A Message From the Presidents of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine

In 2007 our Academies pursued a broad agenda focused on answering important and diverse questions in science, engineering, and health care posed by Congress, the executive branch, and state and local governments. As highlighted in this Report to Congress, nearly 200 expert committees convened by the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine contributed to a long tradition of providing authoritative and unbiased science policy advice to the nation. Here are a few examples.

The eaves of the National Academy of Sciences’ building are capped with a copper cheneau featuring the owl and lynx, symbols of wisdom and alert observation, and a coiled snake at each corner — another ancient symbol of wisdom and an object of veneration.

The Mississippi and Colorado rivers are the economic and ecological lifeblood for two vast sections of the country. But because they crisscross many states, it's been difficult for federal and state authorities to develop effective plans to deal with pollution, drought, or emerging issues such as population pressure and climate change. Two Research Council study committees recommended new integrated regional approaches to assuring water quality and supplies in these important river basins.

The Institute of Medicine was asked to review the early performance of PEPFAR, President Bush's emergency plan for AIDS relief. Another IOM activity is looking at the key role of clinical evidence in helping doctors and patients determine what quality health care really means. And, following in the footsteps of its major report on childhood obesity in America, the IOM recommended innovative measures aimed at setting nutrition standards for snack foods students buy in schools.

Energy -- its supply and consumption in this country -- is the subject of several of our peer-reviewed studies. We were asked to assess the water issues of biofuel production in the United States and the future of coal, our most abundant fuel source, in national energy policy. We also took a fresh look at the federal nuclear energy R&D program. And in 2008, after hosting a national energy summit, we plan to begin issuing a series of reports on America's energy future.

The National Academy of Engineering launched an ambitious project to identify engineering advances that could substantially improve quality of life around the world in the near future, and delineated 14 "Grand Challenges for Engineering" in the 21st century. And institutionwide we continue to follow up on our landmark 2005 study, Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future, and will hold a second national town meeting for federal, state and local government leaders here in Washington during 2008. Our goal is to help all Americans focus on and share ways to foster innovation in science and technology and bring improved science education to local communities across the nation.

Ralph J. Cicerone
President
National Academy of Sciences
Chair
National Research Council

Charles M. Vest
President
National Academy of Engineering
Vice Chair
National Research Council