Consensus
Artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the life sciences have the potential to enable advances in biological discovery and design at a faster pace and efficiency than is possible with classical experimental approaches alone. At the same time, AI-enabled biological tools developed for beneficial applications could potentially be misused for harmful purposes. Although the creation of biological weapons is not a new concept or risk, the potential for AI-enabled biological tools to affect this risk has raised concerns during the past decade.
This report, as requested by the Department of Defense, assesses how AI-enabled biological tools could uniquely impact biosecurity risk, and how advancements in such tools could also be used to mitigate these risks. The Age of AI in the Life Sciences reviews the capabilities of AI-enabled biological tools and can be used in conjunction with the 2018 National Academies report, Biodefense in the Age of Synthetic Biology, which sets out a framework for identifying the different risk factors associated with synthetic biology capabilities.
172 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-73335-9
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73336-7
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28868
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. The Age of AI in the Life Sciences: Benefits and Biosecurity Considerations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop_in_brief
The Roundtable on Mentorship, Well-being, and Professional Development convened a workshop on October 28 and 29th, 2024 to explore how the well-being, professional development, and interpersonal and mentoring relationships of graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty are affected by national and global events, cultural shifts, and legal changes.
13 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-09918-8
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29093
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Mentorship, Well-Being, and Professional Development in Times of Societal Change and Institutional Disruptions: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Since 2018, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have convened scientists to discuss cutting-edge sustainability research and practices. This workshop, the third in a series, took place November 21-22, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary and virtually, with a focus on food systems and sustainability.The objectives of the workshop were to promote scientific coordination, cooperation, and collaboration between China and the United States on food systems and sustainability; examine the state of food systems and sustainability research and practices and identify priority areas for scientific collaboration on specific challenges; and discuss opportunities for advancing policy options in China and the United States, including a solution-focused approach.
13 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73572-6
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29079
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. China-U.S. Scientific Engagement: Food Systems and Sustainability: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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The National Academies Standing Committee on Reproductive Health, Equity, and Society hosted a public webinar to explore connections between mental and reproductive health care and access as well as to present solutions to the root causes of mental and reproductive health inequities. Speakers addressed the relationship between intimate partner violence and reproductive health care, the social and structural determinants of health affecting access to mental health treatment, mental health implications of restrictions on access to abortion care, and more. This Proceedings of a Workshop-in Brief highlights the presentations and discussions that occurred at the workshop.
7 pages
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73478-9
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29053
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Examining Critical Issues at the Intersection Between Mental Health and Reproductive Health: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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On October 10-11, 2023, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted the U.S. Research Data Summit at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, DC. The summit was undertaken by a planning committee organized under the U.S. National Committee for CODATA. The summit was informed by input from 29 organizations, including leaders from federal government agencies, the private sector, public and nonprofit organizations, and research institutions. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussion of the summit.
108 pages
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-73517-3
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73515-7
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29064
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. U.S. Research Data Summit: Strengthening Cooperation Across Organizations and Sectors: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable (NSTSR) was called for in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act to bring together individuals from federal research agencies, intelligence, law enforcement, academic research, and business communities to explore critical issues related to protecting U.S. national and economic security while ensuring the open exchange of ideas and the international talent required for American leadership in science and technology.
Since the first meeting of the NSTSR in 2020, there have been numerous discussions around the topic of research security among policymakers and affected communities, and the policy landscape has continued to evolve. The NSTSR played a role in these discussions, and to capture what was learned and explore potential future directions, a Capstone Workshop was held on July 16 and 17, 2024. Discussions over the 2 days of the workshop included observations by participants about the nature of the challenge of research security in the United States, reflections on actions that the United States has taken on research security to date, and possible future directions. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussion of the workshop.
158 pages
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-72695-6
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-72696-4
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27976
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable Capstone: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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For many Black Americans, trust in science, engineering, and medicine (SEM) institutions is affected by historic and current contexts, with significant consequences including exacerbating health and economic inequities for this population. Many SEM professionals recognize the importance of building trust with the Black community, and are looking for sustainable and effective ways to earn and nurture that trust.
To advance SEM issues within the Black community, the Roundtable on Black Men and Black Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a public workshop to examine local, national, and global strategies used by groups such as the Black Church to build institutional trust. The workshop, held December 14-15, 2022, was structured to identify organizations that have demonstrated success in building and maintaining trust with Black communities, highlight best practices for SEM professionals to develop sustainable and effective relationships with the Black community, and examine how communication with Black communities influences trust and acceptance of SEM institutions.
