Counterterrorism News from The National Academies

For more reports check out the Terrorism and Security Searchable Collection, recent publications from The National Academies about the science and policy issues surrounding terrorism and security.

Public Buildings Should Prepare for Biological Attack
 June 14 -- Facility managers of government offices, airports, and other high-profile public buildings should form operations working groups to develop plans for responding to a biological attack, says a new report from the National Research Council. The groups should include all relevant stakeholders, including employees who work in the buildings, and the public should participate in decisions about when to reopen a facility after an attack.
Executive Summary

Monitoring Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear-Explosive Materials
  April 19 -- In the United States and many other countries, policy-makers are working to minimize the proliferation of nuclear weapons, prevent terrorists from acquiring them, and reduce the risks posed by existing nuclear arsenals. A new report from the National Academy of Sciences outlines technical and collaborative approaches that could help leaders meet these goals.
Full Report
Listen to Part 1 of the Briefing (requires free RealPlayer)
Listen to Part 2 of the Briefing (requires free RealPlayer)

Prompt Measures Needed to Reduce Potential Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Risks
  April 6 -- Spent nuclear fuel stored in pools at some of the nation's 103 operating commercial nuclear reactors may be at risk from terrorist attacks, says a new report from the National Academies' Board on Radioactive Waste Management. The report calls on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to conduct plant-by-plant analyses to obtain a better understanding of potential risks and to ensure that power-plant operators take prompt and effective measures to reduce the possible consequences of terrorist attacks.
Press Release
Full Report
Live! Listen to the Briefing (requires free RealPlayer)

Ongoing, Systematic Assessments of Bioterror Preparedness Necessary  
  March 3 -- To prepare for possible future bioterrorism attacks, public health officials and policy-makers should balance national security concerns with the need for accurate, credible scientific information, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The Committee on Smallpox Vaccination Implementation also urged health agencies to set goals with state and local partners so that the nation's readiness can be measured and improved.
Press Release
Full Report
Opening Statement

Workshops Focus on News Response to Terrorism
  Sept. 21 -- Keeping the public informed during a terrorist attack is the topic of a new national workshop series organized by the National Academies, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Radio-Television News Directors Foundation. Local experts will provide reporters, state and local public information officers, and emergency managers with frank, objective information about weapons of mass destruction and their impact. Workshops will also include interactive, simulated attack scenarios. The next event will be held today in Kansas City, Mo.
Workshop Information

Unrestricted Public Access to Pathogen Genome Data Should Continue
  Sept. 9, 2004 -- Current policies that allow scientists and the public unrestricted access to genome data on microbial pathogens should not be changed, says a new report from the National Academies' Board on Life Sciences. Security against bioterrorism is better served by policies that facilitate, not limit, the free flow of this information.
Press Release
Full Report

Academies Produce Factsheet on Radiological Attacks
  Sept. 1, 2004 -- A new factsheet from the National Academies and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security offers clear, objective information on "dirty bombs" and other devices that could be used in a radiological terrorist attack. Created for journalists participating in the Academies' News and Terrorism: Communicating in a Crisis workshops, the brief is the first in a series on weapons of mass destruction. Forthcoming factsheets will address chemical, biological and nuclear attacks.
Factsheet: Radiological Attack (149 KB PDF file, requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Academies Counterterrorism Workshops

Army, Homeland Security Should Collaborate
  Aug. 19, 2004 -- The U.S. Department of Defense, particularly the Army, should help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security develop technologies that emergency responders can use to react to a major disaster or terrorist attack, says a new report from the National Academies' Board on Army Science and Technology. Such collaboration could get needed technologies into the hands of local responders sooner.
Press Release
Full Report

Creating New Smallpox Therapies Requires Gov't, Private Coalition
  July 12, 2004 -- Efficiently developing new drugs to combat smallpox requires closer collaboration among universities, pharmaceutical companies and the federal government, says an article by participants of a recent National Academies workshop. The article, which proposes policies, incentives and an infrastructure to help foster such collaboration, appears in the latest issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
PNAS Article
Related Editorial
Workshop Summary

Report Evaluates U.S. Marine Salvage Capabilities    
  July 6, 2004 -- A new report from the National Academies' Transportation Research Board examines whether U.S. marine salvage capabilities are adequate for responding to terrorist incidents. The report also suggests strategies to improve current deficiencies.
Full Report
Transportation Research Board

U.S. Must Change Visa Policy for Foreign Scientists
  May 13, 2004 -- The National Academies have joined more than 20 other education, science and engineering groups in supporting changes to U.S. visa policy. "Our visa processing system not only must provide genuine security against those who might do us harm, but also keep our borders open to the stream of scientific and technical talent that fuels our progress," the presidents of the academies said in a statement today.
Presidents' Statement
Joint Statement on U.S. Visa Policy (226 KB PDF file, requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Presidents' Corner

