“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 November 2022

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.

Substance Use Disorders in Commercial Aviation
Nov. 1
To inform a consensus study, a National Academies committee will hold a public workshop to hear from pilots and flight attendants about their experiences with Human Intervention Motivation Study program and the Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program. In addition, panelists will discuss the role of unions in substance use disorder treatment and recovery, the overall state of aviation workers’ well-being, and the long-term trends of substance use disorder in aviation.

Harnessing Microbial Diversity for the Bioeconomy
Nov. 2
This webinar will explore microbial diversity and its contributions to and potential in building the bioeconomy. Speakers will discuss successes, challenges, and opportunities for harnessing knowledge about microbial function to design and develop processes and products to feed into the bioeconomy.

Sleep Disturbances and Central Nervous System Disorders
Nov. 2 and 3
This workshop will explore the role of sleep in central nervous system disorders — which include infections such as meningitis, structural disorders such as brain or spinal cord injury, or degeneration such as Parkinson’s disease. Speakers will discuss the potential relationship between sleep and such disorders, and opportunities to better understand the underlying mechanisms of sleep and to mitigate sleep disturbances.

Remining as a Domestic Critical Mineral Resource
Nov. 3
Previously mined and abandoned mine sites can hold reserves of critical minerals essential for the energy transition and our modern technological society. This meeting will discuss the possible role of remining in the supply of critical minerals; potential environmental impacts; and policies that might accelerate responsible remining.

Legacy Oil and Gas Infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico
Nov. 3
Approximately 18,000 miles of oil and gas pipelines have been decommissioned in place in the Gulf of Mexico. This webinar will examine perspectives on legacy oil and gas infrastructure, with presentations on how data informs conservation efforts and policy, and the challenges that this infrastructure poses to environmental resources.

 Visualization in Transportation
Nov. 3 and 4
Data visualization has become a critical asset for supporting good decision-making in transportation design and operation. Session topics at this 10th international symposium will include visualization of performance measures and infrastructure, and the use of transformative technologies such as augmented reality.

Crime Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Nov. 10
This workshop will explore crime rate changes during the pandemic, potential explanations for those rates, and methodological issues, data infrastructure needs, and research gaps.

Enabling a Virtuous Cycle for Healthy Longevity in the U.S.
Nov. 14
Co-organized by the National Academy of Medicine and AARP, this summit will discuss recommendations from a NAM report released in June, Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity. It provides guidance to societies on how to create more years of good health through stronger social infrastructure, physical environment, health systems, and opportunities for education, work, and retirement. The report highlighted that good health, in turn, increases social, human, and economic capital.

Fall Meeting of the Space Studies Board
Nov. 15 and 16
This meeting will feature briefings on recent National Academies’ space reports, as well as updates from and discussions with NASA leaders and scientists on various subjects, including the Europa Clipper mission, the James Webb Space Telescope, and climate science related to the 2022 heat waves.

Mine of the Future
Nov. 16
This webinar will discuss what a low-impact mine of the future might look like, in terms of technologies, operations, and innovation, with the goal of anticipating changes that might be needed to regulatory frameworks, communication strategies, and engineering practices.

Indoor Air Management of Airborne Pathogens: Public Transportation
Nov. 16
This workshop will review the state of knowledge and strategies for preventing and controlling transmission of airborne pathogens in public transit, highlighting progress made since 2020 and identifying critical research, implementation, and regulatory gaps. In addition to experts from a variety of disciplines and sectors, the workshop will also include participants who worked directly with local communities and transportation organizations during the pandemic.

Cybersecurity Trends in Transportation
Nov. 17
The accelerating digital transformation of transportation systems comes with increasing risk of cyber threats. This webinar will provide an overview of current cybersecurity practices in transportation and examine next-generation practices to improve the cyber resiliency of transportation agencies.

Valley Fever: Impact and Control
Nov. 17 and 18
This workshop will bring together experts to discuss the epidemiology and public health impact of Valley Fever, a fungal disease caused by inhalation of Coccidioides spores from soil. Generally found in arid environments in the southwestern U.S. and Latin America, Valley Fever can cause severe, debilitating, and sometimes fatal illness. Speakers will explore opportunities to develop diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.

Managing Severe Storms and Environmental Impacts
Nov. 29
Extreme weather events create safety, cost, and environmental challenges for highway maintenance and operations. The first of three events exploring the themes of managing severe storms and environmental emergencies, this webinar will explore advancements in highway maintenance and operations, long-term planning, and in reducing environmental impact in winter operations.

Reports Scheduled for Release in November
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.

Potential Impacts of Gold Mining in Virginia
This report evaluates the potential impacts of gold mining in Virginia, including impacts on public health, safety, and welfare. It explores current gold mining operations in the state and whether existing air and water quality regulations are sufficient — as well as offers recommendations.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR REPORTERS

• The National Academies’ Newsroom
• PNAS in the News | Register to receive embargoed material from the PNAS News Office
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