138 pages
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-71726-4
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-71727-2
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27649
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Leveraging Trust to Advance Science, Engineering, and Medicine in the Black Community: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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As part of their ongoing work, the Board on Higher Education and Workforce and the Roundtable on Mentorship, Well-being, and Professional Development of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened an in-person and online workshop on Empowering Senior Higher Education Leaders in Developing an Equitable Research Ecosystem on April 30, 2024, on the campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. The workshop sought to highlight the roles senior leaders (e.g., presidents, provosts, and deans) play in embodying an equitable research ecosystem - sharing strategies and resources and allowing participants to develop actionable plans that integrate mentorship, well-being, and professional development for graduate and professional students and postdoctoral scholars. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussion of the workshop.
13 pages
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73373-1
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28908
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Empowering Senior Higher Education Leaders in Developing an Equitable Research Ecosystem: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Consensus
The U.S. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce plays a vital role in fostering and sustaining innovation, economic competitiveness, and national security. This workforce currently depends, and for the foreseeable future will depend, on both international and domestic talent. Foreign STEM talent contributes to domestic innovation, economic growth, and U.S. leadership in science and technology and also expands perspectives and networks essential to future scientific collaborations and discoveries.
At the request of the U.S. Department of Defense, this report reviews foreign and domestic talent or incentive programs and their corresponding scientific, economic, and national security benefits. International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment makes recommendations to improve the effectiveness of U.S. mechanisms for attracting and retaining international students and scholars relative to the programs and incentives other nations use to support national research capabilities, especially in national security and defense-related fields.
318 pages
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-71959-3
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-71960-7
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27787
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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The National Academies hosted a public webinar for health care providers and researchers to explore the underlying issues and inequities affecting access to and quality of reproductive health care services, the resulting disparities in health outcomes, and the disproportionate effects experienced by some populations. Presentations included examples of promising programs and practices to address barriers to effective, patient-centered reproductive health care at different points in the reproductive life cycle. Discussions focused on individuals with disabilities, individuals who are incarcerated, and individuals who are forcibly displaced.
10 pages
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73089-9
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28576
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Addressing Disparities in Reproductive Health: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Consensus
Semiconductor chips power practically all electronic devices, from cellphones and vehicles to communications and defense systems essential for national security. The Department of Defense (DoD) uses a wide range of semiconductors for mission systems such as radars, sensors, and high-power-density electronics - but the U.S. is now strongly dependent on other nations for both commercial and defense semiconductor needs.
At the request of Congress, this study addresses the challenges that DoD is experiencing as it engages with the global microelectronics sector and explores ways to engage with public-private partnerships to support assured production and innovation in the semiconductor industry. The recommendations of Strategies to Enable Assured Access to Semiconductors for the Department of Defense focus on long-term strategic coordination, investment in emerging technologies, leveraging of commercial advancements, and a modernization strategy that is nimble enough to incorporate emerging technologies and be responsive to global competition.
206 pages
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7 x 10
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ISBN Paperback: 0-309-71702-7
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-71703-5
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27624
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Strategies to Enable Assured Access to Semiconductors for the Department of Defense. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Consensus
Engaging the full breadth of talent in the United States is an important component of growing and sustaining dominance in research and development (R&D) and supporting national security into the future. By 2030, one-fifth of Americans will be above age 65 and at or nearing retirement from the workforce. Estimates of race and ethnic demographic changes between 2016 and 2030 show a decrease in the non-Hispanic white population and an increase in terms of both number and share of all other demographic groups, and this trend will continue to increase. These population shifts signal a citizenry and workforce that will be increasingly diverse. For the United States to maintain its global competitiveness and protect its security interests, targeted support is needed to cultivate talent from communities throughout the nation.
The nation's more than 800 Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) provide an impactful and cost-effective opportunity to focus on cultivating the current and future U.S. population for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including in fields critical to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). At the request of DOD, this report identifies tangible frameworks for increasing the participation of MSIs in defense-related research and development and identifies the necessary mechanisms for elevating minority serving institutions to R1 status (doctoral universities with very high research activity) on the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education scale.
190 pages
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ISBN Paperback: 0-309-72206-3
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-72207-1
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27838
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. A Plan to Promote Defense Research at Minority-Serving Institutions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop_in_brief
For 40 years, the Government-University-Industry-Research Roundtable (GUIRR) at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has played a crucial role as a convener and advocate for its members and for the broader scientific enterprise. GUIRR celebrated its 40th anniversary at a workshop held June 25-26, 2024, in Washington, DC. The gathering served as an opportunity to both reflect on the roundtable's achievements and look forward to new directions through an examination of the "triple helix" of investments, innovation, and partnerships in the U.S. science and technology environment. This publication highlights the presentations and discussion of the workshop.
