dialogue on this topic and take actions to implement the needed survey activities. ER - TY - BOOK A2 - E.O. Wilson A2 - Harvard University TI - Biodiversity DO - 10.17226/989 PY - 1988 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/989/biodiversity PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - This important book for scientists and nonscientists alike calls attention to a most urgent global problem: the rapidly accelerating loss of plant and animal species to increasing human population pressure and the demands of economic development. Based on a major conference sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution, Biodiversity creates a systematic framework for analyzing the problem and searching for possible solutions. ER - TY - BOOK A2 - Peter H. Raven A2 - Tania Williams TI - Nature and Human Society: The Quest for a Sustainable World SN - DO - 10.17226/6142 PY - 1997 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/6142/nature-and-human-society-the-quest-for-a-sustainable-world PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - From earliest times, human beings have noticed patterns in nature: night and day, tides and lunar cycles, the changing seasons, plant succession, and animal migration. While recognizing patterns conferred great survival advantage, we are now in danger from our own success in multiplying our numbers and altering those patterns for our own purposes. It is imperative that we engage again with the patterns of nature, but this time, with awareness of our impact as a species. How will burgeoning human populations affect the health of ecosystems? Is loss of species simply a regrettable byproduct of human expansion? Or is the planet passing into a new epoch in just a few human generations? Nature and Human Society presents a wide-ranging exploration of these and other fundamental questions about our relationship with the environment. This book features findings, insights, and informed speculations from key figures in the field: E.O. Wilson, Thomas Lovejoy, Peter H. Raven, Gretchen Daily, David Suzuki, Norman Myers, Paul Erlich, Michael Bean, and many others. This volume explores the accelerated extinction of species and what we stand to lose—medicines, energy sources, crop pollination and pest control, the ability of water and soil to renew itself through biological processes, aesthetic and recreational benefits—and how these losses may be felt locally and acutely. What are the specific threats to biodiversity? The book explores human population growth, the homogenization of biota as a result in tourism and trade, and other factors, including the social influences of law, religious belief, and public education. Do we have the tools to protect biodiversity? The book looks at molecular genetics, satellite data, tools borrowed from medicine, and other scientific techniques to firm up our grasp of important processes in biology and earth science, including the "new" science of conservation biology. Nature and Human Society helps us renew our understanding and appreciation for natural patterns, with surprising details about microorganisms, nematodes, and other overlooked forms of life: their numbers, pervasiveness, and importance to the health of the soil, water, and air and to a host of human endeavors. This book will be of value to anyone who believes that the world's gross natural product is as important as the world's gross national product. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Twenty-First Century Ecosystems: Managing the Living World Two Centuries After Darwin: Report of a Symposium SN - DO - 10.17226/13109 PY - 2011 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13109/twenty-first-century-ecosystems-managing-the-living-world-two-centuries PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Environment and Environmental Studies AB - The two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, February 12, 2009, occurred at a critical time for the United States and the world. In honor of Darwin's birthday, the National Research Council appointed a committee under the auspices of the U.S. National Committee (USNC) for DIVERSITAS to plan a Symposium on Twenty-first Century Ecosystems. The purpose of the symposium was to capture some of the current excitement and recent progress in scientific understanding of ecosystems, from the microbial to the global level, while also highlighting how improved understanding can be applied to important policy issues that have broad biodiversity and ecosystem effects. The aim was to help inform new policy approaches that could satisfy human needs while also maintaining the integrity of the goods and services provided by biodiversity and ecosystems over both the short and the long terms. This report summarizes the views expressed by symposium participants; however, it does not provide a session-by-session summary of the presentations at the symposium. Instead, the symposium steering committee identified eight key themes that emerged from the lectures, which were addressed in different contexts by different speakers. The focus here is on general principles rather than specifics. These eight themes provide a sharp focus on a few concepts that enable scientists, environmental NGOs, and policy makers to engage more effectively around issues of central importance for biodiversity and ecosystem management. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine TI - Biodiversity at Risk: Today's Choices Matter SN - DO - 10.17226/26384 PY - 2022 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26384/biodiversity-at-risk-todays-choices-matter PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - A growing body of evidence has sounded the alarm that the biodiversity that supports and sustains life on Earth is at risk. Habitat destruction, resource exploitation, and climate change are among the many stressors that have put 1 million species under threat of extinction and sharply reduced the populations of many plant and animal species. While researchers and global leaders ramp up efforts to address this existential threat, the significance of species loss and the value of preserving biodiversity is not widely recognized by policy makers or the public. This booklet, produced by an international committee of experts, provides a publicly accessible overview of the many dimensions of biodiversity and why it's vital to the health of all life on the planet. The booklet also examines the causes of biodiversity loss and presents actions that can be taken from the individual to the global level to stop this decline. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Amaranth: Modern Prospects for an Ancient Crop DO - 10.17226/19381 PY - 1984 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/19381/amaranth-modern-prospects-for-an-ancient-crop PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - KW - Agriculture ER - TY - BOOK TI - Resources for Teaching Elementary School Science SN - DO - 10.17226/4966 PY - 1996 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/4966/resources-for-teaching-elementary-school-science PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Education AB - What activities might a teacher use to help children explore the life cycle of butterflies? What does a science teacher need to conduct a "leaf safari" for students? Where can children safely enjoy hands-on experience with life in an estuary? Selecting resources to teach elementary school science can be confusing and difficult, but few decisions have greater impact on the effectiveness of science teaching. Educators will find a wealth of information and expert guidance to meet this need in Resources for Teaching Elementary School Science. A completely revised edition of the best-selling resource guide Science for Children: Resources for Teachers, this new book is an annotated guide to hands-on, inquiry-centered curriculum materials and sources of help in teaching science from kindergarten through sixth grade. (Companion volumes for middle and high school are planned.) The guide annotates about 350 curriculum packages, describing the activities involved and what students learn. Each annotation lists recommended grade levels, accompanying materials and kits or suggested equipment, and ordering information. These 400 entries were reviewed by both educators and scientists to ensure that they are accurate and current and offer students the opportunity to: Ask questions and find their own answers. Experiment productively. Develop patience, persistence, and confidence in their own ability to solve real problems. The entries in the curriculum section are grouped by scientific area—Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Multidisciplinary and Applied Science—and by type—core materials, supplementary materials, and science activity books. Additionally, a section of references for teachers provides annotated listings of books about science and teaching, directories and guides to science trade books, and magazines that will help teachers enhance their students' science education. Resources for Teaching Elementary School Science also lists by region and state about 600 science centers, museums, and zoos where teachers can take students for interactive science experiences. Annotations highlight almost 300 facilities that make significant efforts to help teachers. Another section describes more than 100 organizations from which teachers can obtain more resources. And a section on publishers and suppliers give names and addresses of sources for materials. The guide will be invaluable to teachers, principals, administrators, teacher trainers, science curriculum specialists, and advocates of hands-on science teaching, and it will be of interest to parent-teacher organizations and parents. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - The U.S. National Plant Germplasm System SN - DO - 10.17226/1583 PY - 1991 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1583/the-us-national-plant-germplasm-system PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - In the United States, the critical task of preserving our plant genetic resources is the responsibility of the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). NPGS undergoes a thorough analysis in this book, which offers wide-ranging recommendations for equipping the agency to better meet U.S. needs—and lead international conservation efforts. The book outlines the importance and status of plant genetic conservation and evaluates NPGS's multifaceted operations. Two options for revamping NPGS within the U.S. Department of Agriculture are included. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Environmental Science in the Coastal Zone: Issues for Further Research SN - DO - 10.17226/2249 PY - 1994 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2249/environmental-science-in-the-coastal-zone-issues-for-further-research PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies KW - Earth Sciences AB - This book assesses the dimensions of our scientific knowledge as it applies to environmental problems in the coastal zone. The volume contains 10 papers that cover different aspects of science, management, and public policy concerning the coastal zone. A consensus is presented on several key issues confronting science for developing a more holistic approach in managing this region's intense human activities and important natural resources. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Lost Crops of the Incas: Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation SN - DO - 10.17226/1398 PY - 1989 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1398/lost-crops-of-the-incas-little-known-plants-of-the PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - This fascinating, readable volume is filled with enticing, detailed information about more than 30 different Incan crops that promise to follow the potato's lead and become important contributors to the world's food supply. Some of these overlooked foods offer special advantages for developing nations, such as high nutritional quality and excellent yields. Many are adaptable to areas of the United States. Lost Crops of the Incas includes vivid color photographs of many of the crops and describes the authors' experiences in growing, tasting, and preparing them in different ways. This book is for the gourmet and gourmand alike, as well as gardeners, botanists, farmers, and agricultural specialists in developing countries. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Coordinating Review Committee for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: Principles and Standards for School Mathematics: Final Report DO - 10.17226/9870 PY - 2000 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9870/coordinating-review-committee-for-the-national-council-of-teachers-of-mathematics PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Education ER - TY - BOOK TI - Symposium on Tactical Oceanography: Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, 12-15 March 1990 DO - 10.17226/9945 PY - 1991 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9945/symposium-on-tactical-oceanography-naval-postgraduate-school-monterey-california-12 PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Earth Sciences ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Sciences TI - Biographical Memoirs: Volume 60 SN - DO - 10.17226/6061 PY - 1991 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/6061/biographical-memoirs-volume-60 PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biography and Autobiography AB - Biographic Memoirs: Volume 60 contains the biographies of deceased members of the National Academy of Sciences and bibliographies of their published works. Each biographical essay was written by a member of the Academy familiar with the professional career of the deceased. For historical and bibliographical purposes, these volumes are worth returning to time and again. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Finding the Path: Issues of Access to Research Resources SN - DO - 10.17226/9629 PY - 1999 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9629/finding-the-path-issues-of-access-to-research-resources PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Industry and Labor AB - On January 27-28, 1999, the NRC Commission on Life Sciences organized "Finding the Path: Issues of Access to Research Resources", a conference to explore the breadth of problems and opportunities related to obtaining and transferring research resources. The following summary of the 2-day meeting lays out the problems concerning access to research resources as discussed by 2 dozen speakers and members of the audience. ER - TY - BOOK A2 - Marjorie L. Reaka-Kudla A2 - Don E. Wilson A2 - Edward O. Wilson TI - Biodiversity II: Understanding and Protecting Our Biological Resources SN - DO - 10.17226/4901 PY - 1997 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/4901/biodiversity-ii-understanding-and-protecting-our-biological-resources PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Explore Science KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - "The book before you...carries the urgent warning that we are rapidly altering and destroying the environments that have fostered the diversity of life forms for more than a billion years." With those words, Edward O. Wilson opened the landmark volume Biodiversity (National Academy Press, 1988). Despite this and other such alarms, species continue to vanish at a rapid rate, taking with them their genetic legacy and potential benefits. Many disappear before they can even be identified. Biodiversity II is a renewed call for urgency. This volume updates readers on how much we already know and how much remains to be identified scientifically. It explores new strategies for quantifying, understanding, and protecting biodiversity, including: New approaches to the integration of electronic data, including a proposal for a U.S. National Biodiversity Information Center. Application of techniques developed in the human genome project to species identification and classification. The Gap Analysis Program of the National Biological Survey, which uses layered satellite, climatic, and biological data to assess distribution and better manage biodiversity. The significant contribution of museum collections to identifying and categorizing species, which is essential for understanding ecological function and for targeting organisms and regions at risk. The book describes our growing understanding of how megacenters of diversity (e.g., rainforest insects, coral reefs) are formed, maintained, and lost; what can be learned from mounting bird extinctions; and how conservation efforts for neotropical primates have fared. It also explores ecosystem restoration, sustainable development, and agricultural impact. Biodiversity II reinforces the idea that the conservation of our biological resources is within reach as long as we pool resources; better coordinate the efforts of existing institutions—museums, universities, and government agencies—already dedicated to this goal; and enhance support for research, collections, and training. This volume will be important to environmentalists, biologists, ecologists, educators, students, and concerned individuals. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - America's Climate Choices SN - DO - 10.17226/12781 PY - 2011 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12781/americas-climate-choices PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies KW - Earth Sciences AB - Climate change is occurring. It is very likely caused by the emission of greenhouse gases from human activities, and poses significant risks for a range of human and natural systems. And these emissions continue to increase, which will result in further change and greater risks. America's Climate Choices makes the case that the environmental, economic, and humanitarian risks posed by climate change indicate a pressing need for substantial action now to limit the magnitude of climate change and to prepare for adapting to its impacts. Although there is some uncertainty about future risk, acting now will reduce the risks posed by climate change and the pressure to make larger, more rapid, and potentially more expensive reductions later. Most actions taken to reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts are common sense investments that will offer protection against natural climate variations and extreme events. In addition, crucial investment decisions made now about equipment and infrastructure can "lock in" commitments to greenhouse gas emissions for decades to come. Finally, while it may be possible to scale back or reverse many responses to climate change, it is difficult or impossible to "undo" climate change, once manifested. Current efforts of local, state, and private-sector actors are important, but not likely to yield progress comparable to what could be achieved with the addition of strong federal policies that establish coherent national goals and incentives, and that promote strong U.S. engagement in international-level response efforts. The inherent complexities and uncertainties of climate change are best met by applying an iterative risk management framework and making efforts to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions; prepare for adapting to impacts; invest in scientific research, technology development, and information systems; and facilitate engagement between scientific and technical experts and the many types of stakeholders making America's climate choices. ER - TY - BOOK AU - Institute of Medicine AU - National Academy of Engineering TI - Resources for Teaching Middle School Science SN - DO - 10.17226/5774 PY - 1998 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/5774/resources-for-teaching-middle-school-science PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Education AB - With age-appropriate, inquiry-centered curriculum materials and sound teaching practices, middle school science can capture the interest and energy of adolescent students and expand their understanding of the world around them. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science, developed by the National Science Resources Center (NSRC), is a valuable tool for identifying and selecting effective science curriculum materials that will engage students in grades 6 through 8. The volume describes more than 400 curriculum titles that are aligned with the National Science Education Standards. This completely new guide follows on the success of Resources for Teaching Elementary School Science, the first in the NSRC series of annotated guides to hands-on, inquiry-centered curriculum materials and other resources for science teachers. The curriculum materials in the new guide are grouped in five chapters by scientific area—Physical Science, Life Science, Environmental Science, Earth and Space Science, and Multidisciplinary and Applied Science. They are also grouped by type—core materials, supplementary units, and science activity books. Each annotation of curriculum material includes a recommended grade level, a description of the activities involved and of what students can be expected to learn, a list of accompanying materials, a reading level, and ordering information. The curriculum materials included in this book were selected by panels of teachers and scientists using evaluation criteria developed for the guide. The criteria reflect and incorporate goals and principles of the National Science Education Standards. The annotations designate the specific content standards on which these curriculum pieces focus. In addition to the curriculum chapters, the guide contains six chapters of diverse resources that are directly relevant to middle school science. Among these is a chapter on educational software and multimedia programs, chapters on books about science and teaching, directories and guides to science trade books, and periodicals for teachers and students. Another section features institutional resources. One chapter lists about 600 science centers, museums, and zoos where teachers can take middle school students for interactive science experiences. Another chapter describes nearly 140 professional associations and U.S. government agencies that offer resources and assistance. Authoritative, extensive, and thoroughly indexed—and the only guide of its kind—Resources for Teaching Middle School Science will be the most used book on the shelf for science teachers, school administrators, teacher trainers, science curriculum specialists, advocates of hands-on science teaching, and concerned parents. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Attracting PhDs to K-12 Education: A Demonstration Program for Science, Mathematics, and Technology SN - DO - 10.17226/10433 PY - 2002 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10433/attracting-phds-to-k-12-education-a-demonstration-program-for PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Education AB - The National Research Council (NRC) has undertaken a three-phase project to explore the possibility of a program to attract science, mathematics and engineering PhDs to careers in K-12 education. The first phase of the project surveyed the interests of recent PhDs in science and mathematics in pursuing careers in secondary education. Analysis of the Phase I data suggests that a significant percentage of PhDs might be interested in pursuing careers in secondary education under some circumstances. This report from the second phase of the project presents a proposal for a national demonstration program to determine how one might prepare PhDs to be productive members of the K-12 education community. The proposed program is designed to help meet the needs of the nation's schools, while providing further career opportunities for recent PhDs in science, mathematics and engineering. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine TI - An Assessment of the Need for Native Seeds and the Capacity for Their Supply: Interim Report SN - DO - 10.17226/25859 PY - 2020 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25859/an-assessment-of-the-need-for-native-seeds-and-the-capacity-for-their-supply PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture KW - Surveys and Statistics AB - Across the United States, millions of acres of land have been so disturbed by human activities or severe climate events that significant portions of their native plant communities have been lost and their ecosystems have been seriously compromised. Restoring impaired ecosystems requires a supply of diverse native plant seeds that are well suited to the climates, soils, and other living species of the system. Native seeds are also in demand for applications in urban land management, roadside maintenance, conservation agriculture, and other restorative activities that take into account the connection between native plant communities and the increasingly urgent need for resilient landscapes. Given the varied climatic and environmental niches of the more than 17,000 native plant species of the United States, supplying the desired seed types and species mixes for this wide range of activities is a challenge. As the first phase of a nationwide analysis of the full scope of needs for native plant seeds, this interim report describes the participants in the native plant seed supply chain, makes preliminary observations, and proposes an information-gathering plan for the second phase of the assessment. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council A2 - Ruxandra Floroiu A2 - Richard T. Sylves TI - Alerting America: Effective Risk Communication: Summary of a Forum DO - 10.17226/10652 PY - 2003 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10652/alerting-america-effective-risk-communication-summary-of-a-forum PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English AB - This is a summary of presentations and discussion from a forum on risk communication convened by the Natural Disasters Roundtable. Issues related to risk communication were discussed at the forum by speakers and participants from the scientific community, local and federal agencies, and media organizations. The need for more research and actions to further the nation’s risk communication capacity and make communities less vulnerable to natural, technological, and human-induced disasters was an overarching theme of the day. This summary is authored by Ruxandra Floroiu, formerly of the National Research Council and by Richard T. Sylves, University of Delaware. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Investing in Research Infrastructure in the Behavioral and Social Sciences SN - DO - 10.17226/6276 PY - 1998 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/6276/investing-in-research-infrastructure-in-the-behavioral-and-social-sciences PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Behavioral and Social Sciences KW - Policy for Science and Technology ER - TY - BOOK TI - GEWEX-CLIVAR: Coordination of U.S. Activities DO - 10.17226/9653 PY - 1998 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9653/gewex-clivar-coordination-of-us-activities PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Sciences TI - Climate Change and Ecosystems DO - 10.17226/25504 PY - 2019 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25504/climate-change-and-ecosystems PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies AB - The National Academies convened a forum on November 8-9, 2018 to highlight current research frontiers such as the effects of climate extremes, interactions among climate and other stressors, the timing, sequence, and clustering of climate-related events, and tipping points for abrupt change. Topics of discussion at the forum pertained to the changes ecosystems are currently undergoing, sustaining ecosystems, the impact of ecosystems on global climate change, societal adaptation to climate change, and priorities for future research. This report summarizes the presentations and discussions from the forum. