“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 2024
Click on each event title below to access meeting details, an agenda, and registration information, or contact the Office of News and Public Information (email news@nas.edu). Reporters should register for all meetings. Find more National Academies events at https://www.nationalacademies.org/events.

Reusable Health Care Textiles for Personal Protective Equipment
March 4 and 5
Technical experts, policymakers, manufacturers, personal protective equipment users, and others will meet to examine opportunities for increasing the use of reusable textiles in health care settings. Presentations will discuss contamination issues, how to optimally protect patients and health care workers, and the comparative performance, comfort, and environmental impact of disposable and reusable personal protective equipment.

Assessing the Burden and Potential Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Resistance
March 4 and 5
Antimicrobial-resistant infections lead to millions of deaths worldwide each year. This workshop will discuss the current clinical and economic burdens of antimicrobial resistance, data availability, and potential new strategies to gain insights on this issue.

Independent Analysis of the Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration Program
March 6
This is an information-gathering session for a consensus study that is reviewing available data and research on autism spectrum disorder, applied behavior analysis services, and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Autism Care Demonstration (ACD) Program to determine its effectiveness and develop recommendations for the secretary of defense.

Understanding Breastfeeding Promotion, Initiation, and Support Across the United States
March 7
In this information-gathering session, speakers from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and additional invited experts will discuss and present perspectives on a study on understanding breastfeeding promotion, initiation, and support across the United States.

Failures in Social Systems: Converging Biological, Behavioral, and Engineering Insights
March 7
Understanding and explaining system failures is paramount in multiple disciplines such as engineering and the life sciences. Social considerations are often overlooked when analyzing failures, but should play a crucial role. At this event, experts will work toward shaping an integrated understanding of systems failures that is informed by the convergence of biological, behavioral, sociological, and engineering insights.

Health Workforce Well-Being Day Celebratory Event
March 11
Organizations nationwide will host a week of events and activities to mark the inaugural Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness on March 18. This National Academy of Medicine event will bring together health leaders, policymakers, and the public to celebrate progress in making health worker well-being a shared priority, as well as inspire all to take action using resources from the NAM’s Change Maker Campaign and founding partner organizations.

Intersection of DEI with Health Worker Well-Being
March 11
Following NAM’s Health Workforce Well-Being Day celebration, this event will convene industry leaders, policymakers, and clinician stakeholders to discuss opportunities to better coordinate and catalyze both DEI and well-being efforts at the health care organization and national levels.

Law Enforcement Use of Probabilistic Genotyping, Forensic DNA Phenotyping, and Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy Technologies
March 13 and 14
This workshop will look at how technologies are currently being used by law enforcement, their accuracy and reliability, and key considerations. Speakers will also address measures to ensure that technologies are used effectively and equitably.

Exploring Flood Adaptation Strategies to Support Health Equity
March 13 and 18
This workshop will explore health risks posed by flooding events, effective adaptation strategies for community resilience, and ways to foster partnerships among government, academia, and the private sector to implement these strategies locally.

Climate Change and Human Migration: An Earth Systems Science Perspective
March 18 and 19
This workshop will consider how an earth systems science approach could be used to address climate change impacts and mitigate the risks to human and environmental health.

Space Science Week
March 18-22
Space Science Week 2024 will have public sessions on a wide array of issues and advances in the fields of space studies, physics, astronomy, aeronautics, earth and life sciences, law, and biotechnology. Speakers include leaders from NASA, NSF, NOAA, the European Space Agency, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, and China’s National Space Science Center.

Exploring the Bidirectional Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience
March 25 and 26
This workshop will examine the application of AI in neuroscience research and how neuroscientific discoveries have aided in the development and advancement of AI technologies. Presentations will also discuss the role of neuroscience experts in advising on AI regulation and communicating with the public on the responsible use of AI.

AI in Drug Design: Part I – Molecular Drug Discovery
March 26
This webinar is the first of two on the use of artificial intelligence in drug design. Marinka Zitnik, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard, will discuss molecular drug discovery and the PINNACLE AI model.

Health Education Admissions Processes
March 27 and 28
This workshop will explore the drivers and influences on health professional education admissions processes. Educators will share their experiences and strategies for setting up appropriate criteria for admissions, and discuss whether the outcomes of health education programs are meeting global needs.

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.

Interim Report of the 2025-2035 Decadal Survey of Ocean Sciences for the National Science Foundation
The decadal survey will advise the National Science Foundation’s Division of Ocean Sciences to guide investments in research, infrastructure, and workforce development. This interim report provides advice on the resources and infrastructure available to address high-priority research questions requiring scientific ocean drilling.

Review of EPA’s Use of Title 42 Special Hiring Authority
Title 42 gives federal agencies the authority to appoint highly qualified scientists and engineers at a pay scale outside civil service laws, allowing them to compete with industry and academia to fill critical positions. The report provides a review of past and current use of the Title 42 special hiring authority by EPA’s Office of Research and Development and provides recommendation to the EPA for how the program could be improved in the future.

Toward Sequencing and Mapping of RNA Modifications
Direct sequencing of modifications of RNA (referred to as epitranscriptome) from humans and model organisms could provide a wide variety of insights and potential benefits for human, animal, and environmental health. This report provides a road map for achieving direct sequencing of modifications of RNA and focuses on defining the science and technology needed and provides actionable recommendations for the scientific community and policymakers.

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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