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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Workshop_in_brief
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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Workshop_in_brief
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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8.5 x 11
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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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Workshop
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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6 x 9
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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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Workshop
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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6 x 9
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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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Workshop
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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6 x 9
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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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Workshop_in_brief
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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8.5 x 11
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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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