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Improving Student Learning in Mathematics and Science: The Role of National Standards in State Policy SN - DO - 10.17226/5844 PY - 1997 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/5844/improving-student-learning-in-mathematics-and-science-the-role-of PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Education ER - TY - BOOK TI - Science and Human Rights DO - 10.17226/9733 PY - 1988 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9733/science-and-human-rights PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Behavioral and Social Sciences AB - Why does the National Academy of Sciences have a Committee on Human Rights? How does the committee define human rights and which rights are fundamental? Does a focus on human rights undermine efforts toward international scientific cooperation , development, political stability, or nuclear disarmament? Why does the committee work only in behalf of scientists and how do scientists become victims of human rights violations? How and why do some health professionals collude with torturers? These questions are typical of those asked frequently of the members and staff of the academy's Committee on Human Rights. They are important questions that this document helps to answer. Science and Human Rights is the summary of the presentation and discussion of a Symposium convened by the National Academy of Sciences to discuss these issues. Also included in this report are three major papers written by former prisoners from Chile, South Africa, and the Soviet Union. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Colorado River Ecology and Dam Management: Proceedings of a Symposium May 24-25, 1990 Santa Fe, New Mexico SN - DO - 10.17226/1832 PY - 1991 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1832/colorado-river-ecology-and-dam-management-proceedings-of-a-symposium PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies AB - This book contains 11 papers that review the extant information about the Colorado River from an ecosystem perspective and serve as the basis for discussion of the use of ecosystem/earth science information for river management and dam operations. It also contains a synopsis of the committee's findings and recommendations to the Bureau of Reclamation as the agency seeks to change its direction to the management of natural resources. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change SN - DO - 10.17226/12784 PY - 2010 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12784/informing-an-effective-response-to-climate-change PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies KW - Earth Sciences AB - Global climate change is one of America's most significant long-term policy challenges. Human activity—especially the use of fossil fuels, industrial processes, livestock production, waste disposal, and land use change—is affecting global average temperatures, snow and ice cover, sea-level, ocean acidity, growing seasons and precipitation patterns, ecosystems, and human health. Climate-related decisions are being carried out by almost every agency of the federal government, as well as many state and local government leaders and agencies, businesses and individual citizens. Decision makers must contend with the availability and quality of information, the efficacy of proposed solutions, the unanticipated consequences resulting from decisions, the challenge of implementing chosen actions, and must consider how to sustain the action over time and respond to new information. Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change, a volume in the America's Climate Choices series, describes and assesses different activities, products, strategies, and tools for informing decision makers about climate change and helping them plan and execute effective, integrated responses. It discusses who is making decisions (on the local, state, and national levels), who should be providing information to make decisions, and how that information should be provided. It covers all levels of decision making, including international, state, and individual decision making. While most existing research has focused on the physical aspect of climate change, Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change employs theory and case study to describe the efforts undertaken so far, and to guide the development of future decision-making resources. Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change offers much-needed guidance to those creating public policy and assists in implementing that policy. The information presented in this book will be invaluable to the research community, especially social scientists studying climate change; practitioners of decision-making assistance, including advocacy organizations, non-profits, and government agencies; and college-level teachers and students. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Sciences TI - Ecological Risks: Perspectives from Poland and the United States SN - DO - 10.17226/1608 PY - 1990 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1608/ecological-risks-perspectives-from-poland-and-the-united-states PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies ER - TY - BOOK A2 - Nina V. Fedoroff A2 - Nancy Marie Brown TI - Mendel in the Kitchen: A Scientist's View of Genetically Modified Foods SN - DO - 10.17226/11000 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11000/mendel-in-the-kitchen-a-scientists-view-of-genetically-modified PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Explore Science KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - While European restaurants race to footnote menus, reassuring concerned gourmands that no genetically modified ingredients were used in the preparation of their food, starving populations around the world eagerly await the next harvest of scientifically improved crops. Mendel in the Kitchen provides a clear and balanced picture of this tangled, tricky (and very timely) topic. Any farmer you talk to could tell you that we've been playing with the genetic makeup of our food for millennia, carefully coaxing nature to do our bidding. The practice officially dates back to Gregor Mendel -- who was not a renowned scientist, but a 19th century Augustinian monk. Mendel spent many hours toiling in his garden, testing and cultivating more than 28,000 pea plants, selectively determining very specific characteristics of the peas that were produced, ultimately giving birth to the idea of heredity -- and the now very common practice of artificially modifying our food. But as science takes the helm, steering common field practices into the laboratory, the world is now keenly aware of how adept we have become at tinkering with nature --which in turn has produced a variety of questions. Are genetically modified foods really safe? Will the foods ultimately make us sick, perhaps in ways we can't even imagine? Isn't it genuinely dangerous to change the nature of nature itself? Nina Fedoroff, a leading geneticist and recognized expert in biotechnology, answers these questions, and more. Addressing the fear and mistrust that is rapidly spreading, Federoff and her co-author, science writer Nancy Brown, weave a narrative rich in history, technology, and science to dispel myths and misunderstandings. In the end, Fedoroff arues, plant biotechnology can help us to become better stewards of the earth while permitting us to feed ourselves and generations of children to come. Indeed, this new approach to agriculture holds the promise of being the most environmentally conservative way to increase our food supply. ER - TY - BOOK TI - 1993 Data Forum: A Review of an Implementation Plan for U.S. Global Change Date and Information Systems DO - 10.17226/9239 PY - 1994 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9239/1993-data-forum-a-review-of-an-implementation-plan-for PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Behavioral and Social Sciences ER - TY - BOOK TI - Symposium on Naval Warfare and Coastal Oceanography: Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Virginia, April 29-May 2, 1991 DO - 10.17226/9946 PY - 1992 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9946/symposium-on-naval-warfare-and-coastal-oceanography-naval-amphibious-base PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Conflict and Security Issues KW - Earth Sciences ER - TY - BOOK TI - Scientists and Human Rights in Chile: Report of a Delegation DO - 10.17226/9732 PY - 1985 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9732/scientists-and-human-rights-in-chile-report-of-a-delegation PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Behavioral and Social Sciences ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Forest Trees SN - DO - 10.17226/1582 PY - 1991 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1582/forest-trees PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Earth Sciences AB - News reports concerning decline of the world's forests are becoming sadly familiar. Most losses are measured in square kilometers, but a more profound loss cannot be measured. As forests disappear, so do their genetic resources. The genes they possess can no longer aid in their adaptation to a changing environment, nor can they be used to develop improved varieties or products. This book assesses the status of the world's tree genetic resources and management efforts. Strategies for meeting future needs and alternatives to harvesting natural forests are presented. The book also outlines methods and technologies for management, evaluates activities now under way, and makes specific recommendations for a global strategy for forest management. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Sciences TI - Science and Creationism: A View from the National Academy of Sciences, Second Edition DO - 10.17226/6024 PY - 1999 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/6024/science-and-creationism-a-view-from-the-national-academy-of PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Education AB - While the mechanisms of evolution are still under investigation, scientists universally accept that the cosmos, our planet, and life evolved and continue to evolve. Yet the teaching of evolution to schoolchildren is still contentious. In Science and Creationism, The National Academy of Sciences states unequivocally that creationism has no place in any science curriculum at any level. Briefly and clearly, this booklet explores the nature of science, reviews the evidence for the origin of the universe and earth, and explains the current scientific understanding of biological evolution. This edition includes new insights from astronomy and molecular biology. Attractive in presentation and authoritative in content, Science and Creationism will be useful to anyone concerned about America's scientific literacy: education policymakers, school boards and administrators, curriculum designers, librarians, teachers, parents, and students. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Perspectives on Biodiversity: Valuing Its Role in an Everchanging World SN - DO - 10.17226/9589 PY - 1999 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9589/perspectives-on-biodiversity-valuing-its-role-in-an-everchanging-world PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Environment and Environmental Studies AB - Resource-management decisions, especially in the area of protecting and maintaining biodiversity, are usually incremental, limited in time by the ability to forecast conditions and human needs, and the result of tradeoffs between conservation and other management goals. The individual decisions may not have a major effect but can have a cumulative major effect. Perspectives on Biodiversity reviews current understanding of the value of biodiversity and the methods that are useful in assessing that value in particular circumstances. It recommends and details a list of components—including diversity of species, genetic variability within and among species, distribution of species across the ecosystem, the aesthetic satisfaction derived from diversity, and the duty to preserve and protect biodiversity. The book also recommends that more information about the role of biodiversity in sustaining natural resources be gathered and summarized in ways useful to managers. Acknowledging that decisions about biodiversity are necessarily qualitative and change over time because of the nonmarket nature of so many of the values, the committee recommends periodic reviews of management decisions. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council A2 - David W. Cash A2 - James Buizer TI - Knowledge-Action Systems for Seasonal to Interannual Climate Forecasting: Summary of a Workshop SN - DO - 10.17226/11204 PY - 2005 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11204/knowledge-action-systems-for-seasonal-to-interannual-climate-forecasting-summary PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Earth Sciences AB - The National Academies' Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability hosted a workshop "Knowledge-Action Systems for Seasonal to Interannual Climate Forecasting" in 2004 to discover and distill general lessons about the design of effective systems for linking knowledge with action from the last decade's experience with the production and application of seasonal to interannual climate forecasts. Workshop participants described lessons they had learned based on their experiences developing, applying, and using decision support systems in the United States, Columbia, Brazil, and Australia. Some of the key lessons discussed, as characterized by David Cash and James Buizer, were that effective knowledge-action systems: define and frame the problem to be addressed via collaboration between knowledge users and knowledge producers; tend to be end-to-end systems that link user needs to basic scientific findings and observations; are often anchored in "boundary organizations" that act as intermediaries between nodes in the system - most notably between scientists and decision makers; feature flexible processes and institutions to be responsive to what is learned; use funding strategies tailored to the dual public/private character of such systems; and require people who can work across disciplines, issue areas, and the knowledge–action interface. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Ocean-Atmosphere Observations Supporting Short-Term Climate Predictions DO - 10.17226/20945 PY - 1994 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/20945/ocean-atmosphere-observations-supporting-short-term-climate-predictions PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - KW - Earth Sciences ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine TI - Climate Communications Initiative Strategic Plan DO - 10.17226/25368 PY - 2019 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25368/climate-communications-initiative-strategic-plan PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies KW - Policy for Science and Technology ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Science and the National Parks SN - DO - 10.17226/2028 PY - 1992 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2028/science-and-the-national-parks PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Earth Sciences AB - The U.S. National Park Service needs much better scientific information to protect the nation's parks for future generations, and research must be an essential element in its mandate. Science and the National Parks examines the reasons why science is important to the national parks, reviews previous evaluations of research in the parks, and recommends ways to improve the current science program. The book stresses the need for two distinct but related approaches to research, called "science for the parks" and "parks for science." Science for the parks includes research to gain understanding of park resources and develop effective management strategies. The parks for science concept recognizes that the national parks are potentially very important to scientific investigations of broad national and global environmental problems and invaluable for understanding the ecological response to anthropogenic change. Science and the National Parks is a critical assessment of the problems hampering the current Park Service science program, providing strong recommendations to help the agency establish a true mandate for science, create separate funding and autonomy for the program, and enhance its credibility and quality. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Sciences AU - Institute of Medicine TI - Science, Evolution, and Creationism SN - DO - 10.17226/11876 PY - 2008 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11876/science-evolution-and-creationism PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Education AB - How did life evolve on Earth? The answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. Although evolution provides credible and reliable answers, polls show that many people turn away from science, seeking other explanations with which they are more comfortable. In the book Science, Evolution, and Creationism, a group of experts assembled by the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine explain the fundamental methods of science, document the overwhelming evidence in support of biological evolution, and evaluate the alternative perspectives offered by advocates of various kinds of creationism, including "intelligent design." The book explores the many fascinating inquiries being pursued that put the science of evolution to work in preventing and treating human disease, developing new agricultural products, and fostering industrial innovations. The book also presents the scientific and legal reasons for not teaching creationist ideas in public school science classes. Mindful of school board battles and recent court decisions, Science, Evolution, and Creationism shows that science and religion should be viewed as different ways of understanding the world rather than as frameworks that are in conflict with each other and that the evidence for evolution can be fully compatible with religious faith. For educators, students, teachers, community leaders, legislators, policy makers, and parents who seek to understand the basis of evolutionary science, this publication will be an essential resource. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Status of Pollinators in North America SN - DO - 10.17226/11761 PY - 2007 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11761/status-of-pollinators-in-north-america PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Pollinators—insects, birds, bats, and other animals that carry pollen from the male to the female parts of flowers for plant reproduction—are an essential part of natural and agricultural ecosystems throughout North America. For example, most fruit, vegetable, and seed crops and some crops that provide fiber, drugs, and fuel depend on animals for pollination. This report provides evidence for the decline of some pollinator species in North America, including America's most important managed pollinator, the honey bee, as well as some butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds. For most managed and wild pollinator species, however, population trends have not been assessed because populations have not been monitored over time. In addition, for wild species with demonstrated declines, it is often difficult to determine the causes or consequences of their decline. This report outlines priorities for research and monitoring that are needed to improve information on the status of pollinators and establishes a framework for conservation and restoration of pollinator species and communities. