“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 September 2021

All facilities of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are closed. All gatherings will be held virtually. 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.

Societal Challenges for Nuclear Power
Sept. 1-3
Nuclear energy could play an important role in moving toward net-zero emissions, but there are many economic, regulatory, and societal factors that determine whether expanding nuclear power is a feasible solution.  During this workshop, speakers will discuss public engagement with the nuclear industry and related industries, social science perspectives on nuclear power issues, and technical factors related to safety and nuclear waste. The workshop will explore how analysts, policymakers, and the nuclear industry can learn from past experiences and from the latest in decision science.

Exploring the Opportunity Gap from Birth to Age Eight
Sept. 8
This event will discuss policies and interventions that can be used to eliminate the opportunity gap — social conditions that keep kids from equally accessing high-quality education — in children from birth to 8 years old. Speakers are Ajay Chaudry, former deputy assistant secretary for human services policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Hirokazu Yoshikawa, Courtney Sale Ross Professor of Globalization and Education, NYU Steinhardt.

Future Directions of Sustainability in Chemical Manufacturing
Sept. 9
Chemical manufacturing traditionally uses energy-intensive processes and produces products that are not easily recyclable or reusable. More sustainable practices will be vital for the chemical industry as sustainability becomes more valuable to consumers and resources become more limited. This webinar will explore the possibilities for increased sustainability followed by discussion with the community.

Healthy Longevity Global Innovator Summit
Sept. 13, 14, and 22
The National Academy of Medicine will hold its inaugural Healthy Longevity Global Innovator Summit, which will honor the 154 international Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awardees from 2020. The event will bring together industry leaders, academics, researchers, scientists, and entrepreneurs whose work contributes to the field of healthy longevity. Attendees can learn about the early-stage, award-winning innovations, hear from leaders in the field of healthy longevity, and take advantage of various networking opportunities designed to foster interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration.

Tackling Tuberculosis in the Time of COVID-19
Sept. 14-16
Despite being preventable and curable, tuberculosis (TB) continues to sicken and kill millions each year, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. COVID-19 has also set back the global TB response, threatening to reverse up to 12 years of progress. This workshop will explore innovations needed to meet the targets set in the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy by 2030.

 Spatial Justice and Societal Emergencies
Sept. 20 and 21
Spatial justice comes from the idea that space affects how we experience the world. It can affect everything from transportation services, to where your nearest park or library is, to job security. During societal emergencies, including pandemics and climate change, spatial justice requires greater attention. This workshop will feature discussions and presentations on the meaning of spatial justice; lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic for how spatial justice affects health and health equity; and integrating a spatial justice lens in emergency planning and preparedness.

Transportation Needs Among People Living with Cancer
Sept. 21
Speakers at this webinar will discuss how transportation barriers can affect people living with cancer; promising programs that are addressing transportation barriers; and potential policy opportunities to address transportation needs across all stages of the cancer journey, from screening and diagnosis to survivorship and palliative care. This is the final webinar in a series focusing on some of the social needs that impact cancer care and patients’ quality of life.

Toward a Post-Pandemic World: Lessons from COVID-19 for Now and the Future
Sept. 21-24
Leaders in government, community organizations, and the private sector will share their takeaways from the COVID-19 experience, and how they’re taking a more proactive approach to pandemic preparedness and response. They will explore the pandemic’s long-term implications for social services and new public health measures. Other session topics will include the challenge of managing disinformation and misinformation and upholding public trust; the knowledge, technology, funding streams, and tools available to improve COVID-19 recovery; and ensuring lessons learned from COVID-19 are captured effectively to guide future pandemic responses.

Reports Scheduled for Release in September
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.

Advancing a Systems Approach to Studying the Earth: A Strategy for the National Science Foundation
This report will present a vision for a robust, integrated approach to studying Earth — and identify what might be needed from the National Science Foundation to support this vision and the earth systems research community.

Technical Feasibility of a Wheelchair Securement Concept for Airline Travel: A Preliminary Assessment
While wheelchair users can remain in their wheelchair during travel by car, train, or bus, they cannot do so during air travel, because airplanes have strict space constraints. For some people with significant disabilities, this can make air travel so inconvenient, uncomfortable, and unsafe that they fly rarely, if at all. This report assesses whether airplanes have the space to accommodate secured wheelchairs, whether wheelchairs meet crash safety standards, and what passenger demand looks like. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR REPORTERS

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