National Academies Organize Terrorism Response Workshops
  May 12, 2004 -- Keeping the public informed during a terrorist incident is the subject of interactive workshops organized by the National Academies, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Radio-Television News Directors Foundation. Journalists, public information officers, scientists, engineers and emergency managers will participate in a "table-top" terrorism scenario and discussions of biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear threats. Workshops will be held in 10 cities, beginning in Chicago this July.
Department of Homeland Security Press Release
National Academy of Engineering Counterterrorism Activities

National Academies Sponsor Counterterrorism Workshop
  April 15, 2004 -- ABC News correspondent John McWethy and National Academy of Engineering members Ruth David and Siegfried Hecker are among the journalists, scientists and emergency management officials who will participate in a counterterrorism workshop co-sponsored by the National Academies. The event -- to be held Tuesday, April 20 at the annual meeting of the Radio-Television News Directors Association in Las Vegas -- focuses on how best to keep the public informed during a terrorist incident.
Session Information
NAE Counterterrorism Activities

New Federal Agency Is Needed to Develop Defenses Against Biowarfare Agents
  Jan. 22, 2004 -- Congress should authorize a new agency within the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense, if drugs, vaccines and other medical interventions against biowarfare are to be developed successfully, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council. DOD's existing medical biodefense activities, now carried out by several units in the department, should be transferred with their funding and personnel to a new medical biodefense agency.
Press Release
Full Report

Tools to Measure Smallpox Readiness Will Aid Emergency Preparedness
  Dec. 19, 2003 -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's draft indicators for measuring state and local readiness for a smallpox attack are a good starting point for assessing national preparedness for a bioterrorist attack, says a new Institute of Medicine report. However, some gaps in these measurement tools should be addressed.
Press Release
Full Report

New System Needed to Oversee Biological Research to Ensure National Security    
  Oct. 8, 2003 -- To prevent hostile nations or terrorists from misusing biotechnology, the United States and the international community should develop a comprehensive oversight system to screen plans for types of experiments before they are conducted, says a new National Academies report. This enhanced oversight must not, however, impede open communication in science or hamper U.S. research to develop vaccines, therapeutic aids or other defenses against biological agents directed against people, plants and animals.
Press Release
Full Report
Listen to the Briefing (requires free RealPlayer)

Vaccinating Public Against Smallpox Requires Stringent Controls
  Aug. 12, 2003 -- The general public should receive smallpox vaccinations only as part of a research study or other arrangement with stringent medical and ethical controls given the risk of adverse health reactions to the people being vaccinated and those with whom they come into contact, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. Registries of vaccinated health care workers and other responders also should be created to mobilize and coordinate them quickly if an outbreak occurs.
Press Release
Full Report
Opening Statement

National Academies Host Counterterrorism Workshop    
  June 23, 2003 -- Former White House staffers Mike McCurry and David Gergen and former CNN anchor Frank Sesno were among the public affairs professionals, journalists and emergency management officials who attended a workshop hosted by the National Academies last Friday. Participants at the event -- sponsored by the Academies, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Radio-Television News Director Association and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security -- discussed how best to keep the public informed during a terrorist incident.
Workshop Web Site
National Academies Reports on Terrorism and Security

Report Outlines Research to Improve Freight Security
  June 11, 2003 -- The vulnerability of U.S. freight transportation information systems to terrorist cyberattack presents a potentially serious homeland security concern, says a new report from the National Academies' Transportation Research Board and Computer Science and Telecommunications Board. The report outlines the research necessary to strengthen the security of these systems, which facilitate the efficient movement and delivery of goods and materials.
Full Report (472 KB PDF, requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Atmospheric Scientists Can Contribute to Homeland Security
  June 2, 2003 -- A new report from the National Academies' Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate examines ways in which scientists can help emergency personnel respond to a chemical, biological or nuclear attack by tracking where the resulting hazardous plume is headed, aiding in rescue and evacuation efforts.
Report Brief (990 KB PDF, requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Full Report

Alberts Emphasizes Role of Science in Policy-making
  April 28, 2003 -- In both national and international affairs, scientists can help governments by providing the scientific evidence necessary for sound policy-making, said National Academy of Sciences president Bruce Alberts in an address to the Academy's 140th annual meeting. "As scientists, we have the advantage of sharing a common set of values," Alberts said. "We are all passionate about basing decisions on evidence that uses rational analysis. And we all recognize that our governments need help in focusing on policies with long-term benefits."
Read the Speech
Listen to the Speech (requires free RealPlayer)
Annual Meeting Agenda

