“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 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. 

Dynamics of Climate and the Macroeconomy
Nov. 1 and 2
This workshop will explore complex climate dynamics — including nonlinear, compounding, and cascading risks — and how these dynamics will affect and may propagate in the macroeconomy.  

Geotechnical Data Management for Enhanced Accessibility and Reusability
Nov. 2
Various disciplines are embracing FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) data principles when collecting and storing data to optimize their future use. This meeting will explore the principles of FAIR data, what state-of-the-art data management looks like in other fields, and how FAIR data management could benefit the geo-professional community. 

Mitigating Air Pollution Exposures from Transportation
Nov. 2
Motorized traffic is a significant source of urban air pollution, which contributes to increased risks of cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and adverse birth outcomes. This webinar will focus on best practices for mitigating air pollution and strategies for working with impacted communities. 

Public Health Research and Surveillance Priorities After the East Palestine Train Derailment  
Nov. 6 and 7
At this workshop, experts from government, NGOs, and private-sector organizations, and members of affected communities will explore potential health research and surveillance priorities arising from the train derailment and material hazards spill that occurred in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3, 2023. Participants will discuss short- and long-term human health impacts from the incident and focus primarily on research questions of specific concern to affected and potentially affected communities. 

CrimeSolutions: What Works, What Doesn’t, What’s Promising  
Nov. 8 
The National Institute of Justice’s CrimeSolutions has two components — a web-based clearinghouse of programs and practices in criminal and juvenile justice, victims assistance, school safety, and youth mentoring and a process for identifying and rating those programs and practices. The reliability and reputability of CrimeSolutions depends on the validity of the review process and the accuracy and utility of the rating in communicating the underlying scientific findings. This webinar will solicit input from researchers on CrimeSolutions’ review process and communication of outcomes. 

Physics and Astronomy Board Fall Meeting
Nov. 8 and 9
This meeting will feature discussions with leaders and scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the National Science Foundation on various subjects, including a session on AI for science, energy, and security. 

Activating Health Professionals to Lead Climate Action
Nov. 9
This second webinar in a series will showcase organization leaders who worked to raise awareness and engage members of the health care workforce in efforts to lower carbon emissions, and health care professionals who used their collective voice to advocate for their organizations to commit to emissions reductions goals and priorities. Educational resources on climate and health action will also be shared. The event is hosted by the National Academy of Medicine, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Health Care Without Harm, and Practice Greenhealth. 

Transportation Resilience: Extreme Weather and Climate Change Challenges
Nov. 13-15
This conference will discuss the latest in adapting transportation networks at all levels to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events, and other key topics such as innovative financing and stakeholder communication.

The Geospatial Workforce Crisis: A Diversity of Pathways Forward  
Nov. 14
This meeting will focus on barriers and opportunities to preparing government and industry for the geospatial careers of the future. Experts will discuss identifying future geospatial careers, federal agency perspectives on building the workforce, and barriers and pathways to diversity.  

Climate Conversations: Fossil Fuels 
Nov. 16
As the United States moves toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, production and consumption of fossil fuels will need to decline substantially. Experts will discuss how to address challenges associated with reducing fossil fuel emissions in the U.S., including environmental remediation, maintaining the safety and reliability of fossil fuel infrastructure, and impacts in communities dependent on fossil fuel extraction and production. 

Food Forum 30th Anniversary Symposium
Nov. 30
This event will explore developments in the field of food, nutrition, and agriculture over the past 30 years, and how the National Academies’ Food Forum has contributed to those developments. The symposium will also feature discussions on the future of food in light of challenges such as climate change and population growth, new technologies to address these challenges, and how they may affect health equity.  

Enhancing Public Access to the Results of Research Supported by the Department of Health and Human Services
Nov. 30 – Dec. 1
This workshop will inform the NIH and HHS as they develop and update policies to enhance public access to the results of HHS-funded research. Sessions will explore steps that agencies could take that would promote equity in publication opportunities, improve accessibility to publications by a diverse community of users, and increase transparency and findability of research.  

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.  

Electric Arc Furnace Slag: Understanding Human Health Risks from Unencapsulated Uses
“Slag” is a rock-like material generated during the steel-making process, and electric arc furnace (EAF) slag is used as an alternative to rock fragments, both in encapsulated uses like concrete and unencapsulated uses such as a loose ground cover material. It is commonly used as road base material, and in some states, EAF slag is also marketed for use in landscaping. This report will assess human health risks associated with the unencapsulated use of EAF slag and identify research needed to address the toxicity of EAF slag. 

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 
• Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn