What does the Research Council do to increase the impact of its reports?

Two things -- first, it strives to ensure that reports are authoritative, highly credible, persuasive, and thoughtful in offering conclusions and recommendations.

Second, it disseminates its reports as widely as possible and ensures that they are brought to the attention of target audiences. Such efforts require staff and committee time and resources for briefings, broad distribution of free copies of reports, and related activities.

What are the roles of staff members and the committee chair after a study has been completed?

They brief sponsors, Congress, the media, and other interested parties on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations in a report. They participate in other dissemination and follow-up activities such as arranging symposia at professional meetings, making presentations to private groups or corporations, and working with media representatives interested in covering a project.

What is the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences? Who funds it? How does it relate to Research Council reports?

Proceedings is a scholarly journal of communication for the scientific community, published by the National Academy of Sciences. It is supported principally by subscriptions and page charges. There is no direct relationship to Research Council reports other than through the National Academy of Sciences.