Report Outlines Priorities for Army Homeland Security Efforts
  April 8, 2003 -- A new report from the National Academies' Board on Army Science and Technology emphasizes the Army's important role in homeland security. It says the potential exists for substantial synergy between science and technology work carried out by the Army to fulfill its homeland security responsibilities and the development of the next generation Army, called the "Objective Force." The report also underlines the critical importance of the Army National Guard to the success of the Army's efforts.
Report Brief (173 KB PDF, requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Full Report

U.S. Smallpox Vaccination Program Success Depends on Evaluation, Coordination
  March 27, 2003 -- The government must continue making every effort to evaluate the progress and safety of the national smallpox vaccination campaign, especially as the program expands to a larger pool of potential recipients, says a new Institute of Medicine report. Communities should measure their preparation for a smallpox attack by how well their public health, medical and other emergency personnel are coordinated -- not solely by the number of personnel who have been vaccinated.
Press Release
Opening Statement
Full Report

Academy Presidents Highlight Nuclear Non-Proliferation
  Feb. 5, 2003 -- Improving the security of nuclear weapons and weapons-related materials is one of the greatest challenges for global security, said the presidents of the National Academies in a statement today. Their statement announces the release of a letter by a working group from the U.S. National Academies and the Russian Academy of Sciences, established after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to identify how the academies could support and enhance U.S. and Russian government efforts to strengthen the security of nuclear weapons, materials and technology worldwide. The letter recommends high-priority actions for both governments to consider, which "deserve the widest possible audience," the presidents said.
Statement and Letter Report
Presidents' Corner

Cautious Approach Is Best for U.S. Smallpox Immunization Program
  Jan. 17, 2003 - The U.S. government should continue to take a cautious, deliberate approach to implementing its national smallpox immunization program, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should address outstanding issues and concerns from the program's first phase before beginning broader vaccination of health care workers and others, to ensure that the campaign is carried out as safely as possible.
Press Release
Full Report

U.S. Must Change Visa Policy for Foreign Scientists
  Dec. 13, 2002 -- The federal government must revise current visa restrictions for foreign scientists, engineers and qualified students if the United States is to maintain the vitality and quality of its research, said the presidents of the National Academies in a statement today. "Recent efforts by our government to constrain the flow of international visitors in the name of national security are having serious unintended consequences for American science, engineering and medicine," they said. "We ask the Department of State and its consular officials to recognize that, in addition to their paramount responsibility to deny visas to potential terrorists, the long-term security of the United States depends on admitting scholars who benefit our nation."
Statement (revised June 13, 2003)
Presidents' Corner

Experts Discuss Scientific Openness and National Security
  Dec. 12, 2002 -- Could current publication practices in the life sciences inadvertently lead to disclosure of sensitive information, threatening national security? On Thursday, Jan. 9, the National Academies and the Center for Strategic and International Studies will host a public discussion between scientists and policy-makers on ways to strike a balance between scientific openness and national security needs. The discussion will include an overview of methods for controlling scientific information in the United States and current bioterrorist threats to the nation.
Press Release
Meeting Agenda

Sept. 11 Reveals Need for Better Internet Contingency Plans
  Nov. 21, 2002 -- Last year's terrorist attack on the World Trade Center exposed the Internet's possible vulnerabilities, says a new report from the National Academies' Computer Science and Telecommunications Board. Although overall damage to the Internet was minimal, the destruction of communications equipment and networks during the building's collapse point to the need for Internet service providers and users to develop better emergency plans in coordination with local authorities, including a means of restoring service remotely in case of electrical power failure.
Press Release
Full Report
Listen to the Briefing (requires free RealPlayer)

Academies Weigh Role of Science in National Security
  Oct. 18, 2002 -- The scientific community should work closely with federal agencies responding to new national security threats, said the presidents of the National Academies in a statement today. But they also asked the federal government to refrain from creating poorly defined categories of "sensitive, but unclassified" information that do not provide precise guidance on what data should be restricted from public access. A recent National Academies report identifies immediate actions the government can take using available technology and identifies critical research and development areas.
Statement
Background Paper
Presidents' Corner
Making the Nation Safer: The Role of Science and Technology in Countering Terrorism (2002)

Polygraph Testing Is Too Flawed for Security Screening    
  Oct. 8, 2002 -- The federal government shouldn't rely on polygraph tests to identify national-security risks among prospective or current employees because results are too inaccurate, says a new National Academies report. Polygraph tests sensitive enough to detect most security violators also mark large numbers of innocent test takers as guilty. Less sensitive polygraph tests, including those used in several federal agencies, don't catch most major security violators and still incorrectly flag truthful people as deceptive.
Press Release
Full Report
Opening Statement
Listen to the News Conference