13 pages
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73202-6
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28611
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. GUIRR at 40: Reimagining the Triple Helix of Innovation, Investments, and Partnerships: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Transboundary water cooperation and effective water governance are essential to ensuring global security, economic development, and environmental sustainability. The AccelNet PEER2PEER project, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and led by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, brings together global networks focusing on issues related to furthering transboundary water management. The project creates an ecosystem for translating engineering, physical science, and social science research into plans and policies for adoption by stakeholders and governments at local, state or regional, national, and international levels. In order to explore water management ideas that can be applied on the local through trans-national levels to achieve resilience in the face of climate change and other vulnerabilities, a workshop was convened on June 24-25, 2024, in Irvine, California. This Proceedings of a Workshop-in Brief provides a high-level summary of key discussions held during the workshop.
12 pages
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73264-6
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28769
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Learning Resilience: Lessons for Managing Global Transboundary Water Vulnerabilities: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Research leaders overseeing laboratories, centers, and collaborations have an opportunity to build and promote a culture of research excellence, integrity, and trust. At the same time, the conduct of science becomes more complex, societal demands become more explicit, and the challenges facing these leaders are myriad. Beyond the complexities of overseeing and executing innovative science, they must navigate an expanding set of roles, responsibilities, and expectations, including managing the evolving landscape of research integrity, data management, open science, mentorship, and technology.
To explore the range of roles and evolving responsibilities taken on by research leaders, especially those who lead cross-disciplinary and/or multi-institutional teams, the National Academies' Strategic Council for Research Excellence, Integrity, and Trust convened a workshop on December 4-5, 2023. Presentations and discussion of the workshop focused on scientific leadership to examine available responsible conduct of research (RCR) resources and the broad span of roles for research leaders, especially those who direct laboratories, centers, departments, or collaborations. Participants also explored the evolving needs of research leaders in a changing societal landscape, especially in terms of their roles in upholding RCR, navigating new oversight frameworks, and training the next generation of scientists. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussion of the workshop.
122 pages
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ISBN Paperback: 0-309-72547-X
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-72548-8
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27935
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. On Leading a Lab: Strengthening Scientific Leadership in Responsible Research: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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The National Academies held a 5-part webinar series in May and June 2024 to explore social determinants of health that negatively impact maternal health outcomes. The webinars gathered health care providers, researchers, and academicians to share data and the lived experiences of pregnant persons from historically marginalized communities. Topics included maternal mental health care, community-based care, bias awareness, and building health care trust in historically marginalized pregnant persons. This proceedings highlights the presentations and discussions that occurred at the workshop.
11 pages
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-72923-8
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28038
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Considering Maternal Health Disparities: Proceedings of a Workshop Series—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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In response to a congressional mandate, a committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is conducting a review of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs at the Department of Defense (DOD). These programs, created in 1982 and 1992, respectively, and operated within the DOD and a number of other agencies within the federal government, encourage the participation by small business concerns in the federal research and development and procurement processes through competitively based awards.
As part of its review of the DOD's SBIR/STTR programs, and in response to a request by the DOD, the present study committee held a workshop on December 7-8, 2023, entitled "Data and Metrics for the DOD SBIR and STTR Programs." The workshop was convened to facilitate the DOD's development of recurring, quantifiable metrics for measuring the ability of the SBIR and STTR programs to deliver products and services that meet the DOD's mission needs, while also informing the National Academies committee's overall study of the programs at the DOD. This proceedings of a workshop was prepared by a workshop rapporteur as a factual summary of what was presented and discussed at the workshop.
68 pages
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ISBN Paperback: 0-309-72724-3
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-72725-1
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27984
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Data and Metrics for the DOD SBIR and STTR Programs: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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The pandemic and overlapping global crises, including climate change, have increased attention to the importance of mental health and well-being as foundational for humans. Similarly, COVID-19 significantly exacerbated gaps in education, leaving children one to three years behind. Artificial intelligence (AI) has demonstrated potential to be transformative in addressing challenges in mental health and education and in supporting broader sustainability issues. However, there are well-founded concerns about AI regarding its potential to exacerbate inequity, further marginalizing underserved communities.
To further explore these issues, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability, in collaboration with the Board on Health Care Services and Board on Science Education, convened a hybrid workshop, Artificial Intelligence in Education and Mental Health for a Sustainable Future on May 30, 2024. The workshop consisted of two parts: AI in mental health and well-being and AI in education. Participants reviewed AI tools, applications, and strategies in education and mental health and the implications for sustainable development. The workshop also discussed AI's potential to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
11 pages
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-72775-8
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27995
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Artificial Intelligence in Education and Mental Health for a Sustainable Future: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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