Driving progress for the benefit of society by providing independent, objective advice to advance science, engineering, and medicine.
Charting a Course for the National Academies and the Nation We Serve
Perspectives
In a Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences editorial, NAS President Marcia McNutt discusses how the National Academies are navigating the future in light of recent cuts in federal research funding and rapidly emerging technologies such as AI. “We must not waver in our efforts to advance science for the benefit of all Americans.”
“There Are Two Possible Futures for American Science”
Announcement
In an interview for Issues in Science and Technology, Simons Foundation president and NAS member David Spergel discusses the evolving landscape for science philanthropy, his outlook for the research enterprise, and remaining hopeful in an uncertain time.
Ways we are making a difference
“There is a critical gap between the performance of machine learning [and] what we would expect in a safety-critical system,” – George Pappas, Associate Dean of Research, School of Engineering and Applied Science at University of Pennsylvania. Machine learning, a key enabler of artificial intelligence, is increasingly used for applications like self-driving cars, medical devices, and advanced robots that work near humans — all contexts where safety is of critical importance.
12,757,958 Over 12,757,958 people have engaged with our work in 2025.
7,300 Over 7,300 innovative thinkers and accomplished practitioners volunteered their time with the National Academies in 2024.
Topics
Discover what the National Academies are doing to strengthen the fields of science, engineering, and medicine.
In Focus
Strengthening the U.S. Research Enterprise
Learn More
Supporting State and Local Decision Making
Learn More
Our Work on Transportation
Learn More
Our Work on Artificial Intelligence
Learn More
Advancing a Robust U.S. Economy
Learn More
Our Work on Education
Learn More
Upcoming events
Based On Science
Events
Right Now & Next Up
Stay in the loop with can’t-miss sessions, live events, and activities happening over the next two days.
TRB Annual Meeting | January 11 - 15, 2026
January 11 - 15, 2026 | The TRB Annual Meeting brings together thousands of transportation professionals worldwide for sessions across all modes and sectors.