U.S. Needs Better Plan to Protect Agriculture
  Sept. 20, 2002 -- The United States is vulnerable to agricultural bioterrorism and needs a comprehensive plan to defend against it, says a report from the National Academies' Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources. The nation cannot rapidly detect and identify many pests and pathogens and could not quickly respond to a large-scale attack, which would overwhelm existing laboratory and field resources.
Press Release

U.S. Should Harness Science and Technology to Fight Terrorism    
  June 25, 2002 -- The United States should take advantage of its scientific and engineering strengths to detect, thwart and respond to terrorist attacks more effectively, says a new National Academies report. An independent homeland security institute should be established to help the government make crucial technical decisions and devise technical strategies for combating terrorism.
Press Release
Full Report
Opening Statement
Listen to the News Conference (requires free RealPlayer)

Academies to Release First Part of Counterterrorism Study
  May 29, 2002 -- This summer, the National Academies will release the first phase of a study aimed at helping the Bush administration use U.S. scientific and technical resources to counter potential terrorist threats. The study, led by Harvard University's Lewis Branscomb and Richard Klausner of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, addresses risks and research needs in key areas of vulnerability.
Press Release

Alberts Calls for International Scientific Cooperation
  April 29, 2002 -- Proposed restrictions on scientific publishing and international research in the wake of Sept. 11 threaten scientific progress in producing a safer, more just world, said National Academy of Sciences President Bruce Alberts in an address to the Academy's 139th annual meeting. "Clearly, the United States would be wise to more actively involve science and technology in its diplomacy," he said. "Now is the perfect time to begin."
Listen to the Speech (requires free RealPlayer)
Read the Speech (includes slides)
Annual Meeting Agenda

U.S. Should Carefully Consider Goals of Nationwide Identification System
  April 11, 2002 -- The goals of a nationwide identification system should be clarified before any proposal moves forward, says a new National Academies report. Proposals should be subject to strict public scrutiny and a thorough engineering review, because the social and economic costs of fixing an ID system after it is in place would be enormous.
Press Release
Full Report

Anthrax Vaccine Safe But Could Be Better
  March 6, 2002 -- The current anthrax vaccine is safe and effective but is based on old vaccine technology and requires six doses during 18 months, says a new Institute of Medicine report. The U.S. Department of Defense should vigorously support research to improve how it is administered and develop an alternative.
Press Release
Opening Statement
Full Report
Listen to the News Conference (requires free RealPlayer)

Klausner to Serve as National Academies' Counterterrorism Adviser 
 Dec. 19, 2001 -- Former National Cancer Institute Director Richard D. Klausner has been named senior fellow and special adviser to the presidents for counterterrorism at the National Academies. Klausner, who starts the job on Jan. 1, will use his extensive ties to both the U.S. government and the scientific community to help the Academies apply the best science and technology expertise to increasing homeland security.
Press Release

National Academies Help Combat Terrorism 
  Dec. 6, 2001 -- A panel of distinguished scientists and engineers is helping the government to harness science and technology in the fight against terrorism. The National Academies committee seeks to strengthen the nation's long-term capacity for countering terrorist threats.
Learn More About the Committee's Work
Collection of National Academies Reports on Terrorism and Security

Scientific Information is Best Defense Against Bioterror Threat 
  Oct. 29, 2001 -- Inaccurate information about anthrax and other bioterrorism threats is causing confused citizens to take action that may be counterproductive, said the presidents of the National Academies in a statement today. "Americans can ill afford to rely on hearsay or information coming from those outside the scientific and medical communities who may mean well but lack solid data supported by evidence," they said, urging political leaders, journalists and all citizens to seek information from trustworthy sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Library of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies.
Statement (includes links to science-based information on bioterrorism)

National Academies Plan to Help Prevent Potential Terrorist Threats 
  Sept. 25, 2001 -- Small groups of top scientists and security specialists will meet privately during the next few weeks to consider how researchers can help head off terrorist threats, said the presidents of the National Academies in a letter to U.S. President George W. Bush. "As we enter a new war against terrorism -- one that will demand a focus on the complex interplay between technological, sociological and political issues -- the National Academies stand ready to provide advice and counsel in any way that the nation desires."
Letter to President Bush

Researchers From Many Nations Offer Condolences for Terrorist Attacks 
  Sept. 13, 2001 -- Representatives from academies and research organizations around the world are sending messages of condolence and support to the U.S. National Academies in the wake of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. "These messages are an important reminder that we are not alone in our sorrow and outrage at the attacks," said Wm. A. Wulf, president of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. "Academies and other research institutions from every nation can have an important role in helping their governments prepare for and prevent the possibility of terrorist action."
Read Excerpts From the Messages