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Predicting Invasions of Nonindigenous Plants and Plant Pests SN - DO - 10.17226/10259 PY - 2002 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10259/predicting-invasions-of-nonindigenous-plants-and-plant-pests PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Earth Sciences AB - Nonindigenous plants and plant pests that find their way to the United States and become invasive can often cause problems. They cost more than $100 billion per year in crop and timber losses plus the expense of herbicides and pesticides. And this figure does not include the costs of invasions in less intensively managed ecosystems such as wetlands. Nonindigenous Plants and Plant Pests examines this growing problem and offers recommendations for enhancing the science base in this field, improving our detection of potential invaders, and refining our ability to predict their impact. The book analyzes the factors that shape an invader’s progress through four stages: arriving through one of many possible ports of entry, reaching a threshold of survival, thriving through proliferation and geographic spread, and ultimate impact on the organism’s new environment. The book also reviews approaches to predicting whether a species will become an invader as well as the more complex challenge of predicting and measuring its impact on the environment, a process involving value judgments and risk assessment. This detailed analysis will be of interest to policymakers, plant scientists, agricultural producers, environmentalists, and public agencies concerned with invasive plant and plant pest species. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Sciences TI - Biographical Memoirs: Volume 88 SN - DO - 10.17226/11807 PY - 2006 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11807/biographical-memoirs-volume-88 PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biography and Autobiography AB - Biographic Memoirs Volume 88 contains the biographies of deceased members of the National Academy of Sciences and bibliographies of their published works. Each biographical essay was written by a member of the Academy familiar with the professional career of the deceased. For historical and bibliographical purposes, these volumes are worth returning to time and again. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Sciences TI - Biographical Memoirs: Volume 74 SN - DO - 10.17226/6201 PY - 1998 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/6201/biographical-memoirs-volume-74 PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biography and Autobiography KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Biographic Memoirs: Volume 74 contains the biographies of deceased members of the National Academy of Sciences and bibliographies of their published works. Each biographical essay was written by a member of the Academy familiar with the professional career of the deceased. For historical and bibliographical purposes, these volumes are worth returning to time and again. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Population and Land Use in Developing Countries: Report of a Workshop SN - DO - 10.17226/2211 PY - 1993 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2211/population-and-land-use-in-developing-countries-report-of-a PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Behavioral and Social Sciences AB - This valuable book summarizes recent research by experts from both the natural and social sciences on the effects of population growth on land use. It is a useful introduction to a field in which little quantitative research has been conducted and in which there is a great deal of public controversy. The book includes case studies of African, Asian, and Latin American countries that demonstrate the varied effects of population growth on land use. Several general chapters address the following timely questions: What is meant by land use change? Why are ecological research and population studies so different? What are the implications for sustainable growth in agricultural production? Although much work remains to be done in quantifying the causal connections between demographic and land use changes, this book provides important insights into those connections, and it should stimulate more work in this area. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Learning to Think Spatially SN - DO - 10.17226/11019 PY - 2006 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11019/learning-to-think-spatially PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Education AB - Learning to Think Spatially examines how spatial thinking might be incorporated into existing standards-based instruction across the school curriculum. Spatial thinking must be recognized as a fundamental part of K–12 education and as an integrator and a facilitator for problem solving across the curriculum. With advances in computing technologies and the increasing availability of geospatial data, spatial thinking will play a significant role in the information-based economy of the twenty-first century. Using appropriately designed support systems tailored to the K–12 context, spatial thinking can be taught formally to all students. A geographic information system (GIS) offers one example of a high-technology support system that can enable students and teachers to practice and apply spatial thinking in many areas of the curriculum. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - The Pervasive Role of Science, Technology, and Health in Foreign Policy: Imperatives for the Department of State SN - DO - 10.17226/9688 PY - 1999 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9688/the-pervasive-role-of-science-technology-and-health-in-foreign-policy PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Policy for Science and Technology AB - Issues involving science, technology, and health (STH) have moved to the forefront of the international diplomatic agenda. Other vital issues linked to technological developments pervade longer-range foreign policy concerns. Thus, STH considerations are often central to the Department of State's bilateral and multilateral interactions with other governments. STH aspects play a large role in discussions of such critical topics as nuclear nonproliferation, use of outer space, population growth, adequate and safe food supply, climate change, infectious diseases, energy resources, and competitiveness of industrial technologies. In addressing these issues, expert STH knowledge is essential to the anticipation and resolution of problems and to the achievement of foreign policy goals. The Department, recognizing that it requires strengthened capabilities to address such an array of topics, asked for suggestions by the National Research Council as to how it could better deal with foreign policy issues with STH content. ER -