Table of Contents
Education Environmental Issues Health and Medicine Behavioral and Social Sciences Computer Science and Telecommunications International Issues Events and Open Meetings

Education


Exploring Opportunities in Green Chemistry and Engineering Education

"Going green" is a hot topic in both chemistry and chemical engineering. Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate hazardous substances; green engineering is the development of economically feasible industrial processes that reduce risks to human health and the environment. This book summarizes a workshop convened by the National Research Council to explore the integration of green chemistry and chemical engineering concepts in undergraduate and graduate education. Speakers highlighted effective educational practices and discussed promising educational materials and software tools in green chemistry and engineering.


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Environmental Issues


Long-Term Flow Variability in Colorado River Evaluated

Tree-ring reconstructions of the Colorado River's streamflow over the past several hundred years show that average annual flows fluctuate more than previously assumed and that extended droughts are a recurrent feature, says a new report from the National Research Council. The report warns that droughts may be more severe in the future because of a regional warming trend, and more difficult to cope with because of rapid population growth.

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Conducting Effective Global Change Assessments

A new National Research Council report identifies the essential elements of effective global change assessments, including strategic framing, engagement of stakeholders, credible treatment of uncertainties, and transparent interactions between policymakers and scientists. The report reviews lessons learned from past assessments, which are intended to inform policymakers about the scientific underpinnings of critical environmental issues such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and ozone depletion.

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International Polar Year Begins

The US opening ceremony for the International Polar Year took place at the National Academies with over 400 people in attendance. Guests viewed recent video from the polar regions and heard from polar scientists about research to begin under this initiative. High-level government officials also participated in the event.

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Health and Medicine


Cancer Control Opportunities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Cancer is generally low or absent on the health agenda of most of the world’s low- and middle-income countries (LMCs), even as it is growing as a share of these countries' overall disease burden. The Institute of Medicine's new report "Cancer Control Opportunities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries" describes a series of appropriate and feasible "next steps" that will help LMCs begin to lessen the toll that cancer takes on their citizens.

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Risks of Egg Donation for Stem Cell Research: Workshop Summary

Stem cell research has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of many health problems including chronic heart disease, Type I diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injuries. This research, however, would require a steady supply of stem cells, particularly human embryonic stem cells, which are created from eggs (oocytes) harvested from the ovaries of female donors. The egg donation process is not without risks to donors. The National Academies held a workshop in September 2006 to discuss what is known about these risks, what needs to be known, and what can be done to minimize them. This workshop summary includes discussions of the comparative risks of donating eggs for research vs. reproductive purposes, and the likelihood of experiencing medical problems, psychological harm, or complications resulting from the surgical extraction of eggs.

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Improving the Process for Disability Determination

The US Social Security Administration should conduct research to validate and improve the screening tool it uses to identify applicants who are clearly disabled and should be granted benefits without further scrutiny, says a new report by the Institute of Medicine. The agency can also improve its process for making such revisions by tapping its own program data and obtaining more input from outside disability experts.

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Influence of Pregnancy Weight on Maternal and Child Health: Workshop Report

A new report from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine summarizes views presented at a workshop on recent US trends in women's weight before, during, and after pregnancy, and its impact on the health of mothers and their children. The workshop was held last May in Washington DC.

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Behavioral and Social Sciences


Prevention of Teen Motor Crashes

A new National Academies report summarizes presentations and discussions from a workshop where experts gathered to explore how the behavioral, cognitive, social, health, and biological sciences could inform prevention strategies to reduce motor-vehicle crash rates and promote responsible behavior among teenage drivers.

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Computer Science and Telecommunications


Thwarting Counterfeiters in the Digital Age

A new National Research Council report identifies emerging counterfeiting threats linked to advances in digital imaging technologies. The report explores a variety of new currency features that the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing could employ to keep ahead of the threat.

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International Issues


NAE Announces Winner of $1 Million Safe Drinking Water Challenge

Abul Hussam from George Mason University will receive the National Academy of Engineering's 2007 Grainger Challenge Prize for Sustainability. Hussam received the $1 million gold award for his SONO filter, a household water treatment system that removes arsenic from drinking water. The silver ($200,000) and bronze ($100,000) winners were also announced. Established in 2003 with a generous grant from the Grainger Foundation, the primary purpose of the prize competition is to accelerate the development and dissemination of technologies to enhance social and environmental sustainability for the benefit of current and future generations.

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NAS Supports Access for Palestinian Scientists and Students

The governing council of the National Academy of Sciences issued a statement applauding recent efforts to relax stringent restrictions on Palestinian students and scientists who seek to study in Israel and the West Bank. The council stressed the continuing importance of international cooperation in science as an investment in peace.

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Events and Open Meetings


What Corals Are Dying to Tell Us About CO2 and Ocean Acidification

Most of the carbon dioxide emissions from burning coal, oil, and gas are ultimately absorbed by the ocean, where carbon dioxide reacts with the seawater to form carbonic acid, which can dissolve the shells and skeletons of marine organisms. The increasing carbon dioxide emissions threaten the extinction of corals and other types of marine organisms, with unknown consequences for marine ecosystems globally. Dr. Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institution will discuss what is known about ocean acidification, the environmental consequences, and actions that could be taken to avoid the risk of environmental catastrophe in our oceans. This Eighth Annual Roger Revelle Commemorative Lecture will be held March 5th at the Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. The event is free and open to the public.

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Stem Cells Central Regional Meeting

The National Academies' Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee is organizing several regional meetings in 2007 to facilitate conversations with those involved in the oversight of stem cell research. The meetings -- designed for members and staff of stem cell research oversight (ESCRO and SCRO) committees, interested members of institutional research boards and other relevant committees, and others with an interest in the oversight of stem cell research -- will focus on implementation of the National Academies' Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research. The central US meeting will be held in Chicago on April 24th. Registration and logistical information as well as the project's website are posted at the accompanying links.

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EngineerGirl! Essay Contest

Every year the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the EngineerGirl! website sponsor an essay contest for pre-college students. The topics chosen for the contest highlight the positive impact of engineering on the world. The 2007 essay contest is on Engineering's Grand Challenges and is open to students in grades 6-12. Entries must be received by May 15th. More information is posted at the accompanying links.

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