“Reports & Events” is a monthly tip sheet for the news media that highlights selected meetings of interest and reports from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Selected Events in October 2020

All facilities of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are closed. All gatherings have been converted to virtual meetings. Click on each event title below to access meeting details, an agenda, and registration information, or contact the Office of News and Public Information (e-mail news@nas.edu). Reporters should register for all meetings. More events can be found at https://www.nationalacademies.org/events.

Evaluation of PEPFAR’s Contribution (2012-2017) to Rwanda’s Human Resources for Health Program
Oct. 1
Earlier this year, the National Academies released a report evaluating Rwanda’s Human Resources for Health (HRH) Program — a program partially funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to strengthen health systems in Rwanda. Members of the evaluation team will present their recommendations for preparing Rwanda’s health workforce to respond to both HIV- and non-HIV related needs. They will also discuss implications for future HRH efforts, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Academy of Engineering Annual Meeting
Oct. 4-7
At NAE’s 56th Annual Meeting, members and guests will gather virtually to explore the role of engineering in pandemic preparedness, response, and recovery. The meeting will feature two plenary lectures and a forum on engineering for pandemics, as well as a special lecture on racial justice and lack of equity. Other highlights include the introduction of the NAE class of 2020, NAE President John L. Anderson’s address to members, and presentation of the 2020 Simon Ramo Founders Award and Arthur M. Bueche Award.

Weathering the Storm: Climate Resilience at Airports
Oct. 7
This webinar will discuss how to apply benefit-cost analysis tools and techniques to improve the process for decision-making related to the resilience of airport infrastructure in response to the long-term impacts of climate change. Presenters will identify how to recognize, enhance, and adapt procedures that affect airports and other infrastructure projects.

A Coming Youth Wave? Mobilizing Young Voters in a Polarized Political Environment
Oct. 8
The 2020 Henry and Bryna David Lecture will feature Sunshine Hillygus, political scientist, Duke University, who will evaluate the barriers and opportunities for mobilizing young voters in the 2020 election and beyond.

Energy Master Planning for Resilient Communities
Oct. 13-16
Many communities across the world are formulating energy master plans to coordinate ongoing and future initiatives to minimize energy use, reduce costs, increase the diversity of energy supply, and prioritize resilience to potential energy disruptions.  This virtual training workshop will feature presentations and moderated discussions that will include numerous case studies describing ongoing and completed projects at military installations, university campuses, and other public communities across the globe.

 Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board Fall Meeting
Oct. 14 and 15
This meeting will include talks and panels on several topics, such as the Mars Ingenuity Helicopter Project, quiet-boom supersonic technology and commercial applications, and space-based quantum sensors and engineering.  In addition, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will discuss the latest developments at the agency.

 Increasing Diversity and Inclusion for Underrepresented Minorities in Earth Sciences: Addressing an Urgent Challenge
Oct. 15
The fall meeting of the Board on Earth Sciences and Resources will explore career pathways in earth sciences and the perception of these career choices among underrepresented minorities. The event will also identify specific challenges and opportunities for increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the earth science community.

Healthy Longevity Global Competition: Announcement of International Catalyst Award Winners
Oct. 15
The National Academy of Medicine and global collaborators will hold a virtual event to announce the international Catalyst Award winners and deliver updates on the Healthy Longevity Global Competition.  In this inaugural round of the competition, innovators worldwide submitted novel, bold ideas to extend the human health span and improve people’s lives as they age.

National Academy of Medicine Annual Meeting
Oct. 19
The National Academy of Medicine’s virtual annual meeting will include a full-day scientific program titled Confronting Urgent Threats to Human Health and Society: COVID-19 and Climate Change.  The program will feature a keynote address from Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as a keynote from Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a session on COVID-19 virus emergence, the impact of the pandemic, and U.S. and global preparedness and response.  The President’s Forum, beginning with an address from Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, will examine future directions in science and policymaking to address complex threats to society.

Applying Systems Thinking to Regenerative Medicine
Oct. 22 and 23
Regenerative medicines, including cell, gene, and tissue-based therapies, are demonstrating potentially curative benefits that are already transforming the lives of patients. Experts will examine the challenges associated with the discovery, regulation, and manufacturing of regenerative medicine products and how systems thinking approaches may be applied as well as the costs of not implementing such approaches.

Advance Care Planning: Challenges and Opportunities
Oct. 26
Advance care planning is the practice of making decisions about the health care you would want to receive if you're facing a medical crisis. The workshop will identify practical steps to improve advance care planning, as well as areas where more data and research are needed. This is the first of two webinars on this topic.

The Future of Data Science
Oct. 28
Part of an ongoing colloquium series, this virtual colloquium will examine what the next five to 10 years will look like as current trends continue in acquiring big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and bigger and faster computers. 

Reports Scheduled for Release in October
Release dates for the following consensus reports and proceedings from the National Academies depend on successful completion of the review process and publishing schedules. Reporters who would like to be notified when a report is due for release should contact the Office of News and Public Information (e-mail news@nas.edu) and ask to be placed on a contact list.

Best Practices for Implementing Decarceration as a Strategy to Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 in Correctional Facilities
This report will provide advice to policymakers, correctional officials, and public health officials on best practices for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in correctional facilities through large-scale release and decarceration efforts.

Scanning for New Evidence on the Nutrient Content of Human Milk: A Model for the Derivation of Age-Specific Nutrient Requirements

This report will characterize the new and emerging evidence on nutrient levels in human milk, as related to infant requirements to support normal growth and development. Such information is needed for developing future Dietary Reference Intake standards for nutrient intakes from birth through 12 months of age.

Understanding the Status and Well-Being of Sexual and Gender Diverse Populations
This report will review the available data and future research needs on individuals of diverse sexualities and genders, as well as individuals with differences in sex development. Areas of focus will include families and social relationships, stigma, justice and legal systems, and socio-economic status, among others.

ALSO OF INTEREST
Climate Resources at the National Academies
From more extreme weather to rising sea levels to droughts and wildfires, the climate is changing in ways that pose increasing risks to people and ecosystems. Building on decades of work, the National Academies continue to provide objective advice from top experts to help the nation better understand, prepare for, and limit future climate change.

Resources on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Explore the National Academies’ latest news and resources related to COVID-19, as well as consensus studies and workshop proceedings on the subject of pandemic infectious disease. 

Resources on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Across the nation, Americans are calling for an end to police brutality and long-standing racial injustice in the midst of a global pandemic that is disproportionately impacting minorities and other vulnerable communities. A range of work at the National Academies explores research in social science, medicine, and other fields can shed light on the factors that drive systemic inequities — not only in society at large but also within the sciences, engineering, and medicine.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR REPORTERS

• The National Academies’ Newsroom
• Highlights from Latest PNAS Articles | PNAS in the News | Register to receive embargoed material from the PNAS News Office
• Reports and other National Academies publications
• Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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