“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 March 2023
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. Find more National Academies events at https://www.nationalacademies.org/events. 

Care and Use of Animals in Research
March 1
A standing committee will engage with animal research stakeholders about new processes, formats, and topics to be considered for future updates to The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals — the basis for accreditation of institutions worldwide. Patricia Brown from the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare will discuss processes and procedures used during the release of the latest edition of the guide. 

Personal Protective Equipment and Personal Protective Technology Product Standardization for a Resilient Public Health Supply Chain
March 1 and 2
This workshop will examine gaps in the standards for personal protective equipment (PPE) and personal protective technology (PPT) used in health care settings — including face masks. Sessions will explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PPE/PPT, as well as opportunities to improve the effectiveness, safety, supply stability, and accessibility of PPE/PPT. 

Sustainable Recycling of Critical Materials in Lithium-ion Batteries
March 2
Lithium-ion batteries are relied on globally for energy storage, the electrification of transportation, and consumer devices. Concerns have grown over the life cycle and span of these batteries, as well as for the environmental risks of disposal and costly and hazardous production. This webinar will provide an overview of the current battery recycling infrastructure, discuss needs and concerns of the industry, and share innovative chemistry research.  

Biomanufacturing to Address Near-Term Climate Goals
March 3
Some technologies and products have already shown that bio-based processes offer more sustainable methods than traditional manufacturing with petrochemicals. Panelists at this workshop will explore what biomanufacturing efforts could be most impactful in the near term, and the research, implementation, societal, and political barriers that exist to reach U.S. and global climate goals.  

Shifting the Nation’s Health Investments to Support Long, Healthy Lives
March 6 and 7
A decade ago, two National Academies reports raised the alarm over the nation’s unrivaled spending on health care and the mismatch between spending and the levels of health and longevity that Americans experience. This symposium will be a facilitated experience to inspire a new decade of movement organizing, practical research, and value-oriented investment. 

Incorporating Integrated Diagnostics into Precision Oncology Care
March 6 and 7
This workshop will bring together the cancer community to better define the purpose, goals, and components of integrated oncology diagnostics. Workshop presentations and discussions will examine the current state of integrated diagnostics in facilitating precision cancer care and highlight perspectives on the vision for the future of cancer diagnostics. 

Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing
March 6-8
The Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing will be held in London and will be live webcast. Building on previous summits held in 2015 and 2018, the London meeting will continue the global dialogue on the scientific, ethical, and governance issues surrounding somatic and germline human genome editing. NAS and NAM are among the international co-hosts of the summit. 

Toward Sequencing and Mapping of RNA Modifications
March 14 and 15
This workshop will explore the scientific breakthroughs, workforce, and infrastructure needed to sequence and understand the roles that RNA modifications play in biological processes and disease.  

Integrating the Human Sciences to Scale Societal Responses to Environmental Change
March 23 and 24
Earth system science increasingly incorporates human systems in its analysis of climate change, but human social, behavioral, and social sciences have yet to align internally in prioritizing and addressing the range of challenges in responding to the various stresses and opportunities posed by climate change. During a workshop, experts will explore the potential for synthesizing the human sciences to develop critical societal capacities for and responses to climate change. 

Space Science Week
March 28 and 29
Public sessions will discuss a wide array of issues and advances in the fields of space studies, physics, astronomy, aeronautics, and life sciences. Speakers will include leaders from NASA, NSF, NOAA, the European Space Agency, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, and China’s National Space Science Center. 

Telecommuting and Transit Ridership in a Post-Pandemic Future
March 28
Understanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on telecommuting and transit ridership patterns can inform the future design and implementation of transit-supportive policies. This webinar will illustrate the pandemic’s impacts on commuting, ongoing trends in telecommuting, and challenges and potential outlooks for different kinds of transit services in the post-pandemic era. 

Reports Scheduled for Release in March
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.  

Progress and Opportunities Toward Decreasing the Risk of Offshore Energy Operations
This report will examine issues related to offshore oil and gas operations and assess progress toward decreasing systemic risks, keeping people and the environment safe as the offshore energy industry in the Gulf of Mexico evolves. 

Transforming EPA Science to Meet Today’s and Tomorrow’s Challenges
This report will identify emerging scientific and technological advances from across a broad range of disciplines that EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) should consider in its research planning to support EPA’s mission for protecting human health and the environment. The report will also recommend how ORD could best take advantage of those advances to meet current and future challenges during coming decades.  

Use of Race, Ethnicity, and Ancestry as Population Descriptors in Genomics Research 
This report reviews and assesses existing challenges in the use of race, ethnicity, and ancestry as population descriptors in genomics research. The report examines best practices, and makes recommendations for how scientists and researchers in this area should employ population descriptors moving forward. 

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 publications from the National